Topping up Navigo Découverte

[mez]

If I top up my ND card with a weekly ticket, is it still only valid for a Mon-Sun week, or can I get one for a week starting on any day of the week?

Thanks in advance, Mez.

[Jody]

Unfortunately it is only good Monday thru Sunday , just like the old Carte Orange. I wish they had the same system as London"s Oyster card.

[mez]

Thanks. I thought as much but I wanted to double check.

[GitteK]

Yes, the rules from the old Carte Orange also apply to Navigo Découverte. BUT you will be amazed how easy and totally hightech and supercool it is with the machines where you recharge the card

* choose language on the screen (Eng or Fr)
* place card on a little platform (size of a saucer) - it is not even inserted into a slot or anything ??!!
* choose the period you want to buy (one week, one month)
* insert credit card
* wait
* machine starts buzzing and beeping and doing its voodoo.....
* take credit card
* take Navigo, which is now recharged !! (This is INSANE !! How does that WORK ?? )
* take receipt
* off you go to new Paris adventures

I'd gladly pay the 16,80 euros just to be allowed to DO that again - even if I only needed the card for one day - I swear, it makes you feel soooooo native Parisian !

[Jody]

Gittle , do the machines take American credit cards, sans puce? I'd heard we have to use cash for the machines or go to a window.

[mez]

Demarais,

I've only ever heard that US cards are a no-no, but that's all second hand info from TA

I was planning on experimenting with my Aussie card on my next trip, but if I do go later this year as planned, I'll be there mid-week to mid-week, so no weekly pass for me.

[GitteK]

I think the creditcard must have a chip on it. Yeah, we are the hi-tech guys over here !!

[MaisonMetz]

In the past, we've had success using a credit card without the puce in some Métro station machines, but none of the Métro machines that we tried last fall (October and early Nov) would accept them. Unfortunately, as the number of Métro stations with staffed ticket windows continues to decrease it will be harder to find Métro stations with them outside of the most heavily touristed neighborhoods.

[MaisonMetz]

Gitte, that's a good question. We could certainly use them as they are more secure than the strips. Everytime I ask the question, the answer is usually related to the cost of changing over ATM equipment, etc. I'm hoping that it happens soon, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Sandy M]

Speaking of Carte Orange - I keep forgetting to mention that when I was in Paris in April and tried to buy the Navigo Decouverte I was told No by the ticket agent - I showed him a picture of the Navigo and he still said "No" so I pulled out my old Carte Orange and he shook his head Yes and sold me a new ticket. Wonder why I couldn't buy the Navigo??

[mez]

^^ There's a Navigo card for residents only and a Navigo Découverte for non-residents. Perhaps he got the two mixed up? Or he was just in a cranky-pants mood?

[GitteK]

Sandy, I brought a print out of the website where it says that the Navigo Découverte is also for non-residents.

Not that I ended up needing it at all, but still it may be a good idea, if someone does not feel so strong in French:

tinyurl.com/3dfn7a
tinyurl.com/36h6zs

Also remember the passport size photo.

[Sandy M]

Mez - I think he was just in a "cranky pants" kind of mood - didn't want to even try to discuss it with me - I'm just glad that he gave me the Carte Orange so easily so that I had something rather than buying carnets.

Gitte - thanks for the links, I'll print out to take with me next time - I did have my photograph with me and showed it to him but he didn't even want to try to understand me - I just chalked it up to him having a bad day.

[kdenson]

Can I buy a ND on the Friday arrive for the following week?

[Truffaut]

Yes, you can.