carnet of metro tickets

The individual metro tickets (or carnet of 10) are good for all metro lines within the city of Paris and for RER trains within zones 1 & 2. Yes the Porte de Vanves stop is included. You should be ok. They are not valid for Versailles or CDG on the RER.

I know Rick recommends the carnet. I tried it on one trip after reading his recommendation, but it didn't work for me. I much prefer an unlimited day pass like the Mobilis. Several reasons: I sometimes change my mind spontaneously, get on a different bus or metro line than expected and get off another one...or get on the wrong one accidentally. Oops - there goes another ticket. And sometimes, when I have a choice to walk somewhere with tired feet or take the bus or metro a few blocks, I hate asking myself, "Is it worth one ticket? How far is it really?" With an unlimited pass, I never have to think about it - never have to worry about how many tickets I have left or whether I should save this one. Less to think about.

If you get on the wrong metro line and exit that train and get on a different one you don't need to use another ticket. As long you don't exit through the turnstile you don't need to use another ticket.

A further clarification. Metro tickets are good for the entire Metro network, including stations in zone 3. However, they are only good for the RER in zones 1 and 2. So, with a regular Metro ticket you can take the Metro to La Defense, but you cannot take the RER - to the exact same station!

So, your trip to the Port de Vanves is covered on a regular Metro ticket.

That's definitely something to think about Andrew. A lot depends on how you will be getting around Paris and how long you will be there. I was happy with the 10 ticket carnet because I walked everywhere that I could and only took the metro occasionally, never used the bus during the whole month I was there. The carnet lasted me 3-7 days depending on where I was going on a particular day, and whether or not the weather was nice enough for walking - that would have been about $16.50/carnet (today's cost) or $2.35 - $5.50/day; whereas a mobilis card would have cost me $8.30 per day, totaling up to way more than I spent on the carnets.

The planets really have to line up for a Mobilis to make sense, especially as they run Monday to Sunday. But if you arrive early in the week and are staying long enough, if you are going to Versailles or deGaulle, they can more than pay for themselves versus carnets. They also make it easier to take buses, and the pus in Paris is unexpectedly wonderful.

The Vanves flea market is in Paris and you can get there by metro using an ordinary ticket.

Adam, you can buy single day Mobilis passes, for any day of the week.

Yes, I tend to use the metro and buses a lot in Paris, but I also walk a ton too. My feet always get sore in Paris after walking miles and miles, even with riding buses and the metro too. My visits tend to be short, so I'm moving around a lot and try to see a lot while I'm in town. We all have different travel styles.

The advantages of the Mobilis Pass are that you are not restricted to the 90 - minute cut off time for using the Bus.

You can also make transfers on the Bus, going in any direction, which isn't possible with regular tickets.

Mobilis can be used on Metro or Bus, but you have to finish travelling by midnight.

It may or may not be worth it to you, if you will be depending exclusively on the Bus.

Adam you are confusing the Mobilis which is a day pass and which does not service the airports to the Navigo Decouverte weekely pass which does include travel to CDG. The ND is always the best choice if it fits the dates -- if you have as many as 4 or 5 days between Mon -Sun and plan to do any day tripping in the Ile de France or are staying on the fringes of Paris and need to do a lot of transport, it is the best. A Mobilis makes sense on a day when you will be using public transport 5 or 6 times or more. We have rarely made that many trips in a day. A Mobilis particularly makes sense on a day going to Disney -- it costs about 16 Euro which is just a bit more than a round trip to Disney costs and it allows any other travel you might want to do back in Paris that evening.

"The planets really have to line up for a Mobilis to make sense, especially as they run Monday to Sunday. "

This sentence is not correct - it is merging two different things.

A Mobilis pass is a one day pass. A Pass Navigo Decouverte is a one week pass that runs Monday to Sunday.

As always, both are a great deal for some people, and a waste of money for others. I've used both with great success on certain trips.

Note that the RER trains to the airports are explicitly NOT covered by a Mobilis pass, but the Metro to the local bus to the airports is covered.

Harold is of course right--I was writing about the week-long Navigo.

I guess the Zone 1-4 Mobilis could be a good deal if you were going to Versailles that day, if you were using it enough in addition to that trip. (But if you were spending the day at Versailles, you probably wouldn't.)

check out the navigo pass it covers zones1-5 , the bus, rer , and train, including Versailles.

If you go with the carnet, just remember to keep your ticket until you have left the station. If you don't have a valid one in your possession you are subject a fine if you are inspected.

Or you can get a Velib bike for the day for the price of one Metro ticket. I think it's 1,70 a day if you keep all your rides under 30 minutes. If you go over 30 minutes, it's not that much more (something like a euro per hour). You then have to drop a bike for 30 minutes before you pick up your next one. 30 minutes gets you a long way on a bike in Paris. Plus, you get to go the wrong way down one way streets, a ton of signs say "no entry, except bicycles".

Terry,

If you will be in Paris for 4 -5 days, I'd suggest you get the Navigo Découverte Pass. I think it's a great deal and you can use it on the Metro, buses, and RER trains.

Enjoy your time in Paris!

So much does depend on what days you are in Paris and how much you plan to use the metro (don't forget the buses -- they are terrific and our preferred means of getting around).

My wife and I arrived (and left) twice on a Saturday last year and will do so again this year. Our strategy:
- Saturday on arrival day: No pass. Taxi to apartment, nap, shop, stroll the neighborhood.
- Sunday: Mobilis pass, one for each of us. We find the price for two mobilis comparable to one carnet. Added advantages: Not having to count bus rides; and not having to manage used/unused tickets.
- Monday through Sat: Navigo cards (which are good Mon-Sun.). Hard to beat this deal, especially if you factor in the RER to CDG for the flight home. And when you go back to Paris, bring your Navigo and recharge it, save some €s.