Correct tickets to buy for Paris

Zone 3 is not in Paris so where is it you want to go? At any rate you will tell the ticket agent your RER stop and they will sell you a ticket. It is 10 Euro to Paris -- but if you are then going out the other side to zone 3 it will be more; or if you are stopping along the way before you get to Paris in Zone 3 than it might cost less. All of Paris is Zone 1.

The most expensive way to see a museum is on the free day. I would do either the Orsay or the Louvre on Saturday and save the 'free' admission for smaller lesser museums that are less likely to have you standing in line for hours to get in. If you choose the Orsay then get a ticket on line to print at home first or buy one at a FNAC store or tourist booth as the lines there are always terrible without a ticket.

If you are leaving from NOrd Monday morning you can get the ticket from what ever suburban RER stop is near you to Nord. I'd do it the day before at least so you don't have to worry about it that morning.

Mary, do you really mean Zone 3 or the 3rd arrondissement of Paris?

This is what she said. Paris zone 3 - 15 minutes from the Opera house and the department stores area in Paris or the Eiffel Tower ! by public transport.

That could still be the 3rd arrondisement if you're being conservative about travel times. I think you need to get back to your host and check if she actually meant travel zone 3 or the 3rd arrondisement.

I would like to add a question on to this question. I will be in Paris with my three children 12,10 and 8 this summer. Do children ride for free or will I have to buy them ticketssa?

4 to 9 year olds travel half fare (at least when you buy a carnet). Under 4 is free, and 10 and up is full fare.

Well the Opera is not in the third Arrondissement it is in the 9th so the instructions are confusing. The OP needs to find out what her metro stop is. If we know that we will know where she is going. Since she thinks she is going to Paris I would hope it is not in Zone 3 which is well outside Paris and a poor choice for a visit to that city (unless you are staying with your Aunt for free or something) If it is Arrondissement 3, then a simple RER/metro point to point ticket from CDG/Paris is all she needs and she can switch from RER to metro to get to her lodging. The most important thing to know in planning any travel in Paris is the metro stop near the destination.

I am guessing that the hotel proprietor has limited English and is translating '3rd district' i.e. arrondissement into '3rd zone'.

And Sam is spot on on kids. For purposes of transport in Paris you pay adult fares from 10 on. Only kids 3 and under ride for free.

Mary, if you share the name and address of your hotel, we can probably tell you it's Zone 3 or 3rd arrondissement.

"Museums are free on the first Sunday so we don't need tickets for that." Not always true. There is no free admission at the Louvre on Sundays from April to September.

Mary where exactly are you staying.. do you have a hotel name or address.. the information you are giving us is too vague.

Free sundays are best used by visiting smaller lesser known museums.. and remember.. your kids are free everyday ( except at Eiffel Tower).. so really its just for you ( and other adult?) .

Also if you tell us where exactly you are staying you could walk to some sites.. and need less transport options for sightseeing. .

My guess is that it is Zone 3, outside the city, and the lodging proprietor is trying to make her place sound "near." I.e. -- "it's only 15 minutes on the RERA from our place to Auber."

If it is 'Zone 3' then the OP needs to cancel and get a room in the city. And it is good news that the Louvre is not free on summer 'free Sundays' because free Sundays are far too time consuming for such a short trip.