Navigating Chatelet metro station

I would have said you are overreacting and to just use Chatelet...until you mentioned luggage. We do not use the Metro when we are lugging our bags to any Metro anymore, With all the stairs one is likely to encounter, it is no longer something I want to deal with. Take a taxi with luggage, or walk. 20 minutes is nothing.

I agree with the previous post that if you have luggage, it's probably best to avoid Chatelet. However, if you can walk on the street with your luggage to the entrance for Line 14, it's possible to ride escalators to the platform, since Line 14 is a new line with elevators and escalators and it goes to Gare St. Lazarre.

For the St. Michel station, I would just walk. It's not that far, plus it's a nice walk along the Seine river and crossing any of the bridges in that area (Pont des Arts is pedestrian-only if that is a concern). For Gare St. Lazare, I would use Chatelet as it takes you straight there on Line 14. You could also use Louvre-Rivoli or Pont Neuf metro stations but then you would have to change. Yes, Chatelet is a madhouse sometimes but just take your time, follow signs, and try to keep out of the way. You might get turned around but it's not a big deal, just go back and follow signs if that happens. You'll still get there faster than taking a different line with a change plus it's Paris experience ;)

I usually don't use the metro at a 15 minute walk. 20 minutes might be a good choice because Chatelet is quite a bit of walking on it's own.

Chatelet metro station is not that difficult a station so yes, you are overreacting for a group of four adults who presumably can read. The confusion comes when you think about Chatelet-Les-Halles which is the complex formed by the Les Halles and Chatelet metro stations along with the RER station rather than thinking of Chatelet metro station which is the one that you need. For the trip to Gare-St-Lazare, just walk over the entrance for Chatelet metro station. You will not even have to head over to the RER area of the complex. It's all about entering the station near the train line you want and not wandering around the complex unless you need to in order to change trains, which, of course, does not apply to you. You want to enter the metro entrance near the corner of Rue des Lavandières Sainte-Opportune and Rue de Rivoli and then follow the signs for line 14. When you enter there, you are right at where Line 14 stops at Chatelet. For Versailles, if I were staying near the two metro stations you mention, I would just walk over to Notre-Dame-Saint-Michel. It will probably be the same amount of walking give or take 5 minutes (15 minutes as compared to 10) as any of the train or RER/train combo. But if you really want to take the metro, take Line 4 from Chatelet to Saint Michel and change there for the RER C. Again no need to worry about the larger complex. I hate walking underground. What helped me was to think of the complex as sectors and figuring out which entrance takes me closest to the train line that I need. This link might help: https://www.sortiesdumetro.fr/chatelet-les-halles.php

Thanks everyone for your input. JHK thanks so much for giving me the entrance to Chatelet that is closest to line 14. I have located that on google maps and it is only a 5 minute walk from our airbnb. As for going to RER C, we will walk to St Michel Notre Dame. This forum is so helpful!

I found this layout diagram to be very helpful to visualize where all of the lines, RER’s were located.

https://www.google.com/search?q=chatelet+layout&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiM5bXCq83hAhVShIMKHdAtCeAQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=chatelet+layout&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-img.3...154367.160046..160915...0.0..1.128.3461.3j28......0....1.........0i30j0i8i30j0j0i24j33i299j33i10.iTN8FtxtGbc&ei=OPqxXIzpEdKIjgTQ26SADg&bih=666&biw=1024&client=safari&prmd=nimv#imgrc=e_589WntY_MMFM

Thank you Jean. It is always helpful to have a visual :)