Paris Metro Advice

So the weekly card covers Monday to Sunday. So if you’re not going over that time. It may not be a good match for you at all. That’s question one. If it doesn’t fit your timeframe, it’s probably just better to go with the easy card. And just fill it up as you need it. Keep in mind that everyone will need their own card.

Remember that the fare to the airport is not the same as within the city. You will need to pay and you can load it on your easy card the fare to the airport. every time I go to the airport there are people standing there who can’t get out because they didn’t actually buy the right ticket

. And you’ve heard it’s best to avoid taxis as they can rip you off. As if Uber won’t just stand you up and leave you standing on the street corner. I understand the love with Uber but my experience in Paris with Uber was horrible. I’ve been stood up and I’ve been dropped off at the wrong place. I’m over it.

To avoid taxi ripoff, why don’t you just download the G7 app and you can order taxis wherever you are and you’ll have very clear pricing and you won’t have any risk of being ripped off. Not to mention the Uber can’t use the bus lanes so you’re going to be sitting in traffic longer.

the metro is so efficient and so fast that it is our choice of Paris transport and for day trips in the region. It is easy to use and most kids love it and are good at planning trips. To the airport a taxi is the obvious choice -- it will cost 7 Euro to reserve ahead and then 65 from the left bank and 56 from the right plus 5.50 for your fifth passenger. Order it on the G7 English speaking line 2 days before your return home.

The airport ticket for the train is 13 Euro and you cannot put it on a Navigo Easy that has other tickets left on it so if you have to buy a new card it is 15 Euro. A cab from the left bank including reservation fee (absolutely reserve 2 days out as cabs are not always available for airport runs last minute) is about 77 Euro for your party of 5. RER would cost 65 or 75 if you. needed to buy new NEs for the ticket. Some stations may sell individual airport tickets but I would unable to do this for my daughter in May from our station.

If your trip falls between Mon-Sun of a single week then get everyone a Navigo Decouverte (need a postage stamp head shot of each person which you can print off on your computer at home) which will cover everything -- airport, buses, trains in the ile de France for a weekly pass on the 5 Euro card of 31.50 each. A great bargain. It is rigid because it is not designed as a tourist product, but tourists can use it.

Quick question, not a quick answer.

Taxis will only rip you off if you let them. As Carol advised, download the G7 app.

How old are your kids? They may qualify for reduced rates on public transportation. Can all kids manage stairs and luggage? You all, adults included, need to be aware of your surroundings when using public transportation, especially with luggage. Pickpockets look for easy prey. I'm not trying to scare you, I just want you to be prepared. Hopefully you will be traveling light.

The RER train from Paris to CDG is €13 full fare.

It may be better to take the taxi with a fixed rate to the airport, both for cost and convenience.

• €56 from right bank
• €65 from left bank
• Additional €5 for 5th person

No tip required.

And just an added thought on Jean's information - IF you decide to take a taxi in from CDG, go to the official taxi line. There is a line manager at the curb and you will tell them how many people you have. They will probably have your group stand to the side while they call up a larger rig from the waiting pen area.

Going back to the airport use the G7 app where you can indicate how many people and a larger size vehicle.

The G7 app is more useful in Paris than Uber (at least in my experience.) I've reserved a G7 taxi the day before a very early flight and they were there right on time. I've used them to get around the city on the fly and they are at your side in minutes.

Of course most of us use the Metro for getting around for the most part, and it really isn't complicated once you get the hang of it. Study the transit map and get familiar with it, you will see that same map in every station as well. Coming from the airport, it is easy to get right on the RER B to get into town, and then when you get into Paris, get a taxi from the taxi stand or use G7 if your hotel is more than a few blocks away.

For going back to the airport, though, I always feel the sense of urgency to be there on time, so I take a G7 taxi the whole way.

For paying for the Metro, I find the easiest is to use the Bonjour RATP app (I'm not sure how old your family members are and if they all have their own smartphones). On the app you can download a Navigo card to your Apple wallet and top it up from your phone. I buy 10 tickets at once and then they can be used on the metro, RER, and bus. In my many trips to Paris I don't think I have ever taken a taxi as there has always been a way to get where I am going on public transport- not to say you might not need one, but that you will probably need to use them less than you may think. Good luck!

I am old and out of touch but a personal nightmare for me would be trying to get 5 family members including kids to correctly use a phone app every time we got on the metro. As a tourist who likes to get around quickly I am constantly annoyed by people faffing around with their phones and not getting them to work at turnstiles -- add kids into that. No.

The cards are easy to use and rarely don't work.