I am meeting my daughter in Paris for a few days. I'd like your input re: taking the RER B from CDG to St Michel which is very close to where we will stay. I'll be there 5 days, leaving early Sunday am. Should I buy a weekly navigo pass or a carnet and train ticket? My understanding is that the navigo pass would include the CDG-Paris RER ride as well as the metro and bus. We will spend all our time in the city most likely given the short time. I plan to get a 2 day museum pass from the TI. Is the navigo pass purchased there as well? My sense is that the navigo pass would be simpler. ??
Posted by
Vacaville, Ca
1369 posts
No the Navigo Decouverte is not purchased at the TI, but yes the Museum Pass is. You can get the ND card at the Metro station ticket window at CDG. I scanned my passport foto, shrunk it in size to meet their requirements, Photo 3cm tall/2.5cm wide: 1.18” tall/.98” wide, and brought it with me. This past May while waiting in line for one of the 6-ticket windows I was called to #2, asked for the card and she had me go to window #6, that was the person only dealing with the ND cards that day. No hassle, just walked down and waited behind the person being taken care of.
I was in Paris from Saturday to the following Sunday, so it worked for us since we were traveling all over Paris and to Fontainebleau. The ND covers the buses as well as the train out to Fontainebleau & the shuttle/bus from the station to the Chateau, so it worked fine for us.
Paris By Train offers good info, http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-metro-week-pass-navigo-decouverte/
Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
Green Bay
20143 posts
But with the Navigo, you can access the entire Paris suburbs, including airports, Versailles, even Disneyland with a swipe of the card. Don't forget, when exiting the RER system, you also have to swipe the card to let you out of the station. Seamlessly transfer from Metro to city bus and vice versa. Its pretty handy. and you can simply reload it on your next Paris visit, provided it is cost effective. The Monday to Sunday feature is problematic if visiting across a long weekend, but that is the way it goes.
Posted by
Chicago
8063 posts
If you are doing a trip into Paris and then back to the airport the ND is a no -brainer since it fits your dates. If you are only using it coming into Paris and are leaving by some other means, it is still a good choice especially if you will do any other travel outside Paris (in the Ile de France) or if you will use public transport a lot.
If you only break even the ND is a better choice for convenience and with 5 days an one or two airport trips, it is likely to be a savings.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I was happy getting into town with the RER B. I had booked a ride on Easy Bus because it was only 2 euro. When I went to where I was supposed to catch the bus, however, it wasn't there. I asked inside and they said it runs every 45 minutes. I didn't want to wait, then have an hour into town. I had seen the signs to the train, so decided to just get into town. The RER B gets you in to town faster (about 40-45 minutes) than anything that uses roads and costs 10 euro (versus 55+ for a taxi).
I travel light, one carry on only. If you have a group of people (more than two or three) with luggage, a taxi is likely more convenient and not much more expensive.
I used carnet's rather than the Navigo pass, but that's something you have to work out to decide which is best for your visit.
I would consider a four day museum pass unless you know you will only want to see places on two days. The cost goes down, per day, quite a bit when you buy a longer pass.
Posted by
Paris
2466 posts
Easy Bus has been discontinued.