Museum/ Metro Pass

We are leaving next week for Paris. I looked at these pretty thoroughly and posted on it. The "Paris Pass" combines the Museum pass and Transit pass and adds some useless discounts and about $40 for their own pocket. Buy the passes separately, Paris Museum Pass, and Paris Visite Pass, sold by RATP, the official Paris transit authority. I'll dig up my figures again and post back.

Here is my pass analysis. This is for 6 days but works for other periods as well: Paris Museum Pass 6 day 69.00 euro Paris Visite (z1-3) 5 day 34.15 Euro
Paris Visite (z1-3) 1 day 9.75 Euro Total 6 day museum & transit 112.90 Euro The Paris Visite also includes discounts at Arc D'Triumphe, Open Tours (Hop on Hop off bus) and Bateaux Parisiens. The Paris Pass 6 days 176.00 Euro The Paris Pass includes the Museum Pass and the Paris Visite Pass and a slew discounts on things you probably won't do, all for an extra 63.10 Euro

Thanks so much. Appreciate it. My instinct told me to avoid the Paris Pass and I was right. Will go with the one that everyone suggested the museum pass.

Toby what type of metro pass are you planning on getting. If your week falls monday thru sunday then a Navigo pass is a good idea, about 19 euros for the weeek plus 5 euro start up fee. Good for unlimited bus or metro within Paris. Or, if you plan on alot of walking you just get un carnet of tickets( which is just ten one way tickets sold at a dicount) its about 12 euros. I find one of those lasts me 4-5 days, and you can both use the tickets so you could get three carnets, which is 30 trips,for less then two Navigo Decouverte passes.

Admission to the Arc de Triomphe is included in the Paris Museum Pass. The Paris Visite pass is overpriced. A 7-day Navigo Semaine loaded on a passe Navigo Decouverte card is the best pass. It's good Monday-Sunday, not any 7-day period; but can be a good deal even for less than seven days if you take a lot of rides every day. A zone 1-2 Navigo Semaine costs €19.15. The rechargeable passe Navigo Decouverte card costs €5.00 and requires a small photo (1 x 1.25 inches). Scan your passport or driver license photo and print a copy in the appropriate size. The card is good for ten years. If you like to walk and won't take multiple rides every day, then you may be better off just buying ten-ticket carnets (€12.70) as needed and sharing the tickets. Each ticket is good anywhere the Metro goes (some lines end in zone 3) and on the RER in zone 1 (all of central Paris). A ticket provides unlimited transfers on the Metro and/or RER until you exit the system. A ticket provides bus transfers up to 90 minutes after boarding the first bus, but you cannot transfer between Metro/RER and bus on a single ticket. A ticket also is good on the Montmartre funiculaire that goes up the hill to the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.

It looks like Pat and I were posting at about the same time. At any rate, we agree with each other.

While I'm not sure the Paris Pass is a god value, there are other parts of it that are missingn from this discussion. You do get a free wine tasting at O Chateau - or 20€ credit at their food & wine bar. A river cruise is included, too. And I think a few other things. For people arriving mid-week, or even on a weekend, the Navigo can be a poor value. The Paris Visite pass is actually a good deal for children, since there isn't a children's price for the Navigo. They also can be good value for anyone who has only a day in Paris and needs to go round trip to/from CDG and will be zipping all over.

Thanks Tin & Pat. You just saved us 20 EU. We'll toast you with a bottle of wine.

Dina, You're right. I shouldn't have made a totally negative statement about the Paris Visite. In fact, I've often recommended a one-day, zone 1-5 Paris Visite for people doing exactly what you described. Since you brought up children, parents can buy a half-price 10-ticket carnet for children under 10. And persons under 26 can buy a one-day, zone 1-3 Ticket Jeunes (€3.55) for either Saturday or Sunday.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. The next step is to organize and write down all the museums we plan on visiting so we get organized and now buy the right passes. Certainly anything that's in walking distance we prefer that so we can experience as much as Paris as possible. A day trip to Versailles is on the list (i think I read there's a bus company that takes you there?) but I haven't had a chance to read up on that yet. We are staying near the Eiffel Tower so I'm told there are some good food choices around there too. (would gladly take any of your favorites). HOWEVER, since I've received some great responses(my first time doing this!) any suggestions that tourists usually wouldn't find? Gladly welcome your feedback. Again, thank you all!!!!

Toby, the museum pass does cover Versailles, ( but on weekends when there is the fountain show there is an extra 8 euro supplement you would have to pay).
Since you are near the ET it would be super easy and cheap ( 7 euros return!) to take the train ( RER) from Invalids) to Versailles Rive Gauche. About 40 minutes and then a easy 10 minute walk to Chateau. A great web site to look at for any transport issues in and around Paris is "paris by train"., its so helpful, has photos of the tickets, the machines, some of the stations, what signs to look for etc etc.

As Pat suggested, take the RER C to Versailles-Rive Gauche. Be aware that the RER C line divides on the west side of Paris. All trains with the nameplate VICK go to Versailles-Rive Gauche. The fare from anywhere in central Paris is €3.25 each way. For a zoomable map of the Metro and RER system, go here: http://tinyurl.com/6xmvms4.

Wonderful! Thanks. Kind of a trival question bring my iPad? Usually I wouldn't (have iPod not iPhone). Think worth taking? Thanks appreciate the input.

The Paris museum pass site has a great feature where you can the ones you're interested in, and make a list. It will include addresses, phone #'s, and hours of operation. It's also easy to look at each museum's site from the main site.

Toby I never take anything but my ipod, and even that not always. Some people really like to bring all their stuff, and find uses for it, but I manage it without it myself and I have alot less to worry about getting lost or stolen.

Since the iPad is basically a very large iPod, the choice is about whether the iPad's larger screen will offset its larger size and weight. If you have a 3G model of iPad, there's also the ability to buy a local microSIM card for data; the iPod does not have that ability, but then, a Wi-Fi only iPad doesn't either. Your call. If you're not sure, take the iPod, since it's smaller and lighter.

Thanks all! Think I will leave the iPad home. I will take my much smaller and convenient iPod which will do the trick. I really need to so some serious homework and map out this trip with all your wonderful comments. Will still take any recommendations for off the "tourist" beat for restaurants or even good food experiences around town.