From Orly into Paris

Debra,

Using the OrlyVal and RER will be the fastest method, but I'm not sure it's the best method under the circumstances. It sounds like the hotel gave you the "stock answer" without considering the details. You may want to have a look at the excellent Paris By Train website which has good information on the various methods for travel from Orly. You can take the OrlyVal train from either Sud or Oest.

However, you won't be able to buy tickets on the OrlyVal train, as it's an automated train and there are no staff. You'll have to buy them in the station and you'll need tickets to get through the turnstiles. I was there last year but don't remember any problems getting tickets. I believe the last OrlyVal departure of the night is at 23:00, so I'm not sure that will be an option anyway. By the time you deplane, collect luggage and get to the station, it will likely be WELL after 23:00.

Another option would be to take the Airport Shuttle Bus from stop 6 at Orly Sud, to the Pont de Rungis station for RER "C". I wasn't able to locate hours of operation for the shuttle but I'm assuming if there are flights arriving, it will probably be operating.

One concern I have is that riding either of the RER's at that time of night could be a bit "dodgy", especially if you're on your own. A Taxi would probably be the safest option and the Aeroports de Paris has information on that. Rates will undoubtedly be higher at that time of night.

Good luck!

Thanks, Dick and Ken, for your input. I understood that on Saturdays the Orlytrain and Orlybus ran til 0030 on Saturdays. Good catch on the RER times, tho, I didn't think about whether they would run at all hours. We are two females traveling together, will only have carry-on bags (likely backpacks), so no waiting at airport for bags, and (we're coming from Venice so no customs, but maybe passport check? If we get in on time at 2355, we should be able to get onto a bus by 0030, I would think? Our hotel is just west of the Monge-Claude Bernard stop on the no 47 bus line (intersection of those two streets), so ideally that's where I'd wind up.

I was using the ratp phone app before and not having much luck. Much better working with their website. Looks like I can take the Orlybus as late as 12:20 (or 0020, I guess) to Denfert-Rochereau-Metro-RER, then have a 20-minute walk to hotel (or hail a cab perhaps). That could work. Going on up to Luxembourg would overshoot my destination.

Also looks like I could take an N22 bus from Orly Sud directly to Gobelins that would leave me with only a two-minute walk to the hotel. Even better. Alas, when I finally found the timetable for the N22, it only starts running at 0049.

So I think my public transit options are Orlybus to Denfert... and walk 20 min, or N22 night bus to Gobelins and walk 2 minutes, but would mean cooling our heels at Orly til almost 1am before setting out.

That cab is sounding better all the time! Any further thoughts?

Sometimes when you have a problem the solution is to open up the money gun and start blasting until it goes away. Late at night in a strange town when all you want is the damn pillow is one of them.

Any of the proposed solutions would work but, as they've been stated, all, including yours, have minor flaws, guesses, and inaccuracies. The least of which is mass transit being spooky at night.

I've forgotten what the airport buses cost, a city bus is a couple of bucks, the val/rer combo is about fifteen.

You're going to complicate the problem yourself by making transportation mode changes, figuring out street direction, misreading signs, making wrong turns, and who knows what else. There's no way you can get to your hotel in less than an hour using what's been detailed so far.

Your flight is intra-Schengen. There is no passport check. With no checked luggage, you'll be standing outside the terminal as fast as you can walk -- about five minutes after you step on the jetway.

Road traffic will be minimal. A night taxi for two with junk will not cost forty euro and will have you on the hotel doorstep in thirty minutes.

Since the val/rer/walking is the cheapest option at fifteen bucks and half of the max taxi fare is twenty-eight dollars, the total money-gun blast is a whooping thirteen American US dollars.

@Ed,

Any of the proposed solutions would work but, as they've been stated, all, including yours, have minor flaws, guesses, and inaccuracies. The least of which is mass transit being spooky at night.

In reading over the post, I didn't realize there would be two travelling together on the RER, so was just trying to use a cautious approach. The RER may not be "spooky" but there could be drunks and other colourful individuals riding the trains, as well as the usual pickpockets and scammers. That wouldn't bother me, but it may make some people nervous.

I agree with you that spending the money for a Taxi is probably the best method, especially at that time of the night. Traffic should be light, so it should be a relatively quick trip to the hotel.

The Orlyval automated train takes only eight minutes but costs more than eight euros (according to the always-useful www.parisbytrain.com). At the time of night, a taxi stops looking expensive, especially when you subtract the Orlyval ticket.

OK, I'm convinced - taxi it is. Thanks for helping me work through the options.

You have received some great advice and since you are landing so late I 100% agree that taking a taxi will just be easier and save you any headaches. I just recommend having the address written/printed out that way you can just show it to a driver. Happy travels!