Metro and RER in Paris in May

Alanna, IIRC the Paris Visite Pass is zone dependent and does not cover transport from the CDG is to Gare du Nord. Irregardlessn, the cheapest option is to buy a one way ticket from CDG to Gare du Nord and then decide what do for Paris. Same holds true for transport from Gare du Nord to CDG. FYI - A shared shuttle service costs about 2 times the train ticket. Edwin

Paris is walkable once you're in the central area . Your hotel appears to be a bit out of the way. Handle the CDG/City trip separately. Buy a carnet of metro tickets for moving around in town. If you use it up, buy individuals or another packet, depending on what your usage rate of the first one was. You're making it too compicated for a short visit.

You cannot buy RER tickets on the SNCF site. While you can buy a zone 1-6 Paris Visite pass that would cover your rides between CDG and Paris, why pay all that money for days you'll only be in central Paris? I agree with Edwin and Ed. Buy single tickets (€8.70 each way) for CDG-Paris and Paris-CDG. Buy ten-ticket carnets (€12.00) as needed for your rides in Paris and share the tickets. Each ticket covers your rides anywhere the metro goes (some lines end in zone 3) and on the RER in zone 1. Each ticket allows for bus-to-bus transfers up to 90 minutes after boarding the first bus. Tickets are also good on the Montmartre funiculaire.

Thanks guys. This is my first trip to Paris, so I want to be as prepared as possible and not waste valuable time trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. I only plan on staying in Zones 1-3. I won't venture much from there. We are staying in Moulin Rouge area for a couple of days then moving over to Latin Quarter our last day before heading out to Rome. We return to Paris towards the end of the month for three more days when we will stay in rue cler. Thanks for responding. You guys are always helpful, I have learned a lot about traveling in Europe from reading your replies. As suggested, I am going to purchase separate tickets from CDG into Paris back to CDG. Then purchase the carnet of tickets you were referring to, or just individual when needed after that. Where should I get the carnets? And would you suggest going ahead and getting a round trip ticket to and from the airport on the RER? And yes Ed you are probably right , I am over thinking this, but again this is my very first international trip; you guys are seasoned travelers.

I will probably laugh at myself when I get back...

Get the carnet at the first metro station you come to - - same place you'd buy a single ticket.

Alanna, The " Rapt.fr" site may answer more of your questions. The map of the metro lines is pretty good and there is also a place to type in your destination to see which line to use. If buying tickets in the automated machines, there is an english translation. Just watch the people in front of you.
Planning is half the fun

Thanks Ed. That sounds like a good plan. I have just spent some time on the ratp.fr site...great site! It does a good job of explaining the differences between types of tickets. Maps are nice and printable. Thanks again for the advice.

Alanna, a fantastic site for you to peruse is the Paris By Train website: http://parisbytrain.com/ Start with the Guide "CDG Airport to Paris". Like most new subjects, it might not make a lot of sense at first, but just read it through the first time...Then go back and re-read it for understanding. The section on photos of the airport, etc., is priceless! Eons ago, we were able to purchase a carnet of metro/bus tickets from the 'Billets Ile-de-France' ticket window...don't know if that's true today. It saved us a step... Do be aware that there is periodic construction for the next few years on the RER B train line between CDG and Paris, although this time around it looks like they're trying to keep it to the "late evening trains"...This probably won't affect you at all. You can check on this as your departure date gets closer.

Alanna: Since this is your first trip to Paris, have a look at tomsguidetoparis.com. It has tons of information useful and comforting to newcomers.

Thanks Eileen and Norma for those two websites, those are great. It is good to know that the carnets do not expire, that way we can use them on our return trip back to Paris at the end of May.

Tickets from carnets do not expire. If you have a few left at the end of your first stay in Paris, you can use them when you return.