Need help! Travel from CDG to Vaugirard metro stop.

Hi Heather. Other will probably chime in with more details /other comments, but my reaction is that it would be good for you to get a Paris Metro map (in Rick Steves France or Paris book, which I would also highly suggest, or just google Paris Metro map). You will enjoy Paris and your trip much more if you can make your way without relying on others for step by step directions. The Paris metro is very easy to navigate. btw we stayed at that hotel our first time in Paris; it is comfortable and a pleasant neighborhood. (as are almost all neighborhoods in Paris.) Enjoy your trip!

Take a look at the metro Map & you see how to get there via the RER B & 2 changes. http://www.aparisguide.com/maps/metro.htm RER B past Gare de Nord to the St Michel stop / Metro Line 4 (magenta) to Gare Montparnasse / Metro Line 12 (green) to Vaugirard

Thanks for the responses! :) I have looked at the metro map, I just don't feel 100% confident. Last time I tried to plan our trip from the airport to our hotel well...it didnt go so well. We managed to get on the train, no problems. I got a seat with my gigantic suitcase (bad idea..very bad) and when I noticed our stop, I jumped up to get off of the train. Well, this little old lady was trying to get my seat, I'm trying to get off, the aisle was very narrow..huge suitcase..long story short, this group of very nice Italian men who were by the door, literally LIFTED me and my suitcase off the ground, passed us over people's heads and threw me off of the train seconds before the door closed. I thought it would be easier if I got through directions this time. :D

You can purchase the Paris Visite pass at either of the two RER stations at CDG. However, if you're going to spend most of your time in central Paris, then you'll be spending a lot of extra money for a zone 1-6 pass. You will be better off buying individual tickets to get from CDG to Paris and back to CDG (€8.70 each way). How many days will you be in Paris? What day of the week will you arrive and what day of the week will you leave?

For starters: ParisByTrain.com Read EVERYTHING (several pages) on 'CDG to Paris' - includes instructions ans a thorough photo-guide through the airport showing you the directional signs to the train station, what the ticket counter entrances look like, what the staicase down to the train station level looks like, where the ATM is, etc. MANY of your questions/ concerns will be answered by this resource. #3 - the train station is IN CDG; is this the one you're talking about? Read through Paris By Train... The Paris metro website wants to have you take RER B to Gare du Nord, transfer to RER E to Haussmann Saint-Lazare, then transfer to metro Line 12 to Vaugirard...In Theory, the website is supposed to give you the best way as far as ease goes...but I'm not so sure I wouldn't go 'Ojai Tim's' way...Expect stairs either way you go. You'd buy tickets for this at the "Billets Ile-de-France" ticket window at CDG. Any buses from CDG aren't going anywhere that will help you. Start here, digest this, then come back for clarification and questions...;-)

If it were me, I would take a taxi. Save a lot of hassle. Last thing you need after a long flight is 'faffing' around with transport to your hotel.

How are you at getting aroung IN Paris once you're there? Depending on how many are in your family, you might consider a taxi or shuttle bus. If you really want to figure out where you went wrong before, that's what I (and others) tried to help with. But if you can get around OK in Paris and you Just Want To Get There LOL then by all means look into private shuttle vans or a taxi. "My family & I have opted against taking a shuttle or a taxi. We are traveling light." We took you at your word ;-) Let in know if we can help again! (or confuse you some more LOL)

Thanks everyone for the tips!! :) We have opted against a shuttle/taxi just because of the costs. (We are trying to maintain a budget). We have a 13 year old who wants to take the train in (never been on one) so that's kind of a strange highlight for the family so to speak, lol. So what I'm gathering is, just walk through the airport to the train station? We are planning on purchasing the Paris Viste pass, will that work on the train from CDG? Thanks again everyone! :)

Yes, a zone 1-6 Paris Visite pass will cover your ride on the RER B from CDG to Paris. However, as I said in my previous post, it may not be cost effective. See the questions I asked there.

Hi Tim! Thanks for the response! We will be arriving in Paris on April 6 (Wednesday) and flying back to the US on Tuesday morning April 12. We are planning on visiting Versaille, which is one of the reasons why we were planning on getting the zone 1-6 pass. We also figured it would be better to use to get to and from the airport. Here are some of the places we would like to visit. Are all of these inside zones 1-3? (except Versailles of course) Louvre Musee D'Orsay Rodin Musuem Sacre Coeur Catacombs Eiffel Tower Napoleon's Tomb Arc De Triomphe
Versailles Do you think it would still be cheaper to get the zones 1-3 and just pay the extra for the round trip to Versailles and back and forth to the airport? Looking forward to your response! I'm all about saving some euros! ;) Thanks again!

Heather, The best multi-day pass is the Navigo Semaine, but it won't work well for you since you'll be arriving and departing in the middle of the week. It's good Monday-Sunday, not any seven-day period. Versailles is in zone 4. All your other sights are in zone 1. A single ticket from central Paris to Versailles costs €3.05 each way. A single ticket between CDG and central Paris costs €8.70 each way. I suggest that you buy single tickets for those rides. For your time in Paris I suggest that you buy ten-ticket carnets (€12.00) as needed and share the tickets. Exceptions: If you go to Versailles on either Saturday or Sunday, buy your son a one-day, zone 1-5 Ticket Jeunes (€6.85) for that day. Buy him one-day, zone 1-3 Ticket Jeunes (€3.40) for both Saturday and Sunday if you don't go to Versailles either day. If you like to explore on foot and don't take lots of rides every day, then tickets from carnets will serve you well. On any day that you know you will take six or more rides, buy zone 1-2 Mobilis passes €6.10) and save your t+ tickets for other days. For a list of all your transportation ticket and pass choices with links to detailed explanations of each one, go here.

You're a lifesaver, Tim!! :) That makes total sense. No point in buying the extra zones if its cheaper to just buy the single tickets! Thanks again!