RER-B CDG to Paris

The RER is a commuter rail train, so there's really no spots for luggage,...just keep it with you. Normal precautions and you won't have any problems with pickpockets or thieves. However, if you're lugging a big bag, or have more than one suitcase, the Air France bus would certainly be more convenient.

Thanks for the information Norm. I really appreciate it.

If you're packing light and only have carry-on-sized luggage, it will fit in the rack above your seat on the RER.

Nancy,

I took that trip recently and luggage really wasn't a problem. The RER wasn't too busy, so I just placed my Backpack on the seat beside me. If you have larger luggage, you could also place it on the floor between the seats.

If you decide to use the RER, you can buy tickets from the automated machines at CDG or from a ticket office. I'd recommend the machines as the queues at the ticket office are sometimes enormous! One very important point though - the automated ticket machines ONLY accept "chip" credit cards!

If you want to have a look at travel via RER, go to parisbytrain.com</> as it's a very informative site and has photos as well.

Happy travels!

My family and I took the RER and bought our tix at the machine and I don't THINK we have a chip card. It was pretty easy. Love the Paris Metro - very safe and user friendly.

bronwen,

I was there about a month ago, and checked several of the ticket machines. These ALL required a "chip card".

It's possible these have been updated since your last visit. Check the website parisbytrain.com as that indicates that only "chip cards" are accepted.

Cheers!

Nope - this was February 2008. I was waiting in line (b/c I heard that our cards wouldn't work in the machines) but somehow my husband and 8 year old son figured out a way b/c they bought the tix out of the machine!

I like getting off the plane and immersing myself in the public transportation system - the adventure begins immediately (and you get the satisfaction of saving a few euros).

Ken - I was in Paris last September and none of the RER or Metro machines would take my cards. A couple of years before that I did not have any problems. I checked with the ticket booths and they told me only they could process the 'old style' credit cards (their words not mine) without the chips.

bronwen, I was there in May/June 2009, so I suspect they've replaced / updated all the machines since your visit in 2008. The parisbytrain.com website would seem to confirm that. I checked a number of the machines, and NONE of them would accept non-chip credit cards.

Julie, Yes, the agents at the ticket offices can process the older style magnetic strip credit cards. It's only the automated ticket machines that require "chip" cards.

I knew the ticket machines at CDG could be an issue, so I made sure that I had at least one "chip" card for my trip this year. The first machine I tried wouldn't work with my card, but I tried a second machine and it worked just fine. I was very happy that it worked, as the queue at the ticket office was HUGE!

Cheers!

We were there about a month ago, and took the RER in with no problems. We had several pieces of luggage, had never been to Paris, had to transfer to the Metro, and had not slept in 24 hrs, but it was all a "piece of cake".

It was easy to walk to the RER stop @ CDG, and the RER was not packed. The only problem was schlepping our bags up and down stairs going from the RER to the Metro stops.

On our trip out of Paris we used the subway system also.........and never had any problems.

Took the RER B a few weeks ago from CDG and the train got VERY crowded. Many people had baggage and just smashed in with it. I had my small roller suitcase besides me and had no problems. Non-chip credit card would not work in ticket machine, but I just waited in the long line to buy it from a human.

The RER & Metro are easy to use. It can get crowded, or not. Depends on time of day.

We were there in July and the machines required either a chipped credit card or Euro COINS, not currency.

We waited in a line at the booth and fended off the "Speak English?" women. We waited about 30 minutes. But we bought a Paris Visite pass and were all set for public transit for our 2.5 day stay.

Joan