Paris Travel Answers

What is the best way to buy Metro tickets? By carnets (books) of 10 individual tickets at metro station ticket windows. You can share the tickets, and a book costs about 12.70 euro. Is it worth it for us to get some sort of pass for 3 days? No - carnets are almost always cheaper unless you're using the metro a great deal These tickets do not cover trips to Versailles - you'll want to buy separate tickets for that as it's outside the metro zone and RER Peripherique. You'll take an RER train (line C, as I remember) out there and will need different, more expensive tickets for any other trips outside of the metro/Peripherique zone as well.

Thanks Kate, where do I buy the RER tickets to Versaille, train station?

Sophia, you don't say where your hotel is.....

Sophia, here are some member tips on getting to Versailles: Versailles Transportation Tips by breughel "Ways to come to Versailles" - Versailles Transportation Tip by gwened "RER from Paris" - Versailles Transportation Tip by Dabs Dabs tip is still relevant even though you can't buy the combo palace/transport ticket anymore. Use for general directions.

Yes, buy them at an RER/metro station: Here's some RER info that may be helpful - do note that prices could be a bit outdated as this pages was updated in 2012 but info is good: http://parisbytrain.com/paris-rer/ This from the Versailles website might be helpful as well: RER C To get to the palace of Versailles, make sure to buy a "Paris - Versailles Rive Gauche" ticket (zones 1-4) T+ ticket is not valid for this journey. (Sophia, T+ ticket is what you get in the carnets) SNCF Trains Arrive at Versailles Chantiers station from Paris Montparnasse Arrive at Versailles Rive Droite station from Paris Saint Lazare Train schedule on www.transilien.com

Typos - sorry... ..."as this page was last updated in 2011..."

I have some left over metro tickets still valid..is there time to post them to you I wonder?..if not its super easy to buy them at the machines or even better at the newsagents RELAY ..you can buy as many or as few as you like...PM me if you want me to post the ones I have to you..... I dont really 'shop' so I cant help with that...sorry

Thanks Kirsty! It would probably not get here in time, but thanks for the offer! We are saving a ton of money alreay by not renting a car this time. I just hope this all works out

Thanks everyone , think I got it figured out now! Just need to practise up some more on my French...

You have seen my shopping thread I know ... we may also want to 'look' at some of the more up market shops ....though not buy. But what about the ice cream?...for the kids? I have sent you an email Marg

Monoprix is a good place for inexpensive kids clothes. They are all over Paris. http://www.monoprix.fr/ Bon Marche is a department store in Paris that isn't too expensive although it's pricier than Kohls. If you go in July, you may hit the July sales (soldes). That can be fun. http://www.lebonmarche.com KShezz, hang on to those Metro tickets. They will be honored. If they don't work in the turnstyles, take them to the ticket office and they'll give you new ones. Unless they're ancient, they should work in the turnstyles. Buy all the Metro and RER tickets at the Metro ticket office. The 12.70 euro carnet is perfect and you can share the tickets, but advice above is correct. You need separate tickets to the airports and to Versailles. To Versailles take RER-C5 direction Versailles-Rive-Gauche. Rive-Gauche is the last stop and it's a very short walk to the palace. Enjoy Paris.

The Florida travel planner is here. 2 weeks wow is just around the corner. questions and answers if less than a week monday to sunday, get the carnet of 10 tickets nowdays by 12,70€ and get the one fromthe airport RER B at 9 euros about.www.ratp.fr will tell you more for 3 days no, stay with the carnet Versailles is zone 4 you need 3,25€ to get here where I am now lol!!! rainy but packed. just read this site in English its the ile de France transport site transilien.com/web/site/accu... tell all ::) shopping is good all over Paris, Versailles even cheaper. Go to H&M, Camaieu,C&A, Esprit,new look,promod,1.2.3,Etam,Pimky,mango,and my boys girls do it a lot at Jennyfer (http://www.jennyfer.com/) then you have the malls at Italie2 and Bercy2 inside Paris and Parly II at Versailles (Le Chesnay). you can use google to find the rest of the names. hope it helps

Beausoleil,Bon Marche used to be very reasonable, but they remodeled and now it is one of the most expensive department stores in Paris. Way out of my league so probably there wont be anything affordable for a teenager there. I go there often, but only to use the bathroom when I am out for a walk.

darn those stores are very good for that ::)

So sad . . . I'll stick with Monoprix.

Hi Pedro, thanks for the tips!! I think I want to go to the Italie2 mall, it looks fairly easy to get to and has lots of stores!

Welcome to Virtual Tourist, mastaz314 , You've provided some nice reflections on Paris but these are better written up as reviews than used as teasers for your blog: advertising those on the Virtual Tourist forums (see the guidelines) is not allowed and so posts like yours are usually removed by the staff. As it sounds like you have some great experiences to share about the city, do consider building some pages here on the site to share your information and original photos with our other members. It's easy and fun - find out how to do that here: Adding Your Own Pages and Tips

Arrgh!! I am annoyed already!!! Why is everything only open from 10 -5 in Paris???? ( all the sites seems like) . So what are we supposed to do the REST of the time?!

what stores? they are open to 19h and some later in shopping centers to 20h

Where did you get that idea, Sophia ? Perhaps the banks, post offices and town halls but certainly not the shops.

The Italie2 mall certainly looks to be open late. From the website (translated): The shops: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 20pm, Thursday evenings until 21pm. Carrefour Market: Monday to Saturday from 9h to 22h. I remember most shops along the streets being open into the evenings although I can't swear for Sundays.

No Kate, you won't find a lot Sunday evening. Sundays, it's only really the tourist areas that have shops open. In most areas late in the evening you can always find the "petit Arabe du coin" open. And before anyone jumps in screaming racist, when I say that, it is absolutely not derogatory. You have to have lived in Paris to know what I mean, as these shops are appreciated by thousands.

Um, you guys need to read more carefully:-) I said "SITES" not stores! Tourist sites: the muesums, the opera house, the chuches, just about everything is only open from 10-5. I don't plan on spending more than a few hours shopping....and yeah, mall opens at 10 also but stays open later But that leaves nothing to do in the morning until 10, plus other than going to the mall one evening, what else is there to do after 5?

Especially by 'non-smoking' smokers I bet! :-)

Yes sorry Sophia, when I read "sites" I read web"sites". Silly me...

Have you seen this listing of museums, I find there are quite a lot of things open after 17h00. For churches it is normal, services start around 18h00 and it's understandable they don't want loads of tourists gawking and setting off flashes.

ahh yes sites huh? oh well. shopping center open until 20h and some like mall type until 22h the stores until 19h, sites like museums like Louvre 18h, and so on.

Idiot I forgot the link, trying to type and watch the football at the same time. paris.com/paris_landmarks/mu...

before 10h you can have that wonderful Paris breakfast coffee and croissants and see the early morning rise of Parisien or just stroll in the parks. Vive la difference ::) if you go into the other France ::) then you will see a lot less open late , like Brittany. Paris is an oasis.

Oops me too sorry, yup. The parks can be great to explore after the museums close: Jardin du Luxembourg: en.parisinfo.com/museum-monu... Tuilleries: en.parisinfo.com/museum-monu... You can also go up in the Arc de Triomphe: en.parisinfo.com/museum-monu...