We are flying American to CDG for our first trip to Paris. According to our itinerary, we arrive at AEROGARE 2 TERMINAL A at 9:30 AM. We would like to attempt taking the RER B into Paris since our apartment is on Rue St. Andre des Arts about 0.4 km from the St. Michel-Notre Dame stop.
It looks like we can either take the Aéroports de Paris Shuttle Busses (line 3) at gate 8 of terminal 2A or walk through terminal 2 to the RER station that is inside terminal 2 right by the TGV station.
We will want to buy tickets to Paris plus our zone 1 and 2 Carte Orange IDs and coupons. I believe the attendants at the booths will take credit cards – is that correct? Is there someplace we have to “composte” the tickets before getting on the train?
We will try to get an express train. When we get to the St. Michel-Notre Dame stop, we will walk to the Notre Dame exit toward the back of the train because that is where the escalators are located (even though the St Michel exit is closer to our apartment.)
Am I missing anything? Also, is the following the correct way to ask for the tickets?
Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame. Nous voudrions deux billets pour Paris et deux Carte Orange avec deux coupon pour zones un et deux, s’il vous plait.
Bohn-zhoor, muhs-yur/mah-dahm. Noo voo-dree-ohn duh bee-yay poor Paree ay duh kart oh-RAHNZH ah-vehk duh coupon(?) poor zones(?) uhn ay duh, see voo play.
(It took me a while to try to translate using our phrasebook and old posts. I’m not sure about the pronunciation of a few words.)
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Looks like you%26#39;ve done your homework. You%26#39;ll be fine. No worries.
%26lt;%26lt;I believe the attendants at the booths will take credit cards – is that correct?%26gt;%26gt;
Only the ticket kiosks are credit card challenged. At the walk-up windows, all credit cards are accepted.
%26lt;%26lt;Is there someplace we have to “composte” the tickets before getting on the train?%26gt;%26gt;
The turnstile you pass through when you enter the RER system %26quot;validates%26quot; the ticket without further action on your part. Make sure you hang on to the ticket because you will need to insert it in the turnstile to exit the RER system at the St. Michel-Notre Dame stop.
%26lt;%26lt;When we get to the St. Michel-Notre Dame stop, we will walk to the Notre Dame exit toward the back of the train because that is where the escalators are located (even though the St Michel exit is closer to our apartment.)%26gt;%26gt;
That%26#39;s always been our favorite way to enter the city - Notre Dame as the first sight when we emerge from underground (the RER is below ground), but it is a block or two farther from Rue St. Andre des Arts than exiting from the FRONT end of the train/platform. Lots of stairs and navigation... Shorter but longer.
You%26#39;re clearly on top of this stuff so don%26#39;t worry. We hope you have a great stay in Paris!
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As my dear grandmother would have said: %26quot;Go to the top of the class and leave your books behind!%26quot;
You have done your research very thoroughly. Yes the attendant will take your US credit cards. No you do not need to %26quot;composter%26quot; the tickets. Just inseert them in the slot att he turnstiles and remove them (and keep them handy) after they have been cancelled.
Your French version of how to ask for the tickets is certainly more tan good enough. If you wanted to make assurance doubly sure you could go to the page with the prices for the CO on the RATP site, print it, and highlight exactly what you want and wite X 2 in bold print beside it — but IMO you should rely on your French and only use the printout as a backup. I don%26#39;t think you will need it.
Have a great trip!
PS: This is real nit-picking but you might want to add the word %26quot;hébdomadaire%26quot; (ayb-dom-ah-dare) meaning %26quot;weekly%26quot; after the word coupons.
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Hi there mole!
Looks like you and I were composing or responses at the same time. Good thing we agree that Kay is a straight-A student!
PS; Speaking of moles, Masterpiece Theatre is broadcasting an adpatation of %26quot;Wind in the Willows%26quot; tonight on PBS here in the US of A. If it%26#39;s even half as good as the National Theater production I saw a few years back in London it should be a delight. Perhaps you can pick up a DVD someime if you wouild be interested...
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Irish, how we miss PBS and Masterpiece Theater. We were devotees when we lived in the states but French cable only has BBC World and CNN so we don%26#39;t even see what the British see 200 miles away.
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An apartment on St Andre des Arts? Would you mind sharing, altho we%26#39;ve already got a hotel in the Marais.
Also, I vaguely remember a Carte Orange, but cannot find it in my guidebook...I made photos up, but they don%26#39;t seem necessary for the ordinary Metro pass. We will be in Paris for one week and were wondering if buying carnets of 10 tix was more efficient pricewise, as walking will be our primary mode of transport and why buy more pass than necessary. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
Bon voyage!
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Thanks, Metromole and IrishRovr. We only have a few weeks left before we leave, so I%26#39;m trying to nail down all the little details.
MidwestKC, the apartment is through vacationinparis.com: www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_122.htm
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MidwestKC -
The Zone 1-2 Carte Orange is valid from Monday through Sunday and costs 16€. The Carnet of 10 tickets costs 10€900. Whether the CO would be a better choice for you depends on the days of the week you will be visiting Paris and how much you will use the métro/bus system.
The CO is the only transport pass for which a photo is required.
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