Paris Help

templei

Hi All,

Please can i ask for some advice for my trip to Paris next week.

We are mainly going to visit EuroDisney but are planning on heading to Paris for a day trip. We have a hire car so can drive in or we could get the train. Does anyone know what would be easier/cheaper and if you think it would be better to drive where would you reccommend parking the car?

I have been to Paris before but my girlfriend hasn't so i was planning on taking in the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coure and Notra Dame which will probably take most of the day.

Any help is most appreciated,

Cheers

Ian

loveabargain13

Every car I have ever seen in Paris has a nice dent, scratch or dong hehe I would say that it would be easier to get in by train, only beacsue I have never seen anywhere to park, nor a parking space, you can get transfers from most of the disney hotels to the train station.

PeteMc

Easier to drive in my opinion, there are loads of public car parks in Central Paris. Usually they are underground and operated by Vinci parking.

Here's all the locations by arrondisement : http://www.vincipark.com/vincipark.nsf/fr/ville.htm?openagent&paris.htm

The standard of driving is big city style so take care but if you're a confident driver you won't have any problems. Watch out for priorite a droite (http://www.france4families.com/DrivingInFrance/RulesoftheRoad.htm) on roundabouts.

When in Paris use the Metro to get around.

Backbiter

Train every single time. Driving in Paris is not recommended.

mikey72

Metro, get a day ticket, about 9 euros, (or 19 if you want to travel further) and travel round to all the sites. It's part of the Paris experience anyway. Are you stopping anywhere near a metro, or would you need to drive to the outskirts and park anyway? If you are staying at Disney the metro runs from there anyway.
look at http://www.ratp.fr/ for maps and prices.

MancBrel

Parking in Paris is a nightmare. I'm constantly amazed at how they get their cars into such small spaces. Unless you are prepared to drive around waiting for the sight of a car pulling out then squeezing in (somehow?), then take the metro.

As posted already, the Metro is part of the Paris experience.

Have a good trip.

MidlandsMum

Train. Every time. Quick, comfortable and the RER from Disney gets you into Charles De Gaulle Etoile station, which is right at the top of the Champs elysee. Also, if you do drive in you will find yourself getting the metro to see the main sites as they are not within walking distance to see them all in a day. Metro Stations are about 150m apart on average and the trains are very regular.

There used to be an unwritten agreement between parisien drivers that they would leave the handbrake off on their car so someone trying to squeeze in behind them could shunt their car forward to get in.

Actually, this reminds me. I had someone call my office this week for a valentines break in Paris. When she asked about transfers I said a 3 day metro pass would be the easiest and most convenient method. This woman was horrified, said there was no possible way they could use the metro, it was too common and they would use taxis. I was honest and said I didnt think Paris was for them. Who wants to spend three days stuck in a taxi around the Arc De Triomphe?

The_Frenchman_2

MidlandsMum wrote: »

Actually, this reminds me. I had someone call my office this week for a valentines break in Paris. When she asked about transfers I said a 3 day metro pass would be the easiest and most convenient method.

Quick note. As of last month the carte orange which was being phased out in Paris has stopped completly.

I think the one, three and five day passes have gone with them. As far as I know your only options as of the new year are the "Navigo" passes which need to be charged up depending on which zones you want to use for either a week or a month or a book of 10 metro tickets at a reduced price. (12 euro instead of 15)

The_Frenchman_2

mikey72 wrote: »

Metro, get a day ticket, about 9 euros, (or 19 if you want to travel further) and travel round to all the sites. It's part of the Paris experience anyway. Are you stopping anywhere near a metro, or would you need to drive to the outskirts and park anyway? If you are staying at Disney the metro runs from there anyway.
look at http://www.ratp.fr/ for maps and prices.

See the above note on day tickets.

It is the RER not the metro from the parc. The tickets are very similar but the Metro ones are about a fith of the price and if you only have one of those you will get fined if caught.

Many tourists make the mistake of thinking that because the machine always returns your ticket you can reuse it. They actually stamp the date and time on them and it is up to you to discard them when you leave the station.

Inspectors are few and far between but fines are fairly high and can ruin a holiday.

Francophile

You can buy tickets online for the open top hop on hop off bus tour which covers all the main sites since your time is limited. I think it's around €22

mikey72

The carte orange has been replaced by the new pass, but only if you need a weekly ticket, see http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-metro-week-pass-navigo-decouverte/
As a tourist they try to sell you the ParisVisite pass,which is still good value for money, and has a kids price.
For 1, 2, 3 or 5 day passes see the ParisVisite on http://www.ratp.fr/.
It is valid on all Paris transport systems, including the metro, RER, and buses.
The RER from disney is in zone 5, so a one day pass is on the website at 18.50 euros.
We used a mixture or these and the carte orange to get round last year, from disney to paris, then round paris to see the sites.