Paris transport help please

hornetgirl

We (two adults) are going to Paris next month and my head is getting in a whirl trying to work out the best/most economical way of getting around while we are there.
Our itinerary is as follows:

Sat - arrive at Gare du Nord early afternoon. Hotel is within walking distance.
Sun - will be spending a large chunk of the day on the Champs Elysees and will stay central for the rest of the evening
Mon - Disneyland Paris
Tue - Versailles
Wed - need something central-ish to do until early evening Eurostar home

We've been to Paris quite a few times before and have just bought carnets, but have always stayed central, so haven't had to think about things like Mobilis passes. If anyone can suggest what would be the best combination of tickets to buy, I would be very grateful :money:

angelil

For your Disney and Versailles days, I would just buy the return tickets to those destinations.
For your first day you won't need any tickets by the sounds of things.
I would then just get a carnet, as that should cover your Sunday and Wednesday together.
It doesn't quite sound like you'll be moving around enough within one day to go for a Mobilis pass.
Navigos etc are also not suitable for your purposes.

I'll have a think and see if there's anything I've missed.

hornetgirl

Thanks Angelil. I take it a return ticket costs less than the relevant Mobilis? That would certainly be fine for the Disney day if so. Not sure what time we'll be back from Versailles, but will likely want to do something in the evening if we're not too tired. I guess I'm asking at what point a Mobilis becomes worthwhile.

PompeyPete

Why not consider Versailles on Sunday? There's a brilliant, mainly open-air, market in centre of town in the morning.
Loads of atmospheric cafes/restaurants skirt the market, and the road up to the main entrance to the Chateau.
There's a small hamlet and working farm in one of the corners of the Chateau gardens called Hamlet of Marie Antoinette. Most visitors miss it, but it's well worth a peek, and away from the crowds.

On your spare day why not do something completely different, and visit...

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

and/or...

http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-sewers-museum.htm

Both are on the Left Bank, and easy to find.

hornetgirl

Lol, Sunday is when the Tour de France arrives on the Champs Elysees, which is the purpose of the trip. Thanks for the other suggestions though, will have a look into those.

mcfisco

I bookmarked this thread for future reference

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3886599

PompeyPete

hornetgirl wrote: »

Lol, Sunday is when the Tour de France arrives on the Champs Elysees, which is the purpose of the trip.

Aaarrgh, lycra louts! I'd definitely go to Versailles:D

angelil

hornetgirl wrote: »

Thanks Angelil. I take it a return ticket costs less than the relevant Mobilis? That would certainly be fine for the Disney day if so. Not sure what time we'll be back from Versailles, but will likely want to do something in the evening if we're not too tired. I guess I'm asking at what point a Mobilis becomes worthwhile.

A Mobilis for zones 1-5 (which is what you'd need for Disneyland Paris and back) is €14,20.

The return journey just to Disneyland and back, with nothing else included, is in fact exactly the same! €14,20. SO if you are wanting to do something afterwards then the Mobilis is better (this surprises me; you'd think they'd be a bit more canny about it). Although I always find Disney takes my entire day so there's no room really to do anything afterwards

For Versailles, the Mobilis for zones 1-4 is €10,55.

The return journey to Versailles and back with nothing else included is €8. Again the Mobilis may be worth it if you want to do one or two things afterwards, but it's not worth buying the Mobilis *just* to go to Versailles.

Hope that helps a bit

hornetgirl

Thanks Angelil, that's exactly what I needed to know. I imagine that after going to Disneyland all we'll want to do is sleep.

PompeyPete

Just for info, Disneyland is at the eastern end of RER Line A.
At the other end of the line is a town called St Germain en Laye. It's a lovely Paris suburb, yet far from the madding crowd.
It's got lovely cafes and restaurants, and lots of interesting buildings, not least the Chateau (one of Louis XIV's), which is sat on top of a panoramic terrace with great views east to La Defence and Paris...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st+germain+en+laye&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHIK_en-GBGB412GB412&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=61btT4rpONGq0AWGyuH4DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CGsQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=653

I used to live near there in a small town called Le Vesinet. And every day I'd get the RER (Line A) to work in Paris, I never once went to the other end to visit Disneyland. Far too much to do in Paris and it's Banlieu!

hornetgirl

We go to Paris most years but only ever for a few days at a time, so never manage to do very much in any one trip. I'm storing up your suggestions for future visits though Pete. The only reason we're doing the Disney thing is that we have the free Sky tix.