Paris planning- insider knowledge required!

jibbyboo

Hi!

I'm off to Paris next week and I am hoping someone with insider knowledge can help me with a couple of questions:

1) is it easier/ cheaper to buy metro and train tickets in advance? We're going to Disney Land so I know I need to get a ticket for the RER.

2) what is the cheapest way to get from Charles de Gaulle to Paris (we're staying in Montparnasse)? Would it be train and metro, or some sort of shuttle/ taxi service? We arrive about 10pm into the airport, so not sure if that makes a difference.

3) we're hoping to go to the Cattacombs, but I've heard that there are queues for around 3 hours to get in. I've seen that you can buy tickets online in advance for specific times, so I'm wondering if that will help to avoid huge queues?

Huge thank you if you can help! :happylove

agrinnall

It costs around 10 Euros to get from CDG into Gare du Nord on the train, which I assume runs at that time of night. Not sure how you get to Montparnasse but it should only be a couple of Euros extra on the Metro.

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport

A taxi is in the region of 50 Euros, so depending on how many of you there are it may be cheaper, or at least more convenient.

purcel

Have a look here for tube and RER tickets, the Paris Visite are great value for money http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/r_61584/tickets/

It is not cheaper to buy the tickets in advance, but may be easier, although you have the ticket machines at ever train or tube station. You need zones 1 to 5 to cover you from Charles de Gaule airport

http://booking.parisinfo.com/z6200e2x26827m466g2603_uk-tour-ticket-paris-visit-pass-transport.aspx

From the airport you need to take RER B to Denfert Rochereau then Metro no 4 in the direction of Porte de Clignacourt for 3 stops until Gare de Montparnasse.

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/

Catacombes information here http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/visit/access-opening-times-accessibility/access-and-timetables
http://b12-gat.apps.paris.fr/Offres.aspx Seems there's only a few dates available for august you can book, so all I can say go there for 8am and wait in the queue until 10am to make sure you go in first

Any questions please PM me, I have lived there for 3 years and know my way around a bit

jpsartre

jibbyboo wrote: »

3) we're hoping to go to the Cattacombs, but I've heard that there are queues for around 3 hours to get in. I've seen that you can buy tickets online in advance for specific times, so I'm wondering if that will help to avoid huge queues?

FWIW, I've been to the Cattacombs twice and experienced no queues at all neither time.

PompeyPete

jpsartre wrote: »

FWIW, I've been to the Cattacombs twice and experienced no queues at all neither time.

I lived in Paris for 4 years, and regularly took visitors down the Catacombs. Never came across any queues, nor can I see any real reason why there should be queues apart from it being August I suppose.

Tbh any more than a few people down there at the same time would completely ruin the occasion.

You get your bags searched on the way out just in case you've picked up a scary souvenir.