Bring Paris Home ~ Tip #7 Getting Around Paris!

This is not a Tip that is glamorous, but it is absolutely necessary to your sanity and your wallet!!!

Let's first get you into the city from Charles de Gaulle Airport......
   You can take a private taxi which will run you around 60 Euros. Plan on about a hours ride.
         You can take the bus for around 20 Euros to certain destinations, but it is awkward and you have traffic as well as having to carry your own bags.
The RER and Metro are great and cheap, but again you have to carry your own bags up and down stairs.  I don't know about you but I work hard enough without having to carry my own bags too!

Then there's my favorite way, the Les Cars Air France shuttle bus (shown above). Think plush Greyhound bus with able bodied men to load and unload your luggage! Les Cars only goes to certain locations in town and it has to fight with traffic as they all do. But it pleasant and inexpensive ( about 17Euros). AND, once you get to their drop off point, catch a Taxi to your hotel! For example, when I arrived last month I took the Les Cars to Porte Maillot, (17 euros) then took a taxi from there directly to my hotel, never touching my bags (14 euros). for a total of 31 Euros. Yes, there is a very slight hassle of not going directly in a taxi, but it saved me 29 euros and what else am I going to do at 7 am!!!

Now let's talk about how to get around to the different flea markets, etc......

There is of course, again the private taxi.....I think expensive and fighting traffic. But by all means at the end of the day, feet hurting, and more bags than anyone could possibly carry...then GO FOR IT!

 

The buses are fun as you get to see so much of the city ( and maybe places you want to come back to) while riding the bus. Check your maps carefully for the right bus and bus stop.

 

Then there is my favorite, the METRO. It can be cramped during rush hour and not very pretty, and lots of steps to go up and down, and you will see, to be polite, the most interesting of people *, But nothing can get you across town quicker!!! For a dealer who's all about getting to the markets asap...this is the way I go. Do be aware, while I have never had anything happen to me personally, pickpockets do ride the Metro in search of those not paying attention to their wallets!

At the Metro stop or at a Tabac shop you may purchase tickets for both the Bus and Metro. I buy a Carnet, a book of 10 tickets at a time and save a bit of money. BTW, save those tickets once you use them!!! The Metro police have been known to stop you and check tickets either on your way in or out of the station ( in case you jumped the stall)! Don't do that!

And last but not least, WALK! Paris is one of the most delightful cities to walk in. I have actually walked from the northern most point to the southern point one afternoon and had a BLAST! Stop for café, a sandwich, some shopping, and then a wine to celebrate all that you have discovered!!!! It's always tres interesting and tres romantic!!!

Have FUN, keep your map handy, and always consult your hotel concierge when in doubt!!!
         See you again soon! Merci, Lee

*you may even meet this little man for a tune in the Metro! :)