RER Question...

[Beachbabybongo]

Sorry, but this question might be a little silly. I will be traveling with my 13 year old daughter from the US. Our first trip to DLP, first trip to Europe. We are staying at the Hotel Santa Fe for 3 nights and then we will be traveling into Paris (already received our travel documents ).

Our Hotel in Paris is near Opera Garnier. My questions is...how easy it is for someone with little or no French to figure out which tickets are needed for the RER, and how to purchase them?

Thank you sooooo much for any help or advise you can give.

 

[bavaria]

well, you're in luck! It couldn't be any easier to get to your hotel in Paris - easy peasy lemon squeezy I believe is the correct phrase!

take RER from Marne la Vallee/Chessy to Auber station. The Opera is 1/2 block from the Auber station. (and in an excellent location for the department stores and the Grayline tour office)

I speak almost fluent french, so can't comment on the English of the ticket seller, but I CAN tell you that the ones at DLRP seem much friendlier than others. I had to get my ticket replaced (demagnitized) and it was done with a smile. Also questions were answered.

At my 'home' metro station, the ticket seller would take his break while behind the window, and just grunt at those who bothered him. He also tried to insist that I was a tourist and to sell me a higher priced ticket, until I chewed him out in French.

You need a 1-5 zone carte mobilis unless you are planning to get the Paris Visite ticket with extras. The ticket seller will be fine with you asking for that in English, based on the volume of UK visitors.

check out www.ratp.fr and turn it into English if need be (but no mobilis info for non-French speakers on that site!)

 

[bavaria]

also there are automated ticket machines in the train and metro stations; they are programmed in multiple languages and very easy to use. Do note that some stations are not attended on weekends, so if you are using the metro to sightsee on a weekend, you may need to use the machine (but I believe that the DLRP ticket window is always manned)

 

[Dimplenose]

I used RER last week from DLP and buying the ticket was easy as the people at the ticket window speak English. (I wasn't just lucky as the lady at the tourist info office next door told me they spoke English). I asked for a return ticket (as I didn't intend to use the Metro) but was sold a Mobilis ticket instead but it only cost a few cents more than a return ticket.

Libby

 

[MorganB]

A mobilis is actually less than a return ticket by a small amount. A mobilis gives you unlimited travel on the RER / Metro / Bus for one day. It would be a good deal for Beachbaby only if she plans to travel a few more times by metro that day since this is not a question of a round trip. Otherwise just a simple ticket into paris will do.

 

[nbodyhome]

Depending on the dates, a Carte Orange is the best option (that is what I will get again in May). But they only run from Monday to Sunday.

 

[woody73]

. . . We are staying at the Hotel Santa Fe for 3 nights and then we will be traveling into Paris (already received our travel documents.

Our Hotel in Paris is near Opera Garnier. My questions is...how easy it is for someone with little or no French to figure out which tickets are needed for the RER, and how to purchase them?

It sounds like you only need a one-way ticket to get to your hotel.

The area near the Opera Garnier is a favorite of ours. The Galleries Layfayette and Printemps department stores are nearby and have delightful foodcourts.

The Opera Garnier is featured extensively in the Phantom of the Opera movie. Good to see before your trip.

If you go to the Musee d'Orsay, on the ground floor there is a wonderful cut-away scale model of the Opera Garnier, and a scale model of the surrounding neighborhood.

Woody

 

[Beachbabybongo]

Thanks for the replies!! The information you all provided will definitely help with my trip.

15 days and counting until we leave.

 

[woody73]

Have a great time.

Woody