Carnet or Metro Pass

As New Yorkers we are also walkers. Staying near the Lourve, should we purchase a 3 day metro pass or buy carnets as needed. Will be in Paris for 5 nights last week of April. Also how is the weather at that time? Thanks to all.

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I%26#39;m sure that you will not want to walk the whole time - but even when you take the metro constantly, this involves a lot of walking!

You might consider buying a Carte Orange week card, which runs from monday morning to sunday night. It is not really meant for tourists (and therefore not mentioned on the english language part of the Paris public transport site) but you can buy it nevertheless - provided you have a passport photo for the card.

The Carte Orange consists of 2 parts: an (orange) ticket, and an ID card (%26quot;carte nominative%26quot;). There are some instructions you%26#39;ll have to follow regarding the use of the card, or you might still be fined: write your name/address/etc. on the card; affix the passport photo (color, b/w, whatever), and copy the number of the card on the ticket.

This is all to make sure that a ticket can only be used by one person. The ID card can be used for several years, so once you have one, you can keep it for when you return to Paris.

There are several treads on this forum about the Carte Orange, just do a %26#39;search%26#39;. And you can find more info on the RATP site: www.ratp.fr

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I have always purchased Carnets as needed and used them for buses, metro, funiculare at Sacre Coeur. I usually end up with a leftover ticket or two from a single carnet (for myself) after a trip because I rarely end up taking public transport. Since you are keen walkers, I would recommend carnets. Paris is too beautiful to spend much time underground.

The weather should be beautiful at the end of April - middle of Spring - even if it rains. Who cares?

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Since you%26#39;re staying in such a central location, you may find that the 3-day pass is too expensive for the use you%26#39;ll get (although there is the advantage of KNOWING you%26#39;ve got valid transportation and not having to deal with individual tickets). Another option to a carnet is to get a Mobilis pass. They%26#39;re about $6-7 and are good for unlimited travel during one day. If you%26#39;ll be making more than 4 one-way voyages in a day, the Mobilis will be the less expensive option than a carnet.

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Which option works best for you will depend on any number of individual factors. As an example in warm, sunny weather, you will probably be more inclined to walk more. In damp chilly weather, you may be inclined to use public transportation more. Even if individual tickets from reduce-priced Carnets are less, there is certainly some intangable %26#39;value%26#39; in the simple %26#39;hop-on/hop-off%26#39; convenience of a transportation pass. Stamina will also factor into the equation. Do the math. Know what your options and alternative are. Then make your own informed choice on the spot.