ParisByTrain.com

[erato]

we are a couple of two plus one ten year old child arriving on 12 apr and departing on 19 apr 2009 in cdg (terminal 1).
we are staying seven nights downtown and we wonder which pass to choose .
passe navigo decouverte from monday to sunday for zones 1-2 or 1-5,or five days paris visite for zones 1-3 or 1-6?
please note that we will visit eurodisney (once),versailles and cdg airport on departure.
is cdg airport fare included in both these passes.
thanks and best regards.

[ben]

Hi Erato,

When choosing between a Passe Navigo Découverte/Pass Navigo and a Carte Paris Visite, I try to answer two questions:

• Does the Carte Paris Visite cover all my days of travel in/around Paris (5 days max)?
• Will I make use of discounts to museums, tours, boat rides, etc. that the Carte Paris Visite offers?

If the answer to both these questions is "No", I would recommend buying a Passe Navigo Découverte.

Let me do a cost breakdown of a 6 zone vs. a 2 zone Passe Navigo Découverte + billets Ile-de-France.

Total cost of the Pass Navigo Découverte for all 6 Paris Fare Zones plus the cost of the card itself + single Billet Ile-de-France for your CDG to Paris by RER B on Sunday April 12, 2009 is 50,60€ (37,20€ + 5€ + 8,40€). The alternative is a 2 zone Pass Navigo Découverte, plus 3 round trip Billet Ile-de-France for your three Ile-de-France trips (Versailles, EuroDisney, CDG Airport) which will cost 57,30€ (16,80€ + 5€ + 2,90€ x 2 (Versailles) + 6,45€ x 2 (EuroDisney) + 8,40€ x 2 (CDG)).

In your particular case, the 6 zone Pass Navigo Découverte costs less than a 2 zone Pass Navigo Découverte + individual billets Ile-de-France.

In a general sense, any Paris traveller should buy a 6 zone Pass Navigo Découverte if they:

• will stay for six or more days in Paris starting from Sunday or Monday, and
• will make 2 or more zone 5 or zone 6 trips, and
• will use the Paris Metro, Paris RER, Bus, or Tram daily.

It's possible in some cases to save a few euros by buying carnets of Metro tickets (ticket t+) & individual billets Ile-de-France for outside central Paris trips, but one should consider the value in the ease of use of the Pass Navigo, which in itself is worth something.

Train fares to CDG Airport are included in both the Paris Visite 6 zone and at least a 5 zone Passe Navigo Découverte.

Best regards,

Ben

[erato]

Dear Ben
I wish to thank you for your kind and prompt reply to my request.
It is most clarifying and helpful.
Thanks and best regards
Erato