Bateaux-Mouches and other Paris, France Transportation Tips

Bateaux-Mouches

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The center of Paris — particularly that section gracing the Seine around Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint-Louis — features some of the city's oldest and most majestic historic monuments.
And...for the past half-century, perhaps one of the most relaxing and expedient ways to view these sights in all their grandeur has been from the glass-covered decks of the Bateaux-Mouches, those unique long-boats leisurely plying the Seine.

Despite the ever-increasing number of operators (and embarcation points) from which to choose, most of the boat lines offer similar itineraries.

Some operators also offer "land-and-water packages", where the price of a ticket includes debarkation at various points to visit monuments, museums, or even cabaret venues such as the Moulin Rouge or the Lido. This is probably one of the best and fastest ways to see a lot of popular Parisian sights.

Most of the boats are equipped with a text display and an audio announcement system, synchronized to the boat's movement and providing commentary on the passing sights in several different languages.

In nice weather, these tours offer a pleasant and relaxing way to view Paris' most famous landmarks in a single hour — certainly worth the modest price for a ticket.

A night-time cruise is perhaps the most stunning: the boats are equipped with huge floodlights illuminating the riverside monuments, so bright that their glow is visible throughout the city on cloudy or foggy nights.

Check the website below to give you some comprehensive information on each of the Bateaux-Mouches companies; what they offer; and their schedules and fares.

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Website: http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Transportation/Water/Bateaux-Mouches2.shtml

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Driving: PARIS BY CAR

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Updated by Lady_Mystique

on Aug 23, 2006

Paris Traffic

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: "One driver out of every twelve in Paris has killed a man.
On foot, the Parisian is as courteous as the citizen of any other city.
But mounted, he is merciless."
~ Irwin Shaw ~

The infamous rotary at the Arc de Triomphe is a perfect example of this: police are stationed on the Champs-Elysées side to keep unwitting tourists from walking directly across eight lanes of traffic to the Arc.

As a rule, the fastest and biggest car wins.

'Priorité ŕ droite' gives the right of way to the car approaching from the right, regardless of the size of the streets, and Parisian drivers make it an affair of honour to take this right even in the face of grave danger.

La plupart des automobiles du monde marchent ŕ l'essence.
Les autos françaises marchent au klaxon. Surtout quand elles sont arrętées.

Translation: Most of the automobiles in this world run on gasoline.
The French autos run on horns.
Especially when they're stopped.
~ Pierre Daninos ~

Technically, drivers are not allowed to honk their horns within city limits unless they are about to hit a pedestrian, but this rule is often broken. The legal way to show discontent is to flash your headlights.

If you don't have a map of Paris marked with one-way streets, the city will be impossible to navigate.

BTW Parking is expensive and hard to find. But you probably aleady knew that!

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Transportation: FINDING YOUR WHEELS

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Updated by Lady_Mystique

on Aug 23, 2006

Champs-Elysees traffic at night

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Expect to pay at least US$180 per week, plus 20.6% tax, for a teensy car..... you'll probably have to purchase insurance as well.
~ Automatic transmission is often unavailable on cheaper cars.
~ Reserve well before leaving for France and pay in advance if at all possible.
It is always significantly less expensive to reserve a car from the US than from France.
~ Always check(!!!) if prices quoted include tax, unlimited mileage, and collision insurance; some credit card companies will cover this automatically.
~ Ask about discounts and check the terms of insurance, particularly the size of the deductible.
~ Non-Europeans should check with their national motoring organization (like AAA) for international coverage.
~ Airlines sometimes offer special fly-and-drive packages, with up to a week of free or discounted rental.
~ The minimum age for renting in France is 21; those under 25 will often have to pay a surcharge.

At most agencies, all that's needed to rent a car is a valid driver's license and proof that you've had it for a year... but bring your passport just in case.

Go to the website below of 'AutoEurope' to learn more about renting a car in Paris:

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Website: http://www.autoeurope.com/help.cfm?action=car&c=1335

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Taxis: GOING BY TAXI

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Updated by Lady_Mystique

on Aug 23, 2006

Parisien Taxi ~ Photoshop

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: TAXIS IN PARIS ARE EXPENSIVE

'Tarif A' , the basic rate, is in effect in Paris 7am-7pm (€0.60 per km).

'Tarif B', is in effect Monday to Saturday 7pm-7am, all day Sunday, and during the day from the airports and immediate suburbs (€1 per km).

'Tarif C', the highest, is in effect from the airports 7pm-7am (€1.20 per km).
In addition, there is a 'prix en charge' (base fee) of €2.

~ You should wait for taxis at the nearest taxi stand; oftentimes, taxis will not stop if you attempt to flag them down on the street.
~ Lines at taxi stands can get long in the late afternoon during the week and on weekend nights.
~ Should you call a taxi rather than hail one at a taxi stand, the base fee will increase according to how far away you are and how long it takes the driver to get there.

~ For all cabs, stationary time (at traffic lights and in traffic jams) costs €24.30 per hr.
~ Additional charges (€0.90) are added for luggage over 5kg.
~ Taxis take three passengers; there is a €2.45 charge for a fourth.
~ Some take credit cards (AmEx/MC/V).

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Transportation: BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

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Updated by Lady_Mystique

on May 23, 2005

'Carte Orange'

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: The RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) coordinates a network of subways, buses, and commuter trains in and around Paris.
For info, contact La Maison de la RATP, right across the street from M: Gare de Lyon (190 r. de Bercy); or
the Bureau de Tourisme RATP, pl. de la Madeleine, (01 40 06 71 45); M: Madeleine; open daily 8:30am-6pm.

FARES:

Individual tickets for the RATP cost €1.30 each, or can be bought in a carnet of 10 for €9.30.
Say, "Un ticket, s'il vous plaît" (AHN ti-KAY...),
or "Un carnet..." (AHN CAR-nay...), to the person behind the window.
(The sellers don't seem to understand any language except French so learn a few useful phrases to make your life a bit easier!).

Each métro ride takes one ticket, and the bus takes at least one, sometimes more, depending on connections you make and the time of day.

PASSES:

If you're staying in Paris for several days or weeks, a 'CARTE ORANGE' can be very economical.
Bring an ID photo (taken by machines in most major stations for €3.81) to the ticket counter and ask for a weekly u'carte orange hebdomadaire' (€13.75) or the equally swank monthly 'carte orange mensuelle' (€46.05).

These cards have specific start and end dates (the weekly pass runs Monday to Sunday, and the monthly starts at the BEGINNING of each month).
Prices quoted here are for passes in Zones 1 and 2 (the métro and RER in Paris and suburbs), and work on all métro, bus, and RER modes of transport.
If you intend to travel to the suburbs, you'll need to buy RER passes for more zones (they go up to 5), but, for seeing most of the sites within Paris, Zones 1 and 2 should suffice.
If you're only in town for a day or two, a cheap option is the 'Carte Mobilis' (€5 for a one-day pass in Zones 1 and 2; available in métro stations, which provides unlimited métro, bus, and RER transportation within Paris.

*Always write the number of your carte on your coupon.

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Métro: BY METRO

Tip Rating:

Updated by Lady_Mystique

on Aug 23, 2006

I can't remember where this Metro

entry was..???

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Métro stations are marked with an "M" or with the "Métropolitain" lettering designed by 'Art Nouveau' legend Hector Guimard.

~ The first trains start running around 5:30 a.m., and the last ones leave the end-of-the-line stations (the portes de Paris) for the center of the city at about 12:15 a.m.

~ For exact departure times of the last trains, check the poster in the center of each station marked 'Principes de Tarification' (fare guidelines), the white sign with the platform's number and direction, or the monitors above the platform.

~ Transport maps are posted on platforms and near turnstiles; all have a 'plan du quartier' (map of the neighborhood).
Connections to other lines are indicated by orange correspondance signs, "Exits" by blue 'SORTIE' signs.

~ Transfers are free if made within a station, but it is not always possible to reverse direction on the same line without exiting the station.

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Website: http://www.ratp.fr

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Métro: METRO ~ TICKETS

Tip Rating:

Updated by Lady_Mystique

on Aug 23, 2006

Carnet of Metro Tickets

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: To pass through the turnstiles, insert the ticket into the small slot in the metal divider just to your right as you approach the turnstile. It disappears for a moment (so don't panic!), then pops out about a foot farther along, and a little green or white circle lights up, reminding you to retrieve the ticket.

~ If the turnstile makes a whining sound and a little red circle lights up, your ticket is not valid; take it back and try another.
When you have the right light, push through the gate and retrieve your ticket.
Hold onto your ticket until you exit the métro, and pass the point marked 'Limite de Validité des Billets'; a uniformed RATP 'contrôleur' (inspector) may request to see it on any train.
If caught without one, you must pay a hefty fine.

~ Also, any 'correspondances' (transfers) to the RER require you to put your validated (and uncrumpled) ticket into a turnstile. Otherwise you might need to buy a new ticket in order to exit.

LATE AT NIGHT:

~ Do not count on buying a métro ticket home late at night.
Some ticket windows close as early as 10 p.m., and many close before the last train is due to arrive.
~ Always have one ticket more than you need, although large stations have ticket machines that accept coins.
~ Avoid the most dangerous stations (Barbčs-Rochechouart, Pigalle, Anvers, Châtelet-Les-Halles, Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est).
~ Despite the good neighborhoods in which some of these stops are located, they are frequented by criminals looking to prey on tourists.

When in doubt, take a taxi.

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Website: http://www.ratp.fr

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From the Airports to Paris: From Roissy/Orly Airport to Paris

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Written by Lady_Mystique

on Aug 25, 2006

Paris Airport Shuttle Map