Tag Archives: Paris transportation

Hop Aboard, See Paris

13 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris photos, Paris Wanderings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

 

The fastest way to get around Paris is definitely the metro but if you have the money AND the time, try it by horse and carriage. Paris Caleches offers tours lasting from 30 minutes to two hours. Romantic add-ons include champagne, roses, macarons, chocolate heart, fruit basket, however, it’s perfectly acceptable to just bring your Starbucks. They’re stationed at the east pillar of the Eiffel Tower.

buggyridesParis

If you like the traditional open air double decker sightseeing bus, here are some companies that provide the best rides:  Paris City Vision, Big Bus Paris.  The popular Paris Pass is another all-inclusive option that includes bus tours, museum admissions, etc.  If you’re a short-timer or this is your first visit to Paris, any one of these suggestions serves as a great introduction. Then dive into your No Worries Paris guidebook for some memorable walks within the quartiers that caught your fancy.

ParisSightseeing

Paris to Tours for 15 euros: go in a BlaBlaCar

15 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by in Paris photos, Paris tips, Paris Wandering

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

blablacar

Sweeping Europe is a new form of sustainable transportation. Don’t own a car, going farther than your bike or feet will take you, train too expensive? Go to the BlaBlaCar website and find out who’s going your way. The service is now available in France, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Russia and the Ukraine.

Not only is BlaBla convenient, it’s also social, there you are in a seat sharing conversation besides a ride. Drivers have member profiles to share their interests, occupation, spoken languages and musical preferences. What’s unique is the BlaBla preference which allows members to indicate their level of in-car chattiness: “BlaBlaBla” if you like to talk about life, the universe & everything or just “Bla” if you prefer to sleep or watch the scenery go by.

Meeting points are displayed on an interactive map. No need to make lots of calls describing exactly where you are, it’s been agreed in advance, and you know the model and color of the car (photo published of car and driver), so you’ll have no problem finding each other. Even the amount of baggage allowed and how many passengers can be accommodated is indicated.

BlaBlaCar has an automatic price calculator that suggests a price per passenger, that drivers can then adjust. Prices are capped so that drivers only offset their running costs (without making a profit), in accordance with regulation. They are also non-negotiable, making it perfectly straightforward to plan your car share, and transparent for both parties.

Are you allergic to cat hair? Don’t like smoking? Do you always listen to music while driving? You can add all these preferences to your BlaBlaCar profile. Clearly communicating them helps your passengers know the rules before hopping in, so you’ll both be able to enjoy the ride.

BlaBla coming to the U.S.? Hope so.

Tired of walking Paris? Take a bus ride

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris tips, Paris Wanderings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

parisBus

Sometimes there’s more daylight left but your feet won’t cooperate to make more tracks. A solution is taking the bus, same price as a metro ticket with a lot more flavor and scenic opportunity. The inside is as interesting as the outside on certain routes.

Here’s how: go to Paris’s main transportation website: http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/

click on: Finding Your Way in Paris

fill in: The bus stop closest to your apt where you will get on, then your destination. It will show you the route to get there. Or you can do the same thing with the metro.

The site also has a big route map of where the buses go. Make sure you get a window seat nearest the driver. He can help you with getting off at the right stop. It is common courtesy to say “Bonjour” (“hello,” used in the morning and afternoon) or “Bonsoir” (“hello,” used in the evening) to the bus driver.

Best routes for sightseeing: 69, 63, 24 and 87. Take it to the end (usually not a terribly hospitable place but ask the bus driver where the bus stop is for the return trip: le retour).

To catch a bus, climb aboard and simply insert your ticket (use the same T+ ticket as the métro) in the slot machine upon entering (validate). If you don’t have a ticket, no worries, the drivers will take coins and the cost of a single ticket is about €1.90. If you’re planning to use the bus and métro often during your stay in Paris, consider purchasing a carnet, or book, of 10 tickets to save some money or check into the different. Even longer, buy a Navigo pass. And away you go!

Air France: way to go

30 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Paris Wanderings

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

The civilized way to fly to Paris from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, or Washington D.C. Want to know all your transportation choices to Paris from DeGaulle? Go to Easycdg.com, they make it easy. Check out this AF employee <a href=" “>sing/dance-along at the airport.