I'm confused -- Carte Orange or Paris Visite?

Someone please help my feeble brain understand the difference between the Carte Orange and the Paris Visite. We arrive early on Monday the 6th and leave morning of the following Monday. Which tranpsortation pass would be better for us and why?

Thanks....I%26#39;m getting totally overwhelmed by the details, but still VERRRRRY excited about the trip!

Nina

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Nina, your best bet is Carte Orange for zones 1 %26amp; 2. Since you are going to be there from Mon. to Mon. Carte Orange will work out perfectly for you. Don%26#39;t forget, you need a passport size picture (any old picture works...even the ones you get at photo-booths). Paris Visite, from my understanding was specifically made for tourists and is good for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. It%26#39;s a lot more expensive than Carte Orange...and since you are arriving on Monday, it really isn%26#39;t worth your while.

Carte Orange zones 1 %26amp; 2 should take you to all of the trouisty things in Paris, but it won%26#39;t take you to Versaille or to the Paris Disney world/land/place (what is that place called??). But if you are going to one of these places, it is still worth your while to get the 1 %26amp; 2 zone Carte Orange and suplement your trip to Versaille or Disney by purchasing the ticket for that day.

Hope you have fun...and don%26#39;t forget to come back and write your trip report...that%26#39;s the only reason why I am helping you out here *wink* *wink*

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Just to clarify a bit - you can use a Carte Orange for Monday through Sunday; on your last Monday it will be invalid/expired. But you are leaving anyway, so no matter.

(in case anyone reads and misunderstands...)

The difference is... Paris Visite is the %26quot;tourist pass%26quot; and costs more, while %26quot;Carte Orange%26quot; is not advertised to tourists and costs less. But you can still buy one. It comes in two parts and you need to carry both with you: 1. orange id card w/ your little photo stuck on it 2. a ticket that you insert into the turnstile and reuse for the 7 days.

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Thank you, Cedre! We%26#39;ll go with the Carte Orange...have the photos already.

I do plan to write a full trip report for sure!

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Thanks, Travenutty. Now I get the difference. No need to throw away money on that when there are pastries calling my name! :)

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I%26#39;ve actually decided to go with a Paris Visite. I checked the RATP website, and for the price difference, and the days I%26#39;ll be there, it makes the most sense. See, I arrive late afternoon on a Thursday, and I leave first thing the following Wednesday. So... the first week%26#39;s pass will be unavailable to me anyway (they don%26#39;t sell them Thursdays), and the second week%26#39;s pass would only give me 2 days.

Nina, for you it definitely makes sense to go with a Carte Orange. I just wanted to post since other people will likely be gathering info from your well put (and well titled) question!

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Another warning for those who just want a one-day pass, buy the Mobilis one day for 5,35 euros, and don%26#39;t buy the Paris Visite one day pass as it cost 8,35! For people staying more than one day, then the Paris Visite is the only option...

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hi - what do you use the picture for? i have my carte orange - the very small ticket... do they give you something else when you get to paris?

thanks

allen

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Yes the carte orange has two parts : the small ticket that you buy, and the orange card where you put your picture with a small plastic wallet that they give you at the booth. You need both in case of control.

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just curious - I%26#39;d seen a previous post that the CO was being phased out at the end of 2005. Yes, I know I%26#39;m obssessing far in advance but is that still the case? My trip is in December but I thought I%26#39;d ask since the CO/Visite question came up again.

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The Carte Orange ticket (paper) is being phased out to a %26quot;Navigo%26quot; pass, which is more like a %26#39;swipe%26#39; card and gets you thru the turnstile faster. Not sure how easy it will be for a foreign visitor to buy, but I%26#39;m sure there will be more posts about it as people begin to experience it.