My Parisian Arrival: Navigating La Defense with Smart Travel Tips
Hello from France! I've found myself back in the vibrant city, settling into my familiar haven in La Defense. This time, my journey into Paris began after sunset, around 7 PM, at the airport. The route is straightforward: hop on the B line, then switch to the A line. Many advise against the B line, citing safety concerns, but it's my go-to for entering the city, and I've never encountered any issues.
Unpacking Paris Ticket Options: A Traveler's Insight
Today, I want to share some practical information about train tickets, something I've found can be a bit of a puzzle when traveling. In the past, I relied on the Navigo card, topping it up for weekly or monthly travel, which conveniently covered buses, trains, and even cable cars. However, that system seems to be retired. I was quite surprised, especially since the card I bought in 2017 was supposed to be valid for a decade!
My current approach involves purchasing tickets directly from the machines. The journey to the city center cost me 13€, plus a 2€ fee for the card itself, bringing the total to 15€. Moving forward, I'll be able to top this up for my travels. Each individual trip is priced at 2.5€. Since my initial stay in Paris is only three days, I've loaded it with credit for ten journeys.
I'd heard that it's possible to manage tickets via a mobile app, but after watching YouTube videos of people experiencing issues with the machines not recognizing their phones, I decided to play it safe. The extra 2€ for the physical card felt like a worthwhile investment for peace of mind.
A helpful comment from Paris Homestay pointed out that the ticket system I'm using might not be valid for the airport to city center route. I'm staying for about ten more days, so I'll be sure to investigate this further upon my return and will add any confirmed details!
