Richard - thank you for posting about your transportation decision. Walking is really the best way to see Paris. Would love it if you'd tell us more about your trip in the appropriate sections. In advance, thanks!

Just back from Paris and I chose not to do the Navigo Decouverte after all. That card presupposes a much higher usage rate for public transportation than we planned. For 1 carnet of metro tickets plus a few additional our needs were met by walking through much of the city. Temp was cold in the 50's but we had 3 1/2 days of sun and the rest overcast but okay. Was sad to leave. Thanks to all for your comments and help.

Thanks Stacy. And soon, there will be cards for renting "zip" cars. Bikes, cars - what next. ;-)

Just wanted to add that the Navigo Découverte is good for 10 years.

there are a LOT of posts here. honest and thank you@

Lanora - so many thanks for coming to the (my) rescue.

Here's the recent comment on my blog post about the Navigo Decouverte, explaining why it is available to anyone:

Jan said...
You mention that they designed the passe Navigo Découverte specially for nonresidents, but that's not entirely correct. The Navigo Découverte was introduced after complaints from the civil rights movement and from institutions like the CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés) that it became virtually impossible to travel anonimously - with the normal Navigo pass, every trip you make is recorded. Hence the introduction of an anonimous pass - for people who do not like to be "tracked and traced".

The fact that such an anonimous pass can also be bought and used by non-residents is probably an unavoidable side effect (as far as the RATP is concerned). Anonimous means here, that your name, address and photo are not put in a central database - but you still do need to put your name and photo on the pass itself.

Reply August 29, 2009 at 11:05 AM

You can buy a Navigo Decouverte card without being a resident or having a French address.

Please see my article here on BonjourParis.com

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/navigo-natives-through-paris-metro/?sid=27698

or for a version with some updated comments, at

http://www.writingtravel.com/2009/01/navigo-pass-for-metro-now-a-must-for-bargainseeking-paris-travelers.html

Apparently, the Navigo Decouverte was not designed for tourists. That's why the Paris tourist board promotes the more expensive Paris Visite pass.

Navigo Decouverte is actually meant to address the privacy concerns inherent in the Pass Navigo, which apparently can track a traveler's movements through the system.

All you need to do to get a Navigo Decouverte is ask for one at a full-service tabac or in one of the larger Metro stations. Pay 5 euros for the card plus 17,20 for the current week ((no partial weeks allowed). Your card is good forever (or until they come up with another gimmick).

You'll have to get a postage-stamp sized photo but you can use the pass as-is until you do so. There are photo kiosks in Metro stations; I think I got my photos at Monoprix.

If I am correct (and I may not be) some larger metro stations issue Navigo passes on the spot with a photo -- does anyone know where??

Considering all the stuff that I read about these passes it is a real shame that the "living in France" part wasn't made more apparent.

Richard is absolutely correct about needing to be a resident (or have a French address). I know some people who've beat the system by sending the Navigo pass to a friend who lives in France. But, it's probably not worth it if you're only planning to be in Paris for ONE week. K

To get Navigo you have to be a resident.

My thanks to Richard Nettler.
However, I have found out a bit more and would offer the following to anyone interested.
The Navigo Carte d'Orange for one week (Monday - Sunday) for zones 1 and 2 is 17,20 euros. Separate tickets on the RER-B one way between Paris and CDG airport are 8,40 euros.
A Navigo pass for zones 1-5 (that includes CDG airport) for the same week is 33,40 euros.

5 days only of a Paris Visite in zones 1-6 is 44 euros.

The winner seems to be Navigo plus separate RER tickets.
It is still important to figure out what each person's needs will be. In fact the Paris Visite transportation pass can be combined with the museum pass although that opion is quite expensive.
Bon Voyage!

The Paris Visite.

Hello. My wife and I will be in Paris for one week from Wednesday to Wednesday. The more I read about the Paris Visite and Carte D'orange the more confused I get. We will take the RER into Paris and then back to CDG at the end and in the middle will be users of the Metro (2-4 trips per day) and walking. What would be the best value of these two travel passes?
Thanks
Richard