Saturday, March 24, 2012

metro at night

hi im going to be travelling later this month with 2 kids aged 11 and 13. our connection gets into port maillot at 12.15 am and we have to get to the villiers station from here is it possible that late and is it dangerous?? thanks




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It should be fine, as long as you arrive on time. The trains stop running at 1AM.





At Porte Maillot, get on the #1 line in the direction of Chateau de Vincennes, and get off at Charles de Gaulle Etoile (just 2 stops down the line). At CDG-Etoile, get on the #2 line in the direction of Nation. You will travel 4 stops to Villiers.





Villiers is not in %26quot;tourist%26quot; Paris, but it is a safe residential neighborhood.




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The last train on line 2 going towards Villiers leaves Etoile at 12.45. You may be able to make that, but it%26#39;s uncertain.





If you%26#39;re arriving from Beauvais, you have to count on a walk from the bus terminal to the metro, buying tickets and getting to the line 1 train. The last line 1 train in going to Etoile leaves Porte Maillot at 12.46. You would be able to make a train before that one, but the change at Etoile can be very long (sorry I don%26#39;t remember this specific change, it may be one of the short ones). In short, you might make the change in time, but I wouldn%26#39;t count on it.





If you are doing this on a Saturday night, you will have no problem because the metro runs for an extra hour.





There is a large hotel with a taxi stand across from the bus terminal. The trip to Villiers would cost less than €10.




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You can use the itinerary function on www.ratp.fr - it indicates that the entire trip should take about 16 minutes. Note that the schedule may be different per day - on sat/sundays and holidays, there are probably less trains (but they might also run later)!



You can take the 00:27 train - there%26#39;s a train leaving at 00:38 too, should you miss the one at 00:27. So you have plenty of time to search for the station and the platform. You can prepare yourself using the RATP site - there%26#39;s a small map indicating where the metro entrances are.




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That late at night with 2 children, I think you would be best to take a taxi. Why put yourself through Metro connections to save just a few Euros. Before I travel I always store 2 #s on my cell phone: the hotel front desk and the # for a taxi that the hotel recommends just in case.



T




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There%26#39;s no %26#39;..danger..%26#39; in riding the Metro at this hour....but as noted, you are brushing up against LAST TRAIN of the day for the #1 %26amp; #2 Metro ligne at approx 01:00 AM (1 hour LATER--02:00 AM--on Saturday nights). So you should have sufficient time in hand to make your way down Blvd. Genéral Pershing, from the BVA Suttle drop-off point, to the entrances to the PORTE MAILLOT Metro station to catch the #1 Metro (heading in the direction of Chateau de Vincennes--3 mins--2 stops) to CHARLES deGAULLE-ÉTOILE station, switch over (a quick/short CORRESPONDANCE between lignes) to the #2 Metro ligne (heading in the direction of Nation--5 mins--4 stops) to the VILLIERS station. Train frequency (wait-time) on both Metro #1 %26amp; #2 lignes should average approx. 1-every-6 mins or so. All told, the time necessary to get from the BVA Shuttle drop-off to VILLIERS should take approx. 30 mins.





METRO Schedules--



www.ratp.info/orienter/horaires_metro1.php





So you should be able to make the Metro connection from the BVA Suttle drop-off to your hotel without too much difficulty...and some margin for error...but this may be one of those times when simply taking a Taxi Parisian from the regular taxi rank near the BVA Shuttle drop off to your hotel may be the %26#39;..better part of valour..%26#39;




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Given that each of you will need a ticket, your net cost for a taxi (based on the figure given above, which I assume is accurate as it sounds right for the distance) is only about 6 euros - why not just do that, and save yourself the worry of whether you will make connections, etc. (plus, of course, dragging the luggage up and down stairs, onto and off the trains, etc.)?




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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;a taxi (based on the figure given above, which I assume is accurate as it sounds right for the distance) is only about 6 euros%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;





You%26#39;d probably be right about the approx taxi fare...but for the fact that this ride will be after Midnight (%26#39;C%26#39; fare schedule)..when fares run approx 60% higher than during the day....So the taxi fare from the BVA drop-off to the neighborhood of VILLIERS Metro would probably run closer to 10-12€ at this hour....and still %26#39;..the better part of valour..%26#39;.




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Hi -





I have travelled throughout Paris without husband for many years so I can attest that you will be perfectly safe riding the Metro or any other public transportation at any hour. However, I agree that you should change to a taxi rather than mess with the Metro in the middle of the night.





If your transportation to Paris is delayed at all, managing all your luggage and children and getting the Metro could be a high pressure rush. Since the taxi fare is not a huge burden compared with the Metro fares for the three of you, I think that taking the easier way out, is the best thing to do. No matter how you%26#39;re getting to Paris, your children are going to be tired, as will you, so give yourselves a break and cab-it.




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thanks to all who have replied i think i will cab it and save my self the stress!!




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As noted numerous times...recommendations to take a Taxi Parisian from the BVA drop-off to your hotel are predicated on the relative %26#39;..timing..%26#39; and circumstances of your arrival in Paris...for simple convenience. You should not construe these recommendations as inferring that riding the Metro thoughout central Paris, later at night any other time is in any way dangerous or unsafe for you and your children.

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