Friday, March 30, 2012

Double-Decker Bus Tour comparable to Metro pass?

My wife and I were thinking of getting a two-day Double Decker Tour Bus pass that runs every 15 minutes as a way to get around and see the most popular sights. We love to walk around and explore, and plan on doing that from our hotel in the 5th arrondissement, but my wife%26#39;s leg goes numb when walking for any length of time, so we need an alternative form of transportation.





Which would you recommend, the Double-Decker Tour Bus, or simply a Metro pass?




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The two--L%26#39;Open Tour buses and the regular RATP public transportation system--RER/Metro/Bus--are really two different things. The l%26#39;Open Tour buses are fine for casual getting about the city, seeing some of the sights and orienting yourself to the city layout and relative location of sights and atractions--get an overview...but it really isn%26#39;t as practical, convenient or flexible a mode of %26#39;..transportation..%26#39; as the regular public transportation system. L%26#39;Open Tour is an excellent %26#39;..add-on..%26#39; for your visit...but not really an alternative.





To begin with, L%26#39;Open Tours only offer four(4) routes throughout portions of the city, with interconect-stops (between only two(2) different route per stop) at only four(4) locations within the city (free transfers between routes). These routes only travel in one(1) direction along their %26#39;circuit%26#39;. In addition to this, there are fewer stops along their routes and less frequency (often erratic due to surface traffic) between buses, and these buses cease operation at approx 18:00 (6:00 PM).





L%26#39;OPEN TOUR Details--



http://www.paris-opentour.com/index_eng.htm




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I went on the double decker tour bus in 2003. It gives you a great view from the open top deck, on fine days of course. It%26#39;s more expensive than travelling on the metro but usually drops you off right outside the tourist attraction. A couple of the bus drivers we encountered had obviously had a bad day and were in a hurry to get the circuit finished. As a tourist with time to spare it is great but if you want to get places quickly take the metro and avoid the traffic.

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