My Travel Journey to Paris, France

[@WandererBell]

Thanks for watching! In case you are interested, you can check out my video of Paris here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4bGc2eZr6iBoJY

[@maxaguero2984]

hello my friend where are u from

[@michaela.4675]

Bonjour everyone! I’m literally typing this as I just arrived at my hotel here in Paris right now from CDG after a very long flight from the west coast US. Everything was going smoothly from the airport all to Gare du Nord (where my hotel is close to). The tiny paper ticket you receive from the machine at CDG didn’t work as I was about to leave the city center station. You can’t exit the station without a ticket or a Navigo pass. France phased out the paper tickets sometime this year, so the turnstile won’t take it and you’ll be stuck. I had to walk around the station and asked store clerks and security with my broken French for help. Luckily there were a few nice security personnel close by and they had to use their cards to tap me out so I can exit. Just putting this out there to help a fellow confused traveler. Maybe it’s not just me. Bon Voyage!

[@abuzafar6376]

The tiny tick goes in a slot on the side, which opens the turnstile. I was there a month ago.

[@staceyshinske3998]

you still get paper tickets for the RER, they're like 11 Euros from CDG to GdN.

[@nickyamertil9458]

Wish there were an extra like button. You were the only detailed video i could of find on youtube about entering France from a USA flight. Thank you. On a transit flight with an 8 hours overlay want to visit the sights. Amazing video.

[@WandererBell]

Wow, I appreciate the feedback and the kind words. Thanks a lot.

[@salsatapatio]

Wow great video. I will be arriving in two months with my family. Navigating for the first time is now a little bit easier with your video ❤

[@WandererBell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@horseplop9]

Fun video. I needed to see the actual walk. Merci. I will follow and watch more videos sir

[@WandererBell]

Merci beaucoup

[@mundorueda9402]

Excellent video! You put a lot of effort in it and it shows. Merci beaucoup!

[@WandererBell]

I am glad you found it helpful. Merci beaucoup!

[@brendaavany9131]

Thank you so much. It was relatable as I was just there in Paris a month ago n the metro caught me by surprise… brought back great memories and please jeep on doing these videos. I’ll surely view your other videos. Very helpful. Thank you! Luv from Singapore 🇸🇬

[@WandererBell]

Thank you. Glad to hear that.

[@marvasewell2895]

Thank you for this video, this is the first video I have seen from the USA step by steps. I’m going next month and this was worth the watch! Thanks for all the info for the metro

[@WandererBell]

Glad it was helpful. Have a wonderful trip!

[@traveler320ak7]

So glad I found this video. I would have been confused walking so far and taking a train etc prior to passport control.

[@WandererBell]

Awesome! Glad to hear that.

[@JJMA52]

wow really seems like a real trek from exiting aircraft to finally getting on the train to get into the city!

[@WandererBell]

It is a good exercise to resolve the jet lag issue 😊

[@KyrilPG]

The thing is that CDG airport is quite huge... Terminal 2 itself extends over a length of about 2.5 kilometers / 1.55 mile and a width up to about 800 meters / half a mile at its widest points (the long satellite "bars" of 2E on the East, namely gates L and M). That's why it is subdivided in "halls" or sub-terminals : 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and there's even a 2G but it is a distant terminal for smaller aircrafts. From West to East on the North side of Terminal 2 there are halls B, D, F. And on the South side of the terminal: A, C, E. CDG Terminal 2's RER (regional express heavy metro) and TGV (high-speed train) station is located roughly in the middle of Terminal 2, between C, D and E, F. The walk between E and the train station is about 200 meters and there are travelators, but the check-in hall of terminal 2E is a nearly half kilometer long arch. But compared to many other major international hub airports, the walk is average.

[@JJMA52]

great info!@@KyrilPG

[@anieleen4]

Thank you for this video. I feel so confident traveling solo soon. By the way, I also enjoyed your Iceland videos. I was there last September and I appreciate your videos in the land of fire and ice. Keep up the excellent work.

[@WandererBell]

That's fantastic to hear! I'm glad the video helped boost your confidence for solo travel. And it's awesome that you enjoyed my Iceland videos too! Thanks for the positive vibes and encouragement 🙏

[@KhaiN192]

Thanks for sharing! I am travel to Paris this coming month. The video is very helpful. By the way how did connected your phone in Paris and what Esim you recommend. Hope you answer chao now

[@WandererBell]

Glad you found the video helpful. My phone has a global coverage plan. I did not have to buy a sim card to connect my phone there. Enjoy your trip!

[@KhaiN192]

Thanks for your rapid response

[@raghavrnp-rog7761]

I am from India, I am traveling to Paris on 03 Oct 2023. You are the best hero for helping first time travelers. I am from India,I saw many videos till now but your video's is one of the best video I ever saw Bro. Thanks so much.😊😊❤❤

[@WandererBell]

So nice of you! Have a wonderful trip.

[@alexandrayushkova530]

Thanks a lot for this video! Super detailed and handy! Loved it! Keep doing this kind of videos! Priceless! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@californiaglo9666]

Oh my! I was there in 2020 and it was much simpler. I will be there in two months. Thank you for the video. I will know what to expect. I normally take a taxi, but am considering the RER.

[@tindavid83]

May i know what video cam you are usjng, its so good very stabilized. I want yo document my trip also. Your video really helps a lot. Thank you so much

[@WandererBell]

iPhone and goPro

[@eddyk4062]

Good luck in Paris. Thank you for the CDG airport experience, it looks very painful to catch the Train from Airport, after a long flight.

[@WandererBell]

Thanks! The summer heat in Paris is horrible. You can check out my Paris videos to see how I handled making videos despite the hot weather 😊

[@samhouston5217]

Great video. Felt like I was there with ya. Thank you. Can you buy a Navigo there at the ticket area kiosk?

[@WandererBell]

Thank you. You can buy it from the ticket office.

[@osimeon00]

This was so great to watch. I'll be there in a few weeks so this was a good watch on what I can expect, weather wise, flight wise, etc. Thanks!

[@jngai]

Thank you for bring me and all your viewers with you on your trip out of CDG to the center of Paris. It is very helpful. My family and I are going to Paris next month and I have been deciding whether to take the taxi or the RER. I will probably go with taxi as the walk is probably shorter and requires a bit less thought once I get in the taxi (no need to buy RER ticket, deciphering signages, and no pickpockets).

[@WandererBell]

You are welcome. Taxi will be a better option but please make sure you get a taxi from the official taxi stand. Avoid taxi scams. Have a great trip!

[@JJMA52]

How is the situation in Paris now? Hope you are staying safe. Will you here long or travelling elsewhere in France? Safe travels friend!!

[@WandererBell]

Thank you. The situation is fine. I have not seen anything out of the ordinary so far. I will go out more this week and walk and explore. Paris is a big city, but the heat wave is the only problem now. I can't stand the heat. I might visit other countries in the north to stay away from the heat.

[@JJMA52]

@@WandererBell Yes heat waves all over. Even here in Toronto. Maybe Scandinavian countries would be cooler this time of year...stay hydrated!

[@mojo9467]

This helped me a lot! Going into 2E and then meeting my friends coming into 2B. I have the worst sense of direction too 😂

[@Evan-rb1oh]

how did your ticket from the RER also work for the metro? Did the ticket you buy at the airport ($11) apply for the metro too without having to purchase a separate ticket for the metro?

[@WandererBell]

Same ticket.

[@Evan-rb1oh]

@@WandererBell so to clarify, how long can you use a same single ticket for the metros? Or does the single ticket apply for the entire day for different metros?

[@dougcargill6730]

I have heard all the horror stories about CDG. Now I know people weren’t exaggerating.

[@Jadeeeeeeee23]

How long does the train travel underground from the airport to Gare du Nord?

[@KyrilPG]

Not much, the RER is Paris regional express heavy metro. It mostly runs above ground in the suburbs and goes deep underground to cross the core city. RER stations are often gigantic, with huge vaulted ceilings and long and wide platforms. On the RER B between CDG 2 and Gare du Nord, the first station in the core city from CDG, more than 80 or 85% of the distance is above ground or in open trenches. But if your destination is one of other RER B stations in Paris core, like the mega hub of Châtelet les Halles, or Saint-Michel Notre-Dame station, it will have a longer run underground. Are you scared by underground travel? I hope not because the most efficient and cheapest way to travel in Paris is by metro. Except of course for shorter distances where it is walking.

[@Sophie_kent]

Omg!! I could never have taken the train. Panic would have seeped in. Taxi seems like a good option. Well done!

[@WandererBell]

I agree. Taxi is a better option. Thank you.

[@KyrilPG]

Given the heavy traffic common in Paris, the train is almost always the better option, except if you have lots / heavy luggage. It's not complicated, just follow the signs.

[@Sophie_kent]

@@WandererBell ok. Maybe I’m over thinking. Are there people who could help?

[@kaykayron2222]

I can figure out how to get on the RER B, but not sure how to navigate the Metro -- which station, where to get off, etc.

[@cvdaneri]

This is amazing! I am going in a few months and now I feel a bit more confident about the whole process.

[@WandererBell]

Awesome! Have a great trip 👍

[@raffinataonline]

How many miles was it to get to customs? No shuttle? 😱

[@janicek4698]

You came through terminal 2e correct? But which gate area, k, l, or m?

[@WandererBell]

Yes Terminal 2e.

[@buckwheatohara]

You did not show where metro 4 and 9 were..did u pgysically get out if noid station to get metro?

[@gordonpepper1400]

how did you know what metro you were taking?

[@WandererBell]

Google maps.

[@kevinblair9025]

I never had to get my passport checked or go to customs when I landed at CDG, I only did it when left CDG.

[@WandererBell]

The passport control process is automated if you are a citizen of one of the eligible countries. No officers are involved to scan the passport, but they still need to scan it when you leave France. Also, no passport control if you arrive in Paris from a Schengen country or if you leave Paris for a Schengen country.

[@KyrilPG]

Cool video! At several points in the video, I wanted to yell at the screen: "just follow the signs to exit !". CDG 2 seems complex due to its size and huge traffic but it's fairly simple in fact. Do not think, do not doubt, turn off your brain, don't look around, don't try to figure things out, just follow the signs like a sheep, they will bring you where you need to go. The signage is "endpoint-driven", so you will always see "exit" and "bagage claim", even if you are looking for immigration or customs. There's only one path to exit and it goes sequentially through immigration, baggage claim and customs if you arrive from a non-Schengen country. It's precisely conceived for all passengers, whatever their culture, language or age to be able to follow. The signs are right, even if the path they point at seems odd, it's the correct one. So when you asked the ground staff about the path to take, just after acknowledging the very sign pointing towards the exit path, it was one of the moments I was yelling at my screen "just follow the signs!!" 😂 That was a great video! I did not know that hotel, it looks nice and well situated ,I've added it to my notes.

[@WandererBell]

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts! I totally get what you mean about following the signs at CDG 2 - sometimes it's easier said than done, especially when you're navigating a bustling airport after an 11-hour long haul flight. Your advice to trust the signage like a sheep is spot on! I appreciate your feedback, and I'm glad you found the hotel in the video appealing. Hope it comes in handy for your future travels!

[@KyrilPG]

@@WandererBell Yeah that's the worst enemy of travelers : the "exhaustion doubt" that makes you miss the most evident signs, makes you focus on unimportant details, miss the end goal and doubt basic instructions. More instructions may feel reassuring but it's actually confusing and causing more passengers to ask for directions and wander off path. That's why they've reduced the "number of choices" in CDG 2 to "baggage claim" and "exit" in most signs (which both point in the same direction as there's a unique path). The exit path is unique and sequential, you'll have to go through all steps to exit, so they only mention the endpoint. Plus baggage claim, as some passengers have checked luggage and others don't, so to avoid passengers panicking about only seeing "exit' signs and thinking they've missed the baggage claim, they left it on the signage. It's what seems to work for most passengers from different cultures and languages. In CDG 2 they've conceptualized passenger flow as a liquid stream, removing as much "branches" and asperities as possible. A bit like to guide a boat on a river you only indicate where the sea is, the boat will automatically go through every city, town or port downstream before reaching the sea. The hotel will come in handy for friends visiting from abroad as I live in Paris, so I won't stay there myself but my friends might next spring. Greetings from Paris

[@loki-vv2oo]

Thanks for this info that exit will take you where you need to go. I plan to go to Paris in November and I am terribly directionally challenged 😅

[@KyrilPG]

@@loki-vv2oo Do you already know which terminal you'll be landing at? If not, ar least which company you'll be flying on? (And origin?). It really is a flow, the only real choice is between "exit" and "transfer", with some transfers requiring the path.

[@KyrilPG]

@@loki-vv2oo There isn't any direct flights between Orlando and Paris, you'll have to connect stateside via ATL, DTW, MSP, JFK ; or on this side of the pond via LHR or AMS. Though even if in both cases your entry in the Schengen area will always be Paris CDG, I'd advise to transfer stateside and land in Paris from the transatlantic flight, except if you want to ride a high-speed train (explained below). If you fly Skyteam, take a transatlantic flight operated by Air France on A350 if you can. The cabin and comfort on this aircraft is fantastic. Skyteam flights all land at CDG E & F (E for non-Schengen, F for intra Schengen). So you'll be arriving "roughly" in the same terminal as in the video, which was 2-E gates L, the middle midfield "bar" concourse, but there are also the K gates in the 2-E main building and M gates in the outer midfield satellite concourse. They are all part if 2-E. They gave these letters to concourses as a reference to Air France's sister-daughter company KLM. The terminal in front of 2-E across the yard is 2-F, thus F gates to form F KLM as in AF-KLM. Terminal 2-E is huge, each bar is half a mile long, a little longer than the ones in ATL and they have great duty-free shopping for your return trip if you fancy it, especially L & M, including a mini museum. Terminal 2-E is far nicer than Terminal 1 which can be confusing, even if it's an iconic brutalist masterpiece, and than Terminals 2-A or 2-C which are packed to the brim due to their relatively limited space. Some non-Skyteam transatlantic flights lamd there. If you want to ride high-speed trains without having to go anywhere else, you can also fly via AMS with a connection on Eurostar (ex Thalys) high-speed train from Schipol Airport to Gare du Nord in Paris. Or a mix of both, one way transatlantic flight to or from CDG and the other way via AMS and high-speed Eurostar Thalys. Either way, AMS is in Schengen area, so it's pretty much like being in the same country, you won't have to pass customs and immigration between AMS and Paris. It will be done at your first entry point into the Schengen area only. Or you can fly in and out of CDG, and ride a TGV for a short trip out of Paris at 200mph to either Bordeaux, Reims, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille... Anyway, if you fly Skyteam and arrive from a transatlantic flight, you will always arrive in 2-E. Then from the airport to downtown Paris, RER B is the cheapest and fairly easy. Or, as explained, you can take a cab. It's a flat rate but Paris traffic can be terrible and take a long time. Enjoy your stay, and don't hesitate to ask any questions.

[@aleksdude]

Wow you were in paris?

[@WandererBell]

I am still there 😊

[@debbieclark9814]

loved your video what equipment did you use?

[@WandererBell]

Thank you. I used GoPro camera.

[@maviswilliams9848]

Gracious Savior. How long does one has to walk to get from one place to the other. I have a heart condition, if u have a heart condition, what do you do. ?

[@WandererBell]

I'd suggest you take a taxi to make the journey easy.

[@maviswilliams9848]

@@WandererBell not through the airport, you mean ?

[@WandererBell]

By law, all airlines and airports in the Schengen zone are required to offer air travel assistance for travelers with health issues. That includes assistance in boarding, deplaning and making connections to the next flight and even to take you to the taxi area. You just need to request the Airline and let them know you need help and they will do it for free.

[@maviswilliams9848]

@@WandererBell Thanks

[@eclairtreo]

@@maviswilliams9848 be sure to notify airlines in advance and then re-confirm the day before as well.

[@daviethemusicman2885]

I've always wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower

[@WandererBell]

You will visit it soon through one of my next videos. Stay tuned! 😊

[@LizGroen-p6q]

From lax

[@michaelwhite2600]

I went to Paris for the 6th time. Don’t get me started about finding customs or “Police aux Frontière”. Did you feel like a mouse in a maze and you are suppose to figure out how to get out of there? No signs !!! CDG has no signs for foreigners coming into the country. You just have to guess how to get the hell out of there. After you finally go through customs, then you hunt for the “Sortie” signs, but then you find you have a glass wall between you and the exit signs. So frustrating . I always take the RER to my hotel, but this time I just took an Uber . Every time I go there , it’s absolutely nuts to navigate out of that airport and then I thought, this is a city that is hosting the Olympics next year . How hard is it to post signs CLEARLY”? I’m not making this up. They make it difficult . Don’t get me started about the Navigo Découverte or Navigo Easy cards. They have photo booths if you want a Découverte , but they are all out of order so I couldn’t get one of those . They don’t care .

[@KyrilPG]

You're joking right? There are signs literally everywhere in terminal 2, they've conceived the signage with accessibility specialists for mentally impaired people to be able to follow them and for all cultures. Paris is the most internationally visited city on Earth, dozens of millions of tourists from hundreds of different cultures and languages come to Paris through CDG every year and they manage to get to the city just fine. It's simple : turn your brain, creativity or doubt off, "be a sheep" and follow the signs, they are everywhere. Don't look for immigration, customs or anything special. Bagage claim and exit all point in the same direction. The airport is huge, and terminal 2 itself handles more passengers than all of JFK terminals combined, but there are only 2 paths when arriving : exit or transfer. If you don't transfer, you exit. The signs are written in at least 3 languages, French, English and Chinese or Japanese. Customs? You arrived from a non-Schengen flight so you *will* go through customs by following the unique path to exit. If you get lost, it's because you're getting creative or something, or doubted the signs, but there's only one path to exit and all is sequential : immigration then baggage claim then customs then exit. So by following "exit" signs, you *will* go through the every step, no need to look for those other steps. No if's, no but's, no maybe's, the signs are right, don't doubt them, follow them religiously. CDG 1 is a bit more complicated with its round shape and "crown" of satellites, but then again, follow the signs, they are right. Even if the path they point at seems odd, it's the right one, just follow them. Re-watch the video, you'll see there are signs every few meters, in several languages and it's hard to miss them. They mostly do not specify passport check directions or other steps as it causes confusion for certain people to be presented with something that looks like a choice about what they have to go to first. So they removed any choice from the arrival path besides "exit" or "transfer" and reduced the signage path to 'bagage claim" and "exit", which is the same unique path. It's similar to an "order tunnel" for online shopping : one path and sequential steps with the least possible deviation choices. The only deviation in this case of non-Schengen arrival being "exit" or "transfer". Maybe you don't like this unified path and "endpoint-driven" approach, but it works well with the many different cultures and languages. I repeat : don't think, don't question, follow the signs to exit.

[@amiemohan8578]

Look like this airport is not easy to navigate and also language might be another problem for a first time Paris visitor like me…😢😢😢

[@WandererBell]

Yes, it is not that easy to navigate compared to other major airports in Europe.

[@KyrilPG]

No in fact it's quite easy in terminal 2, there are signs every few meters. You just have to follow them, they are written in at least 3 languages. Given the humongous size of the airport, (CDG Terminal 2 itself handles more passengers than all of New York JFK airport terminals combined), you can't have a process as short and simple as an airport the quarter or tenth of the size. And 2E is the largest "sub-terminal" because it is, with 2F, the Air France / Skyteam hub ; a bit like Heathrow's terminal 5, but with more gates in 2E & 2F. But really, just follow the signs. Paris is the most internationally visited city on Earth, every year dozens of millions of tourists from hundreds of different cultures and languages arrive in CDG and manage to get to the city just fine. The sure way to get lost is to *not* follow the signs, or to doubt them and yourself. Don't think, don't doubt, don't be creative, no if's, no but's, "be a sheep" : simply follow the signs, you *will* find your way through the airport easily. Given the number of different cultures and languages going through the airport every single day, they've put signs everywhere, including with pictograms. It's WYSIWYG : What You See Is Where You Go :-) Every time I hear someone saying they got lost in CDG 2, it's always because they did not follow the signs. Just like with Paris Metro (the regular one, not the RER) : every platform only serves 1 line. If you followed the signs, you cannot find yourself taking the wrong metro train. CDG Terminal 1 is a bit more complicated but then again, there are signs everywhere, just follow them, even if it seems odd to take a travelator in a tunnel to go to immigration and luggage carousels or to go up towards boarding rooms when you see planes behind and below you. The signs are right, do *not* doubt them.

[@paulgilliland2992]

I would pay the €55 or €65 to simplify avoid all that walking and dodging people. Especially after a no sleep long haul non ac train to Gare De Nord.

[@strongtowerman9661]

Is that a taxi price?