Buying a Navigo card, the Paris version of Suica (I lost my credit card...)

Day 10 of my European tour
My first day in Paris after traveling from London

I arrived at Paris Nord station from London by Eurostar around 9:00 PM, and from there, I took the subway to my guesthouse.

Purchasing a Navigo card

After arriving at Paris Nord station, I headed toward the subway, following the 'M' signs in the station.
I wasn't even sure if 'M' stood for Metro, but I made it to the metro station safely.
I wasn't even sure if 'M' stood for Metro, but I
made it to the metro station safely.

At the ticket machine in the subway station, I bought a transit IC card called Navigo Easy.

I used this website as a reference to buy it, but when I first saw the screen, I couldn't understand the operation interface and gave up, intending to line up at the ticket window.
However, there was a long line at the window, so I looked at the website again, followed the manual on the site, and was able to purchase it.
Manuals are important, aren't they?

The card I bought wasn't an unlimited pass, but rather one where you charge the number of tickets you need.

The Paris Metro has a flat rate of 2.5€ per ride, not a ticket where the price changes based on distance like in Japan.
You tap your card when entering, but when exiting, you just pass through the gate without anything being checked.
However, it seems it's not a flat rate if you change zones (the range of the subway).

I was staying in Paris for four nights, so assuming I used it twice a day, that would be eight times, but for my first purchase, I cautiously bought only five rides' worth.
It doesn't seem like there's a discount for buying a larger number of tickets, and you can also charge for just one ride.

Can be added to a wallet app

By the way, after I returned home, I was looking at the iPhone Wallet app and saw that Navigo was available as a candidate to add as a transit IC card, so it seems you can add Navigo to your wallet without buying a physical card.

You can charge it with the Bonjour RATP app

A convenient app that the host of my guesthouse told me about is Bonjour RATP.

It's an app that lets you search for routes and view route maps, but you can also read the IC chip on your Navigo card to check your balance or top it up.

From the 'Tickets' button on the bottom right of the app, you open this Fares screen, tap 'Read pass,' and hold your Navigo card against your iPhone to read the IC and check how many tickets you have left.
Furthermore, you can choose the number of tickets to charge in this app, pay with Apple Pay or similar, and then load that charged amount onto your Navigo card.

It's reassuring to be able to check my balance somewhere other than a ticket machine, and
since I didn't have enough tickets on my way back from the Louvre,
I headed to the ticket machine, but there was a long line,
so I was able to use this app to top up and board the subway.

Card loss trouble

When I bought this Navigo card,
I lost my credit card (WISE card).

I wanted to spread my credit card usage across multiple cards,
so when I bought the Navigo card,
I used a credit card I don't usually use.

I had just arrived in Paris,
so I was on guard against pickpockets,
and I was clutching the Navigo card I had just bought,
my credit card, and my iPhone all together,
taking them in and out of my pocket,
so I think I must have dropped the credit card
while I was doing that.

I realized it right after I went through the ticket gate with the Navigo,
and I looked around my feet but couldn't find it.

The subway ticket gates are unmanned,
and they are for entry only, so I couldn't go back out from there...

The gap in the iron gate next to the ticket gate was just big enough for a child to pass through,
so I forced my way out to the other side.

I searched from around the ticket gates to the ticket machines,
but I couldn't find it,
and when I asked at the window, they said nothing had been turned in.

I wonder if someone just snatched it up right after I dropped it...

The lost card had a feature that allowed me to freeze it via the app,
so I froze it right there on the spot,
and while I didn't suffer any financial loss,
it really took a toll on me mentally.

I shouldn't have done something different from my usual routine...

Arrived at the guesthouse

I am staying at a guesthouse in Paris.
The host had provided information on the transfer route in advance,
so I followed those directions,
arrived safely at the nearest station, Vincennes Station,
and reached the guesthouse after about a 5-minute walk.

It was around 10:00 PM when I arrived,
and the sun had just finally set,
but the host welcomed me warmly,
showed me to my room,
and gave me a quick overview of how to get to major tourist spots from the guesthouse by subway.

At that time, the host told me
about the Bonjour RATP app, so
I think this was information I wouldn't have known
if I hadn't stayed at the guesthouse.