[ThePowerOfFuet]

>After 10 minutes of googling about cards for tourists I have learned that you can only get a card if you live in Paris, confirm your address, and even then it takes 2-3 weeks to get one. There is a card you can get as a tourist, but it's only useful for expensive day passes, not for taking 1-2 euro trips.

They failed you, because such a card exists and is called the Navigo Easy, costs €2, and you can load individual trips on it. Unfortunately the machines don't sell the cards yet, so you have to talk to a human.

[jfim]

It's almost as if the RATP doesn't want tourists to use it though. From their website on the pass (https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/passe-navigo-easy)

> Do you want to take trips on the metro, bus or tram? Do you want a rechargeable pass? The Navigo Easy pass is made for you!

> Ideal for : Les touristes et les clients voyageant occasionnellement

There's also a table further down the page that's only available in French that explains which fare combinations are allowed (ie. cannot load both a full fare and reduced fare on the same card). Although even if one reads French, it's not clear what the orange cell means, so maybe the RATP just hates all of its customers. :-)

[bagels]

It's in French, is that why you are saying they don't want tourists to use it?

Otherwise, it basically says: Ideal for tourists and occasional travellers.

[bombcar]

I think that's the gist - the table is confusing and complex even for a French speaker.

"Tourist" cards should always be "you can ride basically everything" and "more expensive than if you know what you're doing". I have no idea what a "day pass" on the Metro is, but tourists will gladly pay more for something they don't have to think about and works everywhere.

[secabeen]

I purchased these for my family on my last trip, and it took a little work; I had to go to the office in the train station, then ask, there was confusion with the Navigo vs the Navigo Easy. In the end, it worked, and the $2 cost of the card was covered by the discount on the 10-ride pack.

That said, the just-use-your-credit card system in London is way better.