Travel Answers

I have been to Versailles few months ago, and now one of my best friend is asking my advice.
I have spent much time in the Chateau (from 11am~3pm) and then go to Le Grand Trianon. Here is my path for my trip:
timegoers.com/home/!/trip/50...

My friend asked me should him spend time in the Chateau or should he explore the Garden more?
I think the Chateau is good but I like garden more. What do you think?

members.virtualtourist.com/m... that is my listing for Paris members.virtualtourist.com/m... that is my listing for Versailles IF can get a min of 10, I would get group rates on the visits like the eiffel and chateau. Cheers

what will u recommend i i am going to versailles. Just wondering.

hello, my husband and i are planning a visit to versailles (taking a train from paris). can you tell me if versailles will be decorated for christmas (dec. 16th) at that time?

I'm researching our trip to Paris, and am trying to decide if we should try to do the musical fountain show at Versailles. We are flexible on our dates to go to Versailles and I'm wondering if we should try to GO during the musical fountain shows? Or avoid going then since our Pass won't allow us access and it may be extra crowded? It's our anniversary so I'd love to see something extra special but only if it's worth the hassle :) On the Pass website: "Please note that during the « Grandes Eaux musicales (musical water shows), the musical gardens and the shows, the gardens and the grove are not accessible to the holders of the PARIS MUSEUM PASS"

In April we'll be staying at a hotel near the Sevres-Lecourbe station. We want to visit Versailles on a Sunday (not Easter). Which RER-C station is closest (or easiest) to get to from our hotel (we're 2 older ladies on foot) and how early do they start from that station and what is the frequency? Cost? Many thanks!

I would like to know how much does it cost to go from Paris to Verssailles by bus and how long does it take. Can I use Carte D'Orange for the trip?

My apologies in advance if these questions have been covered but I seem unable to find solid information! We will visit the palace on a Wed. or Thursday (mid-september) as we'll be using our Paris Museum passes and there will be no special events on those days that the pass won't cover - such as Jardins Musicaux. We'll take the RER C from Musee d'Orsay as that's the closest to us. Will ask for return (rétour) tickets and that will get us two - one to the palace and one to come back with, right? RER tickets don't need validation - that's done just by insertion into the turnstiles, right? I know to hang onto them for exiting the station. I see that the gardens are open an hour before the palace and we plan to be there early. For the life of me I can't see on a map where you enter the gardens? Or should we just plan on being in the ticket-holder entrance line (Gate A) by 8:30 to enter the palace before it gets too busy? I also can't find a complete list of items - other than strollers, luggage and large umbrellas - that are not allowed in the palace. I see food is also forbidden yet many visitors mention that they bring their own bottled beverages, snacks and even lunches. Do you simply check those items upon entry to the palace and retrieve them on your way out? Although audio guides are nice, we usually opt to purchase a printed tour guide (book) instead as then we have the information/pictures when we get home. Has anyone purchased one at the entrance to the palace that they found particularly good both for self touring and as a nice souvenir to take home? One with a good map inside would be especially nice. Good books/guides from places we've been to get used over and over at our house. :) If it looks like rain on Wed and Thursday, we might have to go on Tuesday. Any idea how much extra the Jardins Musicaux would be on top of our museum passes, and if we have to stand in a long, long line JUST for tickets to the garden on that day? The website is unclear on that. It's also unclear in this event includes the ENTIRE garden or just parts that can be skipped. We will want to walk out the Trianons and the hamlet, and wouldn't miss those amazing gardens anyway!

interested in visiting the Gardens... what is an affordable accomodation? bed and breakfast... motel... guest house... whatever.......

Greetings! I will be visiting Versailles Palace on Friday, August 13, bringing with me 3 children, ages 11, and 16. 1) I read a recent post about buying tickets in Paris at FNAC. Can anyone please verify this? 2)I see on the Versailles website that under 18s are free. Would we still have to wait in the line to purchase tickets? 3) we'll be visiting on a Friday, will we have to pay extra for the gardens? 4) can we bicycle the gardens? if so, how and where can we rent. Thank you all!

Hello, Visiting in August with my husband and daughter. Is there a reservation needed for the restaurants at Versailles? (La Petite Venice or La Flottille) Thanks in advance

I would very much like to see Les Grands Eaux Musicales and since I won't be in Paris during the weekend, I can only visit on July 14--of all days! Anyway, my question is, how early and till what time does the train from and to Paris run? My main goal is to see the Trianons because the last time I went to Versailles a couple years ago, I only managed to see the main palace, Hall of Mirror, King's apartments and the garden. So I want to focus on the fountain show and the Trianons this time. Do you think an afternoon would be enough--as the Trianons don't open till noon and the fountain show is only in the afternoon, right? I would love to be able to get back to Paris before dinner time as I think the traffic downtown is going to be a problem due to the Bastille Day fireworks celebration. Any good tips or advice for me, please?

Hi, I rented a room in the hotel Le Home St-Louis in Versailles FRance. The hotel doesn't offer Parking but does anybody know if it's easy to park out there or not. Thx CLaudine

My wife and I are traveling to Paris in June. One of the spots we will visit is Versailles. My question is will the Paris Pass enable us to take part in the various tours i.e. the Garden Tours, or will we have to purchase separate tickets for those. Thanks in advance. Jeff

Very interested in hearing from someone who has taken either a rented bicyle tour or a Segway tour of Versailles. Are you able to use these vehicles on the Chateau de Versailles grounds? If so, can you park them safely while you are inside? Any recommendations or endorsements? Thanks

Has anyone been to Le Valmont Restaurant in Versailles ? Pedmar ?? How was it ? Someone recommended it to us. Also is parking difficult in this area ? Jeannette

We are planning a visit to Versailles in Mid-December. I am assuming that it won't be too crowded. We would like to see as much as possible but I am not sure if the gardens are worth it at this time of the year. Should we plan on a full day at Versailles or is 1/2 day enough ? Has anybody taken a guided tour ? is it worth it or should we just use the individual audio tapes? Any recommendations for places to eat lunch on the grounds? Any recommendations and advice would be appreciated. Thanks Jeannette

We intend to visit the Chateau at Versailles but it must be on Tuesday 4th August. I am unsure about the pricing for my children who are 14, 12 and 6 years of age as it seems to be a musical fountain day. It appears that the best value for us adults would be the 25 euro musical fountain pass, and although the children appear free, there is a mention that the musical fountains are not free of charge. Does this mean that we cannot visit the gardens unless we pay for the children and if so I cannot see how much we must pay. Is it possible to visit just the gardens and not see the fountain display? It appears to be an expensive family day out and we are on a budget!! please help someone!! Thank you

Hello, I was getting ready to purchase a day pass to Chateau de Versailles' Grandes Eaux Musicales show. First I thought, the pass included admission to the King Apartments, Trianon, etc. But upon reading the description of the pass second time, I'm not quite sure anymore if the palaces and the Grand Apartments are part of this pass. Please read this (copied from the Online Ticket Office page) and let me know how you'd interpret this information: So, what do you think they mean by ? What paths are they talking about? Is there a French speaker who could help, please? And, by the way, the Lonely Planet Paris city guide says these musical shows must be reserved in advance, which makes me think that if the above mentioned pass covers the show, I need to purchase tickets to the Palace, Trianon, Marie-Antoinette Palace, right? It's very confusing to me. Thanks in advance for your help, VTers! Olga

Hi Versailles offers free admission to under-18s. I was wondering if we still need to wait in the line to get tickets or if it's we can just wait on the line to get in (like at the Rodin Museum where you tell the admissions person that you're under 18 and he gives you an orange sticker)? Thanks!

I am planning to visit Versailles on 8 May 09 and I realised that it is a public holiday. Just wondering whether it will be closed or still open?

we (2 adults + 15 yrs + 11yrs) plan to spend a whole day Sun Aug/24/08 in Versailles (have to go early to avoid the lineup then stay late for the musical water show). There is a pkg for 25 Eu inc everything or should we buy 4 days museum pass (plan to go to Louvre on Wed) 45Eu which not cover the show (extra 10 Euro)& RER (12 Eu return?); if we use the Ver pgk then I can buy 2 days pass on Wed& Thur. I think kids pay extra 10 Euro for the show. Is there any kids fare for RER? Another question: where do I buy the pass? if I have the museum pass, then where do I buy the RER ticket, can I buy it at the station Micheal Notre Dame 8:30 AM? Thanks

Does anyone know how long it would take to walk from the Chateau (Versailles) to the Fountain of Apollo? Or how long would it take to walk from the Chateau to the Trianon? I'd really appreciate hearing from you devoted walkers! L2go

Hi The 8 of us, 4 adults + 4 kids (age 7-16) are going to paris from 19/6-23/6/08. We planned to visit Versailles on weekend (21 or 22 June - dont have other choice)from Paris and have some questions regarding the entrance tickets. 1) We are considering either to take the forfait loisirs or separate tickets. How much is the rer return tickets for adults & kids from Paris, say zone 1? 2) How much is the garden entrance cost during the grand aux musicales (for kids)? was it the entire garden is closed or just small portion of it? say if we dont pay for garden, could we still move around from the palace to the triannons, hamlets etc without obstruction? I tried the website but there is no indication of the garden entrance cost. I tried to search the internet but it returns confusing answer. Hope the VTers could help. Thanks. ara2

Were there any Venetian Glass Makers from Murano involved directly with the Making,Supervision,or Planning of the Hall of Mirrors. Thanks for any helpful information

Hello, we are visiting versailles in august, which is the "high" season. I have read from versailles reviews on this site that lines can be long. How can I avoid these long lines? I am considering 2 options a)take the all day Cityrama tour of versailles at 70E each or b) metro to gare st. lazare and then the RER C train to versailles rive gauche, & use the SNCF/Transilien combo pass. Can one bypass long lines entirely with the combo pass? We are travelling with 3 young kids; it may be hard for us to reach versailles by 9 am to avoid the lines. Thank you for this wonderful site.

Does anyone know whether or not it is free to visit Versailles this Sunday (4th May?)

I'm trying to buy Metro tickets for our trip to Paris in May. The RER tickets are included in the Paris Visit plan. Most of my visit will be spent in central Paris, so I will be buying the tickets for zone 1-3. I'm wondering if I should buy a 1 day ticket for zones 1-6 to include Versaille. (It's in zone 4). The cost is30, Would it be better to buy a RER ticket separately for the day? Would the price be better for this option?

My nephew is in Paris - walking until he has blisters. With the transportation strike going on, how can he get to Versailles (cheap)? He is a graduate in fine art, with a love for rocco and has always dreamed of going there. Help!

Would like to find out what would be the most practical and cost effective way to get to my hotel, Sofitel Chateau de Versailles from the airport (Charles de Gaulle)?? Via taxi (approximately how much wld it cost)? Airport shuttle? Train? I know that one way would be to take the RER. - Have been trying to find a map to see the location of the RER station nearest the hotel but in vain.. Can anyone help? - How long does the journey take? - How much does it cost? Are there any airport shuttles that goes to the Sofitel Chateau de Versailles direct? Most of those I found online travels within the postal code 75 but Versailles is 78... Thanks in advance!! Appreciate all the help I can get. =D