Rubi_Niner

This will be our first time to Paris from June 30 to July 5. Since this is high season I'm wondering if the additional cost for some of the advertised "skip the line" tours is worth it. It sounds as if there may be 2 hour queues to get up the Eiffel Tower and similar lines at other sites. Does anyone have experience and/or advice on this? Should we pay the extra cost and does it really save us time? Thanks.

adrienne

You can buy tickets on line and print them at home so you don't need to wait on line to buy tickets. Or you can buy a museum pass.

I don't know what the advertised "skip the line" tours are so perhaps you could mention them or give a link. Paying the extra cost depends on how much and what you get for your money. Again, without knowing what you're looking at it's difficult to help you.

Mahkeenac

We found the "skip the line" tours quite an advantage. We went ahead of everyone at the "Louvre" and the "eiffel tower"
Its certainly worth the extra money.

Rubi_Niner

Thanks for the replies.

Adrienne, this is an example of what I'm talking about:

http://paris.easypasstours.com/tours/eiffel-tower

Rubi_Niner

Mahkeenac, it seems from what I've read it's a good way to save an hour or two in line. Thanks for the confirmation. Do you recommend any particular tour operator? At this point we may be limited to whoever still has availability.

azzure

Wow, those tours are pricey! I'd just buy a Museum Pass. For the Eiffel Tower (not on the Museum Pass) we did this:

http://www.getyourguide.com/paris-l1...l-tower-t2669/

It was very worthwhile.

StCirq

Are you kidding 50E to skip the line?????

Total rip-off IMO.

adrienne

Wow - You're giving some company E40 extra when you can buy Eiffel Tower tickets on line for E10?

I looked at the site you gave a link to (Eiffel Tower) and it states "Bypass the notoriously long lines" but doesn't clearly say if you're bypassing the ticket purchase line or the elevator line. And you're not going to bypass the line to descend the tower. It doesn't say that you'll skip the line to the 3rd level. There's only 1 elevator to the top and the lines to go up and come down are quite long.

Rubi_Niner

It's kind of funny because many of the skip the line tours are sold out in the near term. Now I wonder if all those tours are sold out, perhaps the long lines will be for the people that bought the skip the line tickets, and the regular lines will be less! How ironic if that is the case.

chartley

I am trying to get my head round the ethical difference between paying a significant sum to a third party to enable you to "skip the line" and just pushing in, which is the subject of another thread.

It seems that it is wrong to go to the front of the queue because you are pregnant, but OK if you have paid €50. Surely it can only be right to pay to gain advantage if the money you pay goes to the people whose places you took.

adrienne

I like your thinking, chartley!

adrienne

Here's a way to judge if the E50 is worth it. What if you booked this tour and it's raining and overcast that day. Are you willing to lose the E50 and try again on a clear day?

Mahkeenac

Adrienne:
We used Viator tour compant for all our tours in Paris.
Very pleased, will be using them in Vienna this year!

Rubi_Niner

Well the way we look at it, we're paying thousands of euros to get there as we live a long distance away. We have an extremely limited amount of time to see the sites in and around Paris. So in that context, is paying an extra 35 euros to improve our time efficiency, worth it? We think so. In addition, the 35 extra euros includes a brief tour with a local guide which is not included in the standard 14.5 euros ticket, so there's a little added value there.

adrienne

If you've already decided that the tour is worth the extra money to you why did you ask if it's worth it?

Goldens

The online tickets probably sold out some time ago.
You don't have such a long wait if you are willing to walk the stairs up. Lots of people do that and it's not so bad.

Goldens

We have also been pleased with Viator.

Rubi_Niner

Thanks to all for your input. When I asked the question we had not thought it through and were honestly looking for opinions. After reading more and getting additional information, you helped us arrive at our decision. That's all. We're excited to see Paris and are sure we will have a wonderful time, lines or no lines.

TPaxe

These skip the line tours are very expensive and a friend has done the Eiffel Tower Tour and the guide didn't know much.

Also booking on-line is less expensive and just as convenient.

I would prefer to do the behind-the-scenes tour instead for the same price! This allows you to visit parts of the Eiffle Tower closed to the public. This is better value IMO.

Goldens

As I mentioned above, buying your tickets online is not an option. Go to the Eiffel Tower website and they are all sold out for your timeframe.