In additon to museums, they are available at FNAC stores and other outlets. We bought ours at WebServices on rue de l'Exposition just off rue St. Dominique in the 7th. (the Constant restaurants are located on r. St. Dominque). There is also an outlet for the passes on r. Bosquet. Google Paris museum passes and you will find other places near where you are staying.

Sorry to interupt, but I have a question. I will be going to Paris this fall, and just saw your post! What is the price for the passes and what is the difference in them? If anyone could tell me I would appreicate it. Will be in Paris for 5 days. Just beginning to look at places and things to see. Thanks!

Thanks!

Laduree at 75 Champs Elysee is indefinitely closed during construction. They had a fire in October or November last year (I can't remember the exact time). You may luck out and construction could be finished by May but when we saw it in December, there was quite a bit of damage.

You can try their main boutique at 16, rue Royale in the 8th (near The Madeleine Church) or my favorite stop at 21, rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondisement. While there, you can continue to 72, rue Bonaparte and look in at Pierre Herme.

Your itinerary sounds great and I hope your niece gets all the shopping and window shopping she is dreaming of. If you still have time (for shopping, that is), she might enjoy doing some at boulevard Saint-Germain. She would enjoy that as well.

By the way, Un Dimanche a Paris on 4-6-8 Cour du Commerce Saint-Andre in the 6th (closed on Sundays - open from 11:00) besides a chocolate shop and pastry shop, also has a lounge for cocktails, salon de the and a restaurant.

Enjoy your trip!

We bought our museum passes last summer at the visitor's information desk at CDG. They were sold at face value (no surcharge), and the very helpful attendant also got us squared away with metro tickets. Super easy.

We loved Versailles, but here's my tip: when we went, we did what our guidebooks told us to do and got there first thing. Even the special museum pass line was about an hour long, and then we were crushed by crowds inside. After we made it through (mostly in one piece :) and wandered the gardens to our hearts content, we walked back out past the main entrance: no line. We literally walked back in without stopping even once. Maybe this is common knowledge for savvy travelers, but we were amazed! So go in the morning, but do the gardens first, then the palaces.

Have the best trip!

Back from NOLA Mardi Gras, found my password, and wanted to thank y'all for the replies.

I thought there was a way to get the pass at CDG. If we can't get them there, the location near rue st. Dominique would work. Thanks!

I did know Laduree on CE was closed and had pencilled in the rue Royale location for a nibble after l'Louvre. But maybe one of the other locations will work too.

Un Dimanche a Paris sounds great: Goes on the ever expading restaurants list. We are gonna eat great in Paris, I just know it. Now I just have to get the lingo down to ask for a reservation for three people for dinner!

Thanks for the Versailles tip. What you did makes sense! Will keep that in mind if the lines are atrocious, which obviously we are expecting them to be.

You will be there about the same time that we will and also staying in the 7th but our itinerary is a much slower paced one....no museums as it is a food and wine trip for us...just taking looong leisurely lunches doing wine tastings, looking for good chocolate shops and visiting food markets, Batobus for relaxing boat ride on the Seine...sort of hop on and hop off, evening Seine river cruise with a bottle of bubbly of course!

We did the same as Mango on our trip to Versailles, we went to the gardens first and rented bikes to ride around. We really enjoyed the hamlet (I think it was called) and by the time we made it back to the palace, the lines were almost gone.

Your trip sounds fun, have a wonderful time!

I have to tell you that the macarons at Un Dimanche a Paris blows Laduree away. I know Laduree has the name but my God, the giner/citrus and strawberry at UDaP, are heavenly! It is such a beautiful restaurant and shop and they are friendly. We had a clerk that spoke perfect English and was so helpful. The salted caramels were also terrific.

Have a great trip!

cornelius, your trip sounds wonderful! I hope hubby and I can go back and do just that. We do plan to make time for some good meals, though, and Reed, Cafe Constant, 58 Eiffel Tower-mostly for the view, are on the list so far.

Thanks, Kathy, for the rec. to do Versailles in reverse. It's sounding like a really good plan: we'd love to see the Hall of Mirrors with fewer people around. Our first time it was under contruction and the second time the Palace was closed for a strike. This time, tbd...

denisea, you've inspired me to do a macarons taste test! We'll have to try 'em both! ;)

74 days to go!