I am taking my mother to London/Paris for 5 days each and I am a little nervous. My main question is about purchasing Metro/Museum passes. Should I buy them before departing for London? Or in country? or gee, not at all? I was thinking of the 7-day metro & museum pass for both London & Paris. We are planning to stay in the cities mostly, perhaps a day trip to Bath or Westminister but that's about it.

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. By the way...we are leaving on March 23rd. Thanks!

eve7
I see this is your first posting on fodors, under this name. I'm wondering about what reading or research you have done--where did you find out about 7-day metro and museum passes for London and Paris? What 'museum pass' for London did you have in mind? Paris has a museum pass, but it is not good for 7-days. It has other kinds of visitors passes however.
And where did you read
that Westminister (sic) is a day trip out of London? It is IN London.
But I suspect you know that.

Either you have misunderstood or have read some incorrect information. For Paris, there is no combined museum and metro pass, they are two different things. They do not have a 7-day pass for either the Paris Visite (tourist metro pass) or the museum pass. The 5-day museum pass is 45 euro. That is a lot of money, but might be worthwhile if you intended to visit at least two museums per day. I wouldn't buy one. There are only a couple of Paris museums that have long lines, so you might buy it for 3 days max. If you really go to museums a lot, of course, it could work.

There is no reason to buy it ahead of time, you will not save money and will most likely pay a premium to an agent who adds on a fee.

OK eve7, I'll assume you have at least some idea about these two cities since you are leaving in less than 2 weeks. But you really need to go ASAP to any nearby book store and buy a guide book for each to help you with your arrangements. Because most of your current info is just wrong.

Most museums and galleries in London are free so there is no weekly museum pass. As said - there is a worthwhile museum pass for Paris, but not a weekly one. The 3-day one is probably your best bet.

There is no need to buy any transport passes ahead of time since they are easily bought in London tube and Paris Metro stations.

By any chance did you mean a possible day trip to WINDSOR instead of Westminster? (Westminster in in the very center of London) Windsor would be a bit more than a 1/2 day trip using trains. Bath would be a full day's trip and w/ only 5 days in London you probably won't have time to take a full day out to Bath.

I think the best use of your time the next couple of days is to get those two guide books and start reading . . . . . .

Thank you everyone. And yes, I did mean Windsor (we are staying near Westminster) that was a typo - bleary-eyed from the computer all day . elaine - the passes are offered online on various websites, also through Expedia and mentioned by the travel agent, so that's why I was curious. Hearing & reading conflicting information can simply confuse a person. Thank you janis, I picked up a guidebook on the way in to work today and plan to spend lunches (for the next weeks or so) reading it. I appreciate all of your responses and advice. Since this trip is just recently a definite "go" I have alot of research to do. This site is a great find! Thanks again.

Eve

the pass for London is, the London Pass (logically enough). It has an optional add-on for transportation on the city's subway and bus system. It comes in 1, 2, 3 or 6 day versions. For info: www.londonpass.com

Most museums in London offer free admission; the London Pass provides entry to other visitor attractions. You should compare the list of locations covered, their entry prices, and try to determine whether the pass makes sense given your itenerary.

There is also a London Visitor Travelcard, covering transporation only. You can find info on this at:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...avelcard.shtml

I know of no pass covering Paris and London (and I see that another poster provided the info on the Musee et Monuments and Paris Visite passes).

Finally, since it is already March 11, and you are leaving on the 23rd, it may be a bit late for buying the passes and having them delivered before you leave...

The London Pass
(http://www.londonpass.com) Sometimes, but not often, cheaper than individual entry fees. Lets you jump the line.

London Tube/Bus Pass
(http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...fares-2005.pdf) Buy a 7-day Travelcard for Zones 1-2 at any Tube Station.

Paris Museum Pass
(http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglai...monuments.php#) Again, add up the fees for the sights you can reasonably see in one, three, or five days and compare. Purchase at any Métro station.

Métro, bus, and train travel
(http://www.ratp.info/informer/titres_de_transport.php)
If you plan to get on a bus or use the subway fewer than five times per day, buy a <i>carnet</i> of 10 individual &quot;t&quot; tickets. If more than 4 times per day, get a <i>Mobilis</i> unlimited one-day pass. If more than three days in a calendar week (Mo-Su) get a <i>Carte Orange</i> (1&quot; square photo required when you buy the card).

I have posted a trip report covering our experiences in London and a Paris daytrip:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34581906

It's called Lovely London............ if the link doesn't work. We enjoyed seeing the Tower, then going to Westminster Abbey the next day to see the tombs of some of the people who you will learn about at the Tower.

If you are in Paris the first Sunday in April, both the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay will be free admission.
Check their websites for schedules-- I think the Louvre is closed Tuesdays and the D'Orsay on Mondays.

I have seen a combination offer for the Louvre and a metro ticket, something like that. But I wouldn't buy it packaged just that way... I'd rather have the museum pass and a transportation pass or carnet.

eve don't sweat it...london and paris are impossible (or nearly) to screw up. just literally point in a direction and you'll be good.