I'm looking for advice on how to visit Monets Garden and Versailles without undertaking 2 trips from Paris. We are a party of 3 adults arriving from Ireland in mid May. While we may have to kick off from Paris, Paris is not our target destination. We would like to visit Monet's Garden and Versailles on our way further south. Can anyone suggest out of Paris accommodation and transport that would allow us to visit both venues without returning to Paris (or even visiting Paris).

Since they're on opposite sides of Paris, you would either be travelling through Paris between the two, or making a detour round Paris.

Where are you arriving from Ireland? It sounds as though you don't plan to drive; but if you're flying into Charles de Gaulle, I can't see an easy option by public transport that doesn't involve going in and out of Paris.

Rent a car at CDG (if that is where you will arrive) drive to Vernon, see Giverney. Stay in Vernon. Drive to Versailles the next day around Paris.
You said "transport" but not necessarily "public".

Versailles and Giverny are NOT on opposite sides of Paris. One is to the NW and the other is to the SW. You would not have to go back to Paris at all to see both. It would be easy to go from one to the other in a car.

There is a bus tour from Paris that goes to both locations but it would go back to Paris.
http://giverny.org/tour/

Trains go to both locations, as well. Maybe you could train to Vernon, then to Versailles and then whereever you are going south.

Or Cityrama, one of the major tour comopanies in Paris...

http://www.pariscityrama.com/en/outs..._paris/giverny

Or Parisvision, the other big company...

http://en.parisvision.com/2,36-giver...versailles.htm

Both are situated near the Louvre.

Hi billandben:

We took a trip to Giverney last May. It's beautiful. It is an easy drive from Paris. Just minimal delays leaving Paris, but it was rush hour. We left in time to get there at opening time to avoid the crowds and tour buses.

Katie