am going to Paris for 5 days with my daughter. Am considering purchasing these two cards to save time waiting in lines. Does anyone have experience using them? Are they worth it? many thanks,

They're great as long as the transportation and/or museum workers do not decide to go on strike. If they do, you just lost your money.

Used the museum pass last month. My daughter did not need one. Do not buy one for a child under 18 she is free in most museums. But bring identification for your daughter if she looks close to 18. <BR> <BR>The museum pass was great for skipping to the front of the lines. Many lines are long. <BR> <BR>If you are buying it to save money, think about how many museums you plan on visiting in one day. For instance you could easily spend the *whole* day in the Louvre, so it wouldn't be necessary to buy a pass for that day unless the lines were really long & you wanted to jump to the front.

I like having a museum pass - not only do I avoid the lines, but I can stop in somewhere for a short visit without having to thing about the admission fee. The passes are available for different numbers of days, so for a 5-day visit, a 3-day pass may well be sufficient. <BR> <BR>I generally do a lot of walking, so do not use the Metro or busses enough to warrant purchase of a pass for that. I just buy a carnet of (10) tickets, and use them as needed.

Laura <BR>The Paris Visite pass is sold only to visitors, Parisians would know that it's by far not worth the price. <BR>Buy the museum pass to save lines and admission and as mentioned it will be good for one day, or for x consecutive days. Just think about which days you will really use it, but bypassing the lines at the Louvre and the Orsay make it very worth while. <BR>For most visitors, a metro/bus carnet, which is a bunch of 10 tickets bought at once, is a good savings and you don't need to worry that you are getting the full value of any other transit pass, particularly if your time will be spent not only on the metro/buses but also strolling, sightseeing, and walking around. <BR>I have a file on Paris; if you'd like to see it, email me.

<BR> I do agree with Elaine. There's no point in buying the Paris visite pass. You would save money with it only if you intended to use all the freebies which come with the pass, but it would be a very odd visit in Paris, since no major museum/highlight is included.

Definitely get the museum pass if you're thinking about visiting a lot of places, the best part is skipping to the front of the line, especially during heavily touristed times. It is also great if you just want to pop in and see the Mona Lisa and be on your way. No need to buy it before you get to Paris, you can buy at any of the attractions or at the tourist info center on Champs Elysses. <BR> <BR>Paris is a wonderful city for walking, we rarely use public transportation. We've found that buying a 10 pack of tickets (carnet) is the best value.

<BR> You can buy the Paris museum pass at most (all??) metro stations, too..

Julie, I, too, will be traveling with my daughter (16) to Paris. Will I need a pass for her when I get into the museum pass line? Wouldn't they require passes for each of us to avoid the lines?

<BR>Patty : no..you don't have to buy her a pass. Avoiding the lines is not an advantage granted on pass holders. It's only that people with a pass, or who have bought tickets in advance, or are allowed to enter for free (like your daughter)don't need to wait in line to buy tickets. They can enter the museum right on.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/Paris-Transport/ <BR> <BR>That gives you guidance that's very useful. <BR> <BR>DO NOT get the Visite. If the dates fit, get the Carte Orange. <BR> <BR>The Carte Orange is available as a weekly or a monthly pass. The <BR>weekly pass (coupon hebdomadaire) is valid Monday to Sunday only, and <BR>*not* for 7 days from date of purchase. The pass is available from the <BR>Wednesday before to the Wednesday of the week of validity. The basic 2 <BR>zone pass is 82FRF. You need a passport size photo for the pass. In <BR>addition to the ticket, you will be given an identification card on <BR>which you affix your photo and fill in your name. You must write the <BR>serial number of this card on your ticket and keep the two together. <BR>The ticket is not valid without the accompanying card. This card does <BR>not have a expiration date, so you can use one from a previous trip. <BR>

At the Louvre you do not go to the front of the line with the pass. You use a special side entrance, that way you go right on in. You do not get a ticket you just show the pass to the person at the outside entrance and then again at the entrance to wing of the museum that you are going into. <BR>

Patty, <BR>I was worried about this and asked on this board before I went. Fodorites told me that my daughter would not need a pass. When we got there she did just walked in with us no questions asked ... but she is only 8 and looks 5. <BR>Since your daughter is 16 bring her passport or a school id with her age on it in case they want to check her age. She will be free in almost all major museums and will be able to just walk in with you. <BR>The lines looked like they were for buying tickets, not for going into the museum.

Just got back from Paris yesterday. We got a 2-zone metro pass as well as the museum pass, and both were extremely useful. Just FYI, the museum pass is good only for permanent exhibits at most museums, not special exhibitions --you will have to purchase those separately. Make sure you buy the museum pass at one of the smaller museums, or you'll have to wait in line with everyone else.

Doug, <BR>Regarding the Cart Orange, we purchased this ticket sp/99 and will be returning sp 01. We still have our Cart Orange ID cards. Please explain how we can use these again. Do we present the old cards and pay for new tickets???? <BR>aj

We think the Museum Pass is worth it if only to avoid the lines and to pop in and out if we want. In November, our hotel (Fleurie) provided them gratis. <BR> <BR>We buy the Visite Pass because we like to just jump on a bus when we need a rest from walking and just gawk around at where ever it is going. Only got burned once when it reached the end of the line way the hell away from everything and I had to wander about to find where I was. It was a great experience! <BR> <BR>We avoid the underground because you can't see anything, (to say nothing of the pesty pickpockets) Use them rarely, only when we want to get across town fast, but not during rush hours! <BR> <BR>Rich

When you see the line at the Louvre, you would gladly pay the cost of a museum pass just to bypass it.

For AJ: If you bring your Carte Orange card, you'll need to purchase only a new weekly coupon (the small ticket).