Paris Passes, worthwhile?
 

Traveling to Paris with wife & 2 teenagers. Is the 3 day Paris visite pass worthwhile? Also We want to visit Versailles. A 3 day 3 zone +RER or 5 zone? Museum pass for Louvre, De Orsay & Invalides or purchase individually? Is Versailles included in pass? I understand the kids get in free. Any feedback will be appreciated.

Hi. My husband and I just left Paris a few days ago. The pass is definately worth it and will save you time and money. I do not recall children being free into most of the sites. The card will allow you to go to the front of the line and also to pop in and see things that you might not otherwise do. Versailles is included in the pass. The 3 day museum pass is 160ff _ about 27 USD per person. <BR> <BR>You only need a one zone pass for the Metro - carde orange (you will need a small photo). You pay a very small supplement to travel in zone 2 to Versailles.

Museum Pass (Carte Musee) is definitely worth it if you go to even a few places. It will get you into almost everything except the Eiffel Tower. And you can go back so you won't feel pressured to see ALL the Louvre in one day. <BR> <BR>Check before buying for the kids though, I also remember a lot being free or 1/2 price for under 18 -- although maybe the pass is discounted for them? I wasn't traveling with kids so I'm not sure on this. <BR> <BR>For the Metro pass, make sure you get the Carte Orange the other poster mentioned -- which is the same commuter pass a parisian would use. It is a much better bargain than the tourist pass. Make sure you know what day it starts (either Sun or Mon I think) -- it's valid for a calendar week -- not for a week from when you buy it -- and if you buy it the day before it expires you will only get one day's use out of it before having to buy another. The Let's Go guides (sorry Fodor's) have a pretty good explanation of how this works. Being geared for commuters, it was hard to find info on this in the other travel guides. They steer you towards the simpler, more expensive tourist pass and leave it at that. <BR> <BR>You can get your photo for the pass at the larger Metro/RER stations. Make sure you have some manicure sissors or something to cut them apart with (you get 4 in a strip).

We purchased the musuem pass both times we've been to Paris and would highly recommend it although I'm not sure about how it works with children that might be free. You might not be able to use one of the best features of the museum pass which is skipping the long lines at the attractions. <BR> <BR>Versailles is included in the pass as is the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame (for entrance to the tower which is a cool view of Paris and the gargoyles), Saint Chappelle (very close to Notre Dame and worth seeing for the beautiful stained glass), Arc de Triomphe (another cool view of Paris and the circle around the Arc) and lots more. <BR> <BR>There's a website at www.intermusees.com that explains the features of the pass. It looked like there was a place to ask a question via email.

It's not clear to me how long you are going to be in Paris, but if it's only 3 days, you shouldn't buy any transportation pass. The museum pass is a tossup, but generally museum entry fees are 30-45F for adults and kids are free (under 18 or 12, it varies by place) or reduced fees. So, if you are only going to 4 places, the cost will be about the same. The problem is with the kids -- since they get in free or reduced, you wouldn't want to pass a Museum Pass for them, and I think (but am not sure) that they do NOT get in free at Versailles which means you will not be able to go to the head of the line there (if they are free, I think they can go in with you with the pass). The Paris Visite pass is not worth it and the Carte Orange wouldn't be either if you are only there three days). Versailles is in Zone 4, not zone 2, so that means you would have to buy the five zone Paris Visite to use it for Versailles--a complete waste if that's your only trip outside central Paris, for which you only need zone 2. Here's what I think would probably work out best for you on the transportation if you're only there 3 days--for two days just buy a carnet (packet of 10) single tickets, you get a discount with 10, so they are only 55F for 10. I'm not sure on the zone 4 fare to Versailles, I'd guess it's about 35F RT -- either pay that fare if that's the only thing you think you will do that day, or maybe buy a Mobilis daily pass which is for unlimited travel for one day, which is only 50F for zones 1-4--you could buy these for any other days, also, they're only 32F a day for zones 1-2 which is all of central Paris--or just use regular tickets for other trips that day if you have to. In sum, a Paris Visite for 3 days would cost you 245F as you'd need the 5 zone pass; this is ridiculous as you could buy a one 5-zone and two 2-zone Mobilis cards for all 3 days for only a total of 114F (32+32+50F). You would also need a 4- zone Carte Orange which is a weekly pass and that is 137F so no deal if you're only there 3 days. Plus, you need a passport photo for them, if you don't have one that's another 25F or so. They are really meant for resident commuters so I wouldn't fool with them unless you're there 6-7 days that starts on a Monday.

My husband and I used the the 3-day Paris Visite the first time we went to Paris last Spring, we found that although we used the Metro, we often preferred to walk as the weather was gorgeous. So when we returned in the Fall we just bought a "booklet" of 10 tickets and found it to be much cheaper then both of us getting a Paris Visite. You can buy these right at many Metro stations. As for the musuem pass, it depends on how many museums you plan on going to. Check out http://www.ratp.fr/Pla_q.eng/transpor.eng.htm This is the website for the Metro.

More Info. for above message. <BR> <BR>a book of 10 tickets 55 Frans <BR>a 3 day Paris Visite 120 Francs per person just for zones 1-3 <BR> <BR>My guess is that each of you will be using the Metro no more than 15 times for the entire visit. You are definitely better off with the booklets of 10. <BR> <BR>

Thank you all for this information, I too will be in Paris with husband and two teens (14 and 16). We will be there for 5 nights (is that long enough ;-) <BR>So, I've deduced that we should buy the 10-ticket booklet for the metro and museum pass for all...where can I find out if and when the teens are free, they can get in with us ahead of the line? Thanks again for all the info... <BR>Kay

The official website for Paris museums is: http://www.intermusees.com/ <BR> <BR>"The museum pass does not permit access to temporary exhibitions or guided visits. <BR>Most museums: <BR>offer free admission to children under 18 years of age, <BR>offer reduced admission to young adults between 18 and 25 years of age, <BR>generally close on Mondays or Tuesdays, and on January 1 and May 1. <BR>The no-wait rule may not be guaranteed at certain sites with magnetic-strip ticket machines which require a free-admission ticket or at monuments where visitor capacity is limited for security reasons. The pass cannot be extended or reimbursed for any reason. The rule applies in the event of closure of participating museums for public holidays or unforseen events (strikes, etc.) or free-entrance days." <BR> <BR>Check the site for additional info. <BR>

The museum pass is a give-and-take; since teenagers can usually get into museums either free or half-price, then a pass (which is NOT discounted for kids) will be more expensive than the tix prices for them; however, the time saved in not waiting in line might be worth paying extra money (an example: last September, we got to the Louvre BEFORE opening; the regular line was already a hundred yards long; our 'pass line' had 12 people in it). In addition, you'll be able to duck into a museum for a quick look-see you'd skip if you had to pay the entrance fee (1/2 hour in the Rodin Museum isn't long enough, but it beats not visiting at all). I've even bought the 3-day pass when I've only had two days; I could cram in more things in one day because of the no-lines (hour here, half hour there really adds up on a tight schedule). All that being said, there are ways to avoid the lines (or at least diminish them): 1)the d'Orsay is open Thursday until 9:45; the line's almost non-existent (tour buses don't visit museums at night) after 6ish; 2) arrive at Versailles for the opening - and I mean BE there, in line, before 9; 3) ditto the Louvre...be in line way before 9 (what else is there to do in the a.m. anyway?) or hit it Wednesday evening when it's open until 9:45 - avoid Saturdays, Sundays and after 10:30. Les Invalides is usually pretty easy to visit - I've never run into a real line of any duration. <BR> <BR>Subway passes are a toss-up, too. The Paris Visite passes (designed for tourists) for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days (zones 1-3 are all you need) and the Carte Orange vs individual tickets vs carnets break out this way: <BR>one ticket is 8 francs; therefore, <BR>1 day pass gets u 4 trips <BR>2 day pass gets u 6 trips <BR>3 day pass gets u 8 trips <BR>5 day pass gets u 11 trips <BR>Carte Orange (7 days) gets you 10 trips <BR>If you use them for more than the "paid" trips, you've got a bargain. <BR>With a carnet, you pay for 7 trips and get 10 - and they have no expiration. You can share them, too. Sometimes, a 3 day pass for each with a carnet for the 4th day works better than a 5 day pass. <BR> <BR>For the trip to Versailles, buy a r/t RER ticket (I think it's around $8, but I may be off); don't buy the extended zone pass. <BR> <BR>Last, but not least, is how responsible everyone is - if somebody loses a musuem pass or a subway pass, the savings go out the window when you have to replace it.

What is the difference between the metro and the RER? Can I buy the 10 metro tickets at the CDG airport?

The RER is the suburban train - it's for traveling to and from the 'burbs (banlieus) and Paris; once inside the city limits, it acts like a subway and you can use your subway passes/tickets on them (as long as you don't go outside the city limits); for example, you can take the Metro from Gare du Nord to Pont St Michel *OR* the RER. <BR> <BR>The Metro is the city subway; you can change between the RER and the Metro trains; RER to RER; and Metro to Metro. Frinstance: Versailles via RER to Pont St Michel; change to Metro line 4 and go to Montparnasse; or Versailles via RER to Pont St Michel and change to RER line B for Gare du Nord...and so forth. <BR> <BR>I've never seen a ticket booth for metro tix at CDG, but you couldn't use them anyway; you'll need to take the suburban RER (and the accompanying higher price) into Paris, or the shuttle bus (Airfrance has one; there's also the RoissyBus). If you take the RER, and get out at a station that is also a metro station, you can buy them there. Every metro station has ticket machines and guys (guys aren't there all the time - like really early in the morning or very late at night).

I strongly encourage against Paris Visite because it costs more than the Carte Orange and includes things you probably won't use. Be prepared for the person at the ticket counter to try to sell you the Visite even if you want the Carte Orange. They tend to want to sell that to tourists instead of the Carte Orange. Come prepared with slightly smaller than passport sized photos unless you want to navigate the photo booth there. <BR> <BR>The museum pass was definitely a bargain. It skips you to the front of most lines, and that alone is worth the cost, particularly at the Notre Dame towers. Don't forget that you can get 1, 3 or 5 day museum passes. Versailles is included, but only a limited area. Most folks want to take one of the many guided tours, because you can't access certain areas without buying a tour. (No pass that I know of includes any of the tours) Also, if you want a tour in English, they are often booked quickly. <BR> <BR>There is more on these topics on the www.ricksteves.com website on the messgage boards. I highly recommend his Paris guidebook, too.