Versailles tour suggestions?
 

Should we book tour that leaves from Paris or go directly to Versailles palace and book one there?

Most people do a self tour with headphones you rent from them.

Given how easy it is to get to Versailles from Paris (just take the RER) and how good the audio tour headset you can rent is, I never book a tour.
Here's a tip we picked up last year - during busy times the line for tickets can be long. You can buy your ticket at a little shop just across the street from the train station for only a small service charge, avoiding the ticket line altogether. You can also buy online at http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage but have never done that.

If you buy a ticket ahead of time do you go in a different entrance than those that don't already have tickets?

I wouldn't buy one ahead of time. I'd want to be there on a good weather day because the gardens, Marie Antoinette's little houses, and the boat pond are so lovely.

We even went there on a gorgeous night to see a Cyrano de Bergerac fireworks display on the pond. It's very easy to get there from Paris, so choose your day with good weather.

I do like Seamus's tip to buy a ticket across from the train station. I might try that.

<i><<hogs_cowboys on Apr 2, 10 at 9:59pm If you buy a ticket ahead of time do you go in a different entrance than those that don't already have tickets?>></i>

You go through the same main entrance (new one recently constructed ) but do not have to first stand in the line to purchase tickets.

Also agree with TPAYT about the weather - the chateau itself is worth a visit and doable even if the weather is not the best, but a visit to the hammeau (Marie Antoinette's village) or the Trianons requires walking a good distance outdoors so would be out in case of rain.

We were there on a Saturday in mid June--no lines to get in. Weekends are supposed to be a lot more crowded and some people suggest not going then but you miss the fountains. They were FANTASTIC. I can't imagine seeing the gardens without them going. The gardens are so large, you wouldn't notice a crowd anyway. We were much more interested in the gardens than we were the chateau. Be sure to walk all the way down to Marie Antoinette's Village--enchanting.

You can buy your Versailles ticket in conjunction with your RER ticket in Paris. It's called Versailles Passeport