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When Does a Paris Museum Pass become active?

When Does a Paris Museum Pass become active?

Old Jun 28th, 2013, 08:24 AM
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When Does a Paris Museum Pass become active?

We'' be arriving at CDG next Tuesday with our kids, and grandkids for 4 days of playing tourist in Paris. I see that there is a Tourist information desk at the terminal where I can purchase either the 2 day, or the 4 day museum pass for 39 & 58 euro's respectively. Since our first day will most likely be spend recovering from jet lag I'm not sure if the 4 day pass will be worth the extra money for 5 adults. From what I've read, the kids (all under 15) should be free, but the web site is unclear if their prices/restrictions apply to non EU citizens. Same goes for the senior citizen discounts, of which I am one.

Does anyone know the answer? Also, if I buy the pass on Tuesday at the airport, when does it expire? I would like to buy a few 2 day passes at the airport to avoid the hassle of buying them in Paris at the museums, but only if I can activate them on the next day (Wed). Does anyone have any recent experience with purchasing them at the airport? The Museum Pass web site doesn't provide you with enough info.

Thanks for any current info/advice. We leave in 3 more days so I'd appreciate a quick response back. Our kids are arriving on separate flights on different days so it's a bear to coordinate. Thanks....
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 08:26 AM
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The pass becomes active the first time you use it. The kids under 15 are free no matter what their nationaility. Same for your senior discount.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 10:43 AM
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You write your name and the start date on the pass yourself. That means you can write whatever date you want. So, yes, buy it at the airport if you want and if the line is short. I bought mine at Gare du Nord where there wasn't any line at all.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 12:23 PM
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Another important fact about the Pass is that you need to use it on consecutive days once you start it. So check which days the museums you are most interesting in are closed so that you don't happen to "miss" them.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 12:26 PM
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Sundays many museums are half-price or some are free (Louvre first Sunday of month I believe) and Monday some are closed - Versailles I believe - Louvre closed on Tuesdays unless changed.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 01:03 PM
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Given that you are only there for 4 days, and you are arriving on a Tuesday (so you won't be able to avail of weekend freebies), and there's so much to see and do in Paris without spending a lot of your time in museums to make the pass worth the money (if that matters to you, unless it's just for the sake of convenience and avoiding line-ups), I'd reconsider whether you should get passes at all, and instead just buy tickets for whichever museums whoever wants to go at any given time.

I bought a 4 day pass at the airport last October, and as has been mentioned above, the clock starts ticking upon entrance at your first museum when your pass will be validated at a desk as mine was. In my case, once I'd done that, I found myself having to schedule my busy itinerary around museum times and locations which was often inconvenient for me, especially when I wanted to stay longer at a cafe, or explore a neighborhood longer but couldn't because I'd be eating into museum time (that in a way I'd already paid for) which wasn't opened the next day and the pass would expire the day after, or I'd other plans after that, etc.... know what I mean ?

If you are museum buffs, the pass can be quite economical for SOME combinations of museums and I loved being able to just wander into other small out of the way museums that I wouldn't have known about if not for the pass (though the information is available anywhere if you search). The Musee Nissim de Comondo was one such place and I very much enjoyed my time in there. It isn't very expensive without the pass.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 01:08 PM
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And I think some, like the Petit Palace, are free (is that still the case?) The permanent collection there is quite good and shouldn't "bore" the kids. The building itself is gorgeous.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 01:22 PM
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There are several Paris city-owned museums that are free always.

I don't really know what you are referring to as a "senior discounts" regarding museum entry, I've never seen one (such as at the Louvre, Orsay, etc.). If you mean the pass itself has a senior discount in pricing, that would certainly be for everyone as it is mainly for tourists, anyway, but I don't see anything on the museum pass website that claims there is a special rate for seniors.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 04:23 PM
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"From what I've read, the kids (all under 15) should be free"
As St. Cirq notes, the kids will be free and won't need a museum pass. Generally under 18 of any nationality is free in Paris museums. 18-25 is where nationality matters, but there still may be reduced 18-25 admission tickets for non-EU citizens depending on the museum.

"Same goes for the senior citizen discounts, of which I am one."
Where are you seeing senior citizen discounts for museums? Like Christina, I've never noticed "senior discounts" re: museum entry in Paris.
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Old Jun 28th, 2013, 09:20 PM
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I was in Paris for 5 very short days in late May. If you will visit more than a couple museums/sites and if you value your time in Paris (think what you paid to get there and decide the value of your time), then the Museum Pass provides so much. Not only do you skip the long lines (and they can be VERY long in the summer) but you have the freedom to "stop by" some that may not have been on your itinerary if the whim strikes you - or go back to savor something special! Choose any place with a short/no line to purchase and the "days" don't start until the first time you use it. Enjoy that beautiful city!
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