Versailles...Traveling to and from Paris

Heck! NO shame at all! Those double decker tour buses saved my tendon torn foot from having to schlep my girlfriend miles and miles through the streets of Paris. Even with the 2 day tour pass, we managed to cover A LOT of ground on foot! This did not even include strolling through any of the museums... which can take days.

Unfortunately, the double deckers don't run from around October to April or May. There could be other tour buses, though. The nice thing about the tour buses is they take you around to all the "must see" spots in Paris, and you usually have a pre-recorded audio guide to help understand what you're looking at. I found from there, you can decide what you'd like to see most, from what you saw on the tour. OR, you can then skip all the touristy stuff, and get down to seeing the "real" Paris.

JMHO
PitterPat

I have to fully agree with this statement. Not only is thsi a good way to get around, it it is the best way to get the city known, and at the same time the bst way to get the true feeling of the city!

BP Chuck

I fully agree with this statement, and not only is this a convenient way to get around in Paris, but it is also the best way to get to know the city, but also the best way to get the true feeling of Paris.

BP Chuck

I know naturally you want first hand experience but in the meantime if you google it up, you will find plenty of companies that do this and explain their procedure.

Anna --- That's funny. I started young on the British trains.

St Germaine, it's not the metro that intimidates me, it is the trains and train stations: hence, my conflicting thoughts on bus tours to Chartes, etc. or a individual train trip. I do want to be comfortable and it is my vacation. I know it seems silly and maybe it is.

Maybe we should exchange notes . . . the trains in Paris were no problem for me, but in London . . . another story!

Paris is such a walkable city that even if you are intimidated by the Metro, which you should not be, you can get around easily by walking to most places.

I'd like to take the tour bus but I'm so conflicted. I do trains like a breeze in the UK but am intimidated by the train stations in Paris. Who thinks there is "shame" in looking through the windows of a big old tour bus?

I think you basically misundersood me. I wanted to say that for a first time visit I just do not suggest the RER, besides the outdoor activities at Versailles are quite a bit more limited this time of the year and later. The buses generally go in the best times to see what you can see at the time of the year. This is all I wanted to say. I do not see much sense to bere there after it turns dark.

BP Chuck

BP Chuck,
True, and I don't have the RER schedule, but I wouldn't think you would be staying at Versailles much after dark, unless you had a hotel there. The alternative is the bus stop in between the two Horse shoe-shaped buildings at the edge of the parking lot. At least in the daytime, its not an unscenic ride to the big bus station at St Cloud. There you could change over to the Metro. But, if you are pressed for time, some sort of chauffered pickup at the Chateau entrance would be very convenient.

oursdor, remember that the RER doe not go as often as the Metro., especially in late fall this can be a bit unconvenient.

BP Chuck

And you are correct. But some people in strange place for the first time would like to leave nothing to chance and make life a bit easier with a guide. And by the way, the walk from the RER to the entrance of Versaillesaand from there to where the tickets are purchased is not insignificant especially if the weather elements are not great that day.

I would take the RER so you could pretty much come and go as you please. There are a number of stops along the Left Bank, including the St Michel Metro. If you have the freedom to choose the day, try to go the day when the fountains are operating. I have never seen the schedule, but one must exist. The RER terminus is two blocks away down a quiet, tree-shaded street, from the Versailles entrance.

Teresa, you are correct, howeve, if I remember correctly, Travelgirl is planning to go later this year. Not really a prime time for the gardens, so generally they have enough time even with th shorter tours.

BP Chuck

as Chuck said, be sure to book the "appartements." When planning the trip, depending on the weather, you might want the longer one to explore the gardens. I was very rushed, in the gardens, both times this year. In April, the weather was perfect and I could have stayed out there for hours, but in August, it was too hot, and if I had not had an umbrella to keep the sun off my face, as well as a water bottle and a little hand held fan, I would have died. No matter what the weather, be sure to take an umbrella which will be useful if it rains or if it's sunny. I saw a lot of people with water bottles, and I wish I had taken one. Remember, if you need to use the "toilettes," it does cost a couple of coins.... I don't remember how much. Both times, the lines for it were quite long.

In August, they were redoing the hallway of mirrors, and I'm not sure how long that is going to take. I was surprised because I had just been there, and it had not been under construction. So, be prepared that you might not get to see that. They have left a little section of the mirrors up for people to be able to imagine what it looked like.

Take Al's advice and take a tour bus. You wi;ll find many bruches in the lobby of the htoel, and you can ask the concierge or dest clerk to make reservations for you (as a matter of fact, you do not even have to ip him/her for this, as the do get a commission from the tour Company (I do tip for other reservations, like if the make reservations for dinner at a restaurant, etc.), The buses will bring you back to the hotel, or very close to it. Make shure you pick the correct tour. you will want the ones that includes the "appartements". That is the royal quarters in the Palace.

BP Chuck

I think Paris Vision (or any of their competitors) will do a good job for you on their Versailles tours. Having a special driver can be alot of bucks.

I used http://Parisvision.com twice this year and they took us to Versailles by air conditioned bus and provided a tour guide. I thought they did a great job. They offer different tours, so if you want an English speaking guide, you have to be sure you book that one.

I suppose you could hire a driver but that seems excessive to me. With no Paris experience, my wife and I took the RER from Paris to Versailles, toured Versailles for the day and got back without a problem. The RER transportation is very straightforward, the walk to Versailles is short (2 blocks) and return trains seem numerous. I'd save the money for something more important.

A total of three of us going to Paris...One day plan to go to Versailles....We were wondering about hiring a driver for the day....Has anyone done this and if so what is the best way to handle this...Thanks