I’ve read through several posts, but I haven’t really found the information that fits my trip plans. My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe in December 2010 (I know this is probably very early, but I love travel planning). As of now, we are planning to spend about 3½ days in Paris (December 10 – 13, 2010). I know that we can’t do everything in such a limited time frame, so we’ve picked the following sites to visit: Sainte-Chapelle, Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Versailles, Notre-Dame: Cathedral and Towers (which I don’t believe is covered under the pass), Eiffel Tower (I know this isn’t covered) and possible depending on time and our mood going up in the Arc de Triomphe and Napoleon’s Tomb (after typing this out…it sounds like quite a lot…what do you guys think? :-) ).
Now to the question at hand, what are your thoughts on purchasing a 2 day museum pass for our trip? From the posts that I’ve reviewed, several people mentioned that the pass isn’t always worth the price, unless you are constantly going to site after site, but it helps pass holders to bypass long lines. From what I understand, this time of year is low season, but it is Paris, so from experience, can someone tell me if it will be worth the pass to bypass the lines at the above sites or will we really have long lines that need to be skipped.
I apologize if something similar has been posted, but I haven’t found as many trip reviews for the first part of December versus reviews for the August/September time frame and I know that the time of year a person visits Paris there could be large swings in the size of crowds, so I am wanting to try and compare apples to apples. Also…sorry for the length of the question, I want you guys to have as much info as possible to aid anyone out there giving advice.
Best regards
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The challenge with buying a 2 day pass
If budget is an issue, compare the total entry cost to the pass cost to see what your breakeven point is.
Other things to consider is that some places (like Louvre) are open late some nights. If you enter later in the evening, the cost is reduced.
Also, there is no cost to enter Notre Dame cathedral. There is cost to enter the tower and while this was covered by the pass when I was last in Paris (08), I think it closes during the winter months.
Next, St Chappelle is best viewed when the sun is out. It really makes the windows come alive...consider bringing a small pair of binoculars to look at the windows in more detail.
Given you are going in December, I would check the weather daily and make a decision on what to do based on the weather. For this reason, I would personally consider getting a 4 day pass. It will allow you to be flexible in your planning knowing you have entry for the entire time you are there.
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The first sentence is meant to read...
The challenge in buying a 2 day pass is that you are committed to choosing 2 consecutive days.
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Since you are planning so far ahead and have so many places on your must-see list, I%26#39;m wondering why you are allowing only 3-1/2 days?
The best way, as mentioned, to check cost-effectiveness is to add the individual admissions.
The pass is really only useful for avoiding a ticket line at Musee d%26#39;Orsay, where there is almost always a long line. However, you can avoid that by purchasing your tickets one or more days ahead at the museum, purchasing tickets through FNAC (online or in Paris), purchasing a %26quot;passport%26quot; at Musee Rodin (where there is never a long line) for a visit there and Musee d%26#39;Orsay the same day (with a €2 savings). While in Paris, don%26#39;t you want to see %26quot;The Thinker%26quot; and %26quot;The Kiss%26quot; at Musee Rodin?
Keep in mind that Chateau Versailles consumes at least half a day (plus getting to/from).
Most would discourage you from including Chateau Versailles during such a short visit. My recommendation is always to go where you want to go.
That said, you%26#39;ll also want to do a bit of strolling, and probably shopping, which with the places you%26#39;ve mentioned is a LOT to cram into 3-1/2 days.
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Thank you both for your responses. I couldn’t remember which museum housed the Thinker. I went to Paris over 10 years ago, when I was in School on a class trip. Unfortunately, the Paris museum workers decided to go on strike during our trip, so we missed out on all of the museums. But, I remember walking past one and we were just able to look over the wall and see the back side of the Thinker. So it would be nice to see a better view of the statue.
As of now, we’ve planned for a 10 day trip. Days 1 – 4 in Munich, which 2 of those days will be day trips, one to Salzburg and one to Neuschwanstein. This will leave us 2 days to enjoy Munich and the Christmas markets. Day 5 we’ll leave Munich via train over to Paris. By putting in dates in RailEurope, we’d be taking an early train (around 6:30am) and would arrive in Paris around 12:30pm Paris time. This will leave the rest of Day 5 and then Days 6 – 8 for Paris. On Day 9, we were planning on doing a day trip to London (looking at the time schedules for trains, we’d have around 10 – 11 hours to see London). And on Day 10, we’d fly home, which our flight would be around 1:30pm. We’d love to take off more time, but we both work and it makes it difficult to take off several weeks at a time. We also have two pets that we hate leaving for long periods of time. The day trip to London is still up in the air, so we might just forego the day trip and hang out in Paris.
Versailles is one of the most beautiful castles that I’ve seen (went with the school trip mentioned above), but we didn’t get to spend much time there (maybe half a day) so I want to go back to explore the grounds in more detail. Granted, I know it will take time, but we’re planning a full day at the castle (I think the weather will play a factor as to the length of the stay.
I actually just crunched the numbers and the 4 day museum pass comes to about the same amount as the sites, excluding the Arc de Triomphe and Napoleon’s Tomb. I think I was comparing the sites with the Paris Pass the first time we were going through everything, because the pass was a lot more expensive the first time I looked it up.
For those that have used the museum pass, do you still receive some form of a ticket at the sites you visited? I like keeping the tickets for my scrap book. Also, does anyone know what the audio guides cost at Versailles? With the normal ticket, they are included, so the site doesn’t list it separately. I wouldn’t think it would be over 6 Euros, but it would be great if someone could confirm.
Again, thanks for all of your help.
Best regards
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Hi travelfan~
We just got back from 5 nights in Paris and barely got to all the sights/museums you%26#39;ve mentioned with that amount of time.
(Sainte-Chapelle, Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Versailles, Notre-Dame, Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Napoleon’s Tomb)
In fact we decided to forego Versailles because there was so much we wanted to see in Paris.
We did purchase a 4 day Museum Pass and imho it was invaluable for letting us visit places on a come and go basis instead of booking whole days once you bought a ticket. We bypassed lots of lines (most in the rain) and appreciated that as well. And no, they do not issue separate tickets at each location but you will have the information booklets as a souvenir. The Rodin Museum was very worthwhile too, as already mentioned.
We have been to London 3 times----the last for 10 days----and I would strongly discourage you from shortchanging both cities for one day there.
Hope that helps with your planning.......
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I%26#39;m a big planner, too, but keep in mind that in a year a lot of things can change (incliuding your interests) so stick to more general plans until you get closer to the dates.
A couple of other things ... if you%26#39;re only going to be in Paris for 3 1/2 days, take a look at when museums are open and closed. Most major museums are closed either Monday or Tuesday so be aware of that when planning what days you will be in Paris. Also, the weekends in mid-December are crowded with Parisiens enjoying the holiday season so the museums and other venues are packed. We also noticed that a lot of places have special exhibits at this time of year and that adds to the crowds. We love the Christmas hustle and bustle but it would be hard to stay on a schedule if all your Paris time was Sat, Sun, and Mon.
Most people talk of the Museum Pass as a way of saving money or time but as Tobie said in the previous post, the Museum Pass is also great if you want to just pop into a museum to see one thing. My husband and I love museums and after 4 visits to Paris, have our favorites. With the Museum Pass, we can spend 2 hours in the Louvre one day, stop in a few days later for a couple of hours in the evening, pop into the Cluny to see the Tapestries - it%26#39;s a very %26quot;user-friendly%26quot; way of seeing a museum instead of a forced march because you bought tickets for that day. I know it%26#39;s expensive, but after paying air fare, hotel bills, and restaurant bills, it really is not that big of an expenditure for the pleasure we get from it.
Another thought about mid-December ... we have been to Paris twice in December and are going again this year. Paris in December is full of all sorts of great things to see and do that have nothing to do with tourist sights. You just can%26#39;t go there in December and not have time to wander around looking at the Christmas lights, seeing the ice skating at the Hotel de Ville, and just being part of the general festive air. Even though this doesn%26#39;t fit into plans made on paper, you will really miss out on the Paris experience if you don%26#39;t give yourself some time to enjoy this.
Finally ... I was very dissapointed in the Paris Christmas Markets (a lot of made in China junk) but the German Christmas Markets are supposed to be fantastic so keep that in mind when you are in Germany. I envy you. I would go to Germany just to see the markets.
Enjoy your planning.
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Oops - just noticed that you are already planning on going to the Christmas markets in Germany. Now, I really envy you!
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Thanks for both of your responses; I’m really starting to feel that the Museum Pass is the way to go. More than likely, if we go up in the Eiffel Tower, then we’ll bypass going up in the Arc de Triomphe. Napoleon’s Tomb is also at the bottom of our list (just if time permits). London is more of my husband’s call. I don’t think that we’d decide whether we really want to go there for the day until closer to our trip. I do agree if we just spend a day in London, we really won’t get to experience the city for the place it really is. It would be nice if we could have a few more days added to the trip, but I doubt that will happen.
Hooverquincy – Any extra tidbits you have about Paris in December would be much appreciated. As mentioned earlier, there aren’t many trip reviews from people who have visited Paris in December. When it comes to Christmas, I turn into a 6 year old with all of the lights, decorations and smells. The Germany Christmas Markets are the reason we are doing this trip in December next year versus September or October. So, we’ll definitely want to walk around Paris in the evenings and look at all of the displays and lights.
I’ve been looking at places to stay and hotels vs. apartments and I think that I’ve decided to try an apartment for our stay. There is this really cute apartment in the 6th around rue Buci and St. Michel. Do you visit the area on your trips?
Does anyone have any thought about flying, first class vs. coach? We’ll have a direct flight from Atlanta and we have enough skymiles for two free coach tickets. Or we have the option of buying the coach tickets and using the miles to upgrade to first class. Downside of that is that is about $1500 that I could use for shopping vs. airfare. Is first class worth the cost?
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We love Paris in mid-December because it feels like we are part of the city rather than just tourists. It is crowded but crowded with French people and the atmosphere is very different than in May or September - sort of like being in New York in December.
First of all, it is cold. It might be warm sometimes in December (there%26#39;s always someone that gets on the forum and says the weather was balmy) but when we%26#39;ve been there it has been cold and damp with wind that just chills you to the bone. You need a medium weight coat, a warm wool or cashmere sweater to layer over a lighter top, gloves, hat, scarf, and warm water-proof shoes or boots. We also bring the very lightweight long underwear to add to the mix for evening walks or particularly blustery days. If you%26#39;re not dressed properly for the weather, you will not be able to enjoy all the great stuff outside.
The Christmas lights are fabulous - the decorations on the outside of Galeries Lafayette and next door to it are definitely a must to see. Also, try to go there while the Galeries is open to see the big tree under the wonderful stained glass dome inside. The lights along Champs Elysees are also a must see. You don%26#39;t have to go all the way to the Arc de Triomphe area, the lights extend all the way to the place de la Concorde. Buy some vin chaud (hot spiced wine) from an outdoor stand to keep you warm and stroll along - it%26#39;s just heaven especially for someone who loves Christmas.
Also, check for posters outside or inside the churches as you go by. (Sometimes you can find information on the internet before you leave.) There has always been an evening concert some place when we%26#39;ve been there and there%26#39;s nothing like sitting in one of those old churches at night listening to music. Those stone churches do get awfully cold, though - this is why we bring the long underwear.
One other thing - if you like Christmas stuff, google %26quot;santons%26quot; - it means little saints in French. This is what French families set up instead of the creche like in the US. If these interest you, there%26#39;s a store across the street from St Sulpice Church that sells good quality santons.
We know the rue de Buci area quite well. It%26#39;s a short busy little street - not a true market street but we like it anyway. That%26#39;s a busy area but if you don%26#39;t mind that, I think it would be a good area to stay in.
And, finally, flying first class or not depends on what airline you fly on (some airlines have better coach seating than others) and what size you are, how old you are, etc. If you have miles and can upgrade to first class, that is definitely a much more comfortable way to fly. Whether it%26#39;s worth the money is really your call. If not flying first class, try to call for seats the second they open up (I call right at midnight) to get exit row seats which is not a bad way to travel either.
Hope this helps you - I enjoyed the reminiscing.
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The gardens at Versailles are pretty bleak in winter - not really the best time of year for visiting them. I would suggest you stick to Paris - there is more than enough to do there.
Get the museum pass - worst case you don%26#39;t go to quite as many museums as you planned and you end up out a few Eruos. But it%26#39;s much more likely that you can organize your trip to take full advantage, save some money, and skip having to line up for individual tickets everwhere.
One big advantage of the museum pass is that you can pop into some of the wonderful smaller musems that are nearby the big attractions. Rodin, Orangerie, Cluny, etc, etc, etc. Most of these you can cover in a short time.
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