Hi,Just back from a trip to Paris.After a lot of research we decided to buy the museum pass from the official counter at CDG airport as soon as we landed.We asked for 3 Museum passes.The salesperson looked at us and asked whether our daughter was a student.On informing him that she was a student in India ,he very proudly told us that in Paris all monuments and museums are free for students and we would need only 2 passes.We told him that she does not have International student ID but is only carryiing her college student Id. He assured us that is sufficient and sold us 2 passes .The horror story started next day when we started for Versailles.We bought the RER tickets at the counter and were directed to the platform for versailles by the lady at the information.very soon the train came .Since versailles was not written we were hesitating,but saw large no of tourists rush into the train and then came an announcement in French -all that we could make out was Chateau versailles.So we happily climbed in.After sometime when we checked the map we found to our horror that the train had branched off and was going in a different direction. We got out at the next station caught a train back to a transfer station and caughht the right train to Versailles.The horror story continues. At versailles we were faced with serpentine queue and were told that our daughter would need to buy a ticket that only art students in EU got free entry.So we told her to buy the ticket and join us inside .We went to the temporary vinci pavilion which was supposed to be the entrance for pass holders.The persoon in charge said only one Q and told us to go and join the general q. we saw several tourists with museum pass being meted out the same treatment.So we stood for one and half hours in the general q while our daughter stood for almost the same time in another q to buy ticket.When we told at the information that it was salesperson at the official counter at CDG who told us that the third ticket was not needed the reply we got was -dont believe the guys at the airport!!!!. anyway after one and half hours in the sun managed to get in.Found another q to get audio guide- which is free with ticket but not with musuem pass.Skipped that.No doubt Versaillis in magnificient but definitely they could have more entrances and some machines for selling tickets in the front.A little bit more of organising is definetely needed. found that separate tickets were needed for gardens.Skipped that for the wait in the hot sun had given us all head ache A halfan hour wait even to use the toilets.!!!!!!!! Next day expected the same for Louvre.But it was a cakewalk.NO queues .just walked in with the pass . It had several entrances and several machines selling tickets.Something that the management of versailles should learn from.Louvre was enthralling .spent the whole day at the museum.All in all a mixed trip.Also went to Prague and Vienna without any mishap.Those places are more tourist friendly.Paris deducts 10% commission for cashing travellers cheques which are already in Euros.Very steep we feel.
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Sorry for all the mishaps.
Preparing every detail of a trip to Paris is a good idea. Most issues are covered in trip advisor.
At the same time I had to smile at your comments as I am a frequent traveler to India where everything is complicated and disorganised. Didn%26#39;t the chaos at least feal familiar ?
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There are always overhead signs at the RER platforms indicating where the train will stop. There are also schedules on the platform where you can look up the departure times and the four letter %26quot;name%26quot; of the correct train. It%26#39;s never a good idea to blindly follow a crowd.
When you want to go to the Château de Versailles, Versailles-Rive Gauche is the correct station; there are two other stations in Versailles. The RER train going there has the name VICK (in big letters on the front of the train) and it leaves every 15 minutes (going the opposite direction, you need to look for CIME or JILL trains).
I agree that a 10% commission to cash travellers cheques is ridiculous, but it isn%26#39;t %26quot;Paris%26quot; that is charging it - the commission is charged by the agency where you change the cheques. I understand that, for example, the French BNP Paribas and Société Générale banks both charge no fee whatsoever to change travellers cheques in to euros. You probably went to a bureau de change, where the fee can be 6 to 10%. With some preparation, you would have known that it is worth shopping around for the best deal - not just in France, but anywhere else...
Also, most people nowadays prefer to use ATM%26#39;s - travellers cheques are a bit outdated.
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How frustrating! You did all that preparation but got a bum steer about the museum pass once there.
Sometimes I find you know more detail from TA and all the prior research than some staff on the ground on occasions when the staff aren%26#39;t dealing in their main area of expertise......although you say it was the official museum pass counter!!
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Hi,India is a third world developing couuntry.chaos and crowds are part of our daily life.But when we go to Paris which is capital of a developed country and a top tourist destination, we expect better standards.Also Paris is a very expensive place whereas India is cheap.Staying in a three star hotel in Paris is more expensive than a five star in India . No doubt Paris is a great place but Prague and Vienna were cheaper and more tourist friendly.
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i totally agree with you. I found Versaille to be an absolute shambles. We also waited about 30 minutes in line to get a ticket and then we had to wait in another line for entry. I did not even know the audio was free because they did not tell us.
You wait outside in the heat and it is very difficult to tell where you actually go in after you have your tickets.
I would not go again. All other museums in paris are run so smoothly compared to this.
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Could anyone tell me if the official counter at CDG is easily spotted. We are going on our first Paris trip, arriving Friday and I think I would want to buy a Museum pass there rather than loking for a FNAC store or at the Museum`s. Thank you. Cheers Dan
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Flynn,
Look at this: www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_points.php…
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Thanks Pixfield for that info. It appears that the info gives official counters at Terminals2 C D and F. We are coming in from Toronto to Terminal 2A, I will keep my eye out for an official terminal there. Cheers Dan
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Hi, We bought the museum passes from the counter at terminal 2D.When you come out after you claim the baggage you will find this counter- tourist information service.We bought the RER tickets for the train to the city also from this counter.Have a great trip.
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Thanks so much for your help. Trip Advisor has been so much help in planning our trip. Cheers Dan
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