touring versailles-options ?

We will be in Paris at the very end of August(8/29), 2 adults and 2 older teens and are planing a day trip to Versialles.The bus tours are not cheap and while I understand the museum pass does not include the audio guide I thought of using the museum pass plus the rick steves audio guide. Has anyone done this? Since the kids are 17 and 20 we only need to buy 2 museum passes for the museums in Paris. Is this the same for Versailles? Thanks!

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That is exactly what I did(pass plus RS book ) but we also got one audio guide and took turns listening and sharing any interesting info,

It is easy enough to take the RER C out there -don%26#39;t need to take a tour.

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Augsut 29 th is a saturday,, so your museum passes will get you into the Palace, but, not the grounds around the Palace as it is Fountain show day( sat and sun). There is an extra charge for that, even for your kids, but I recall it wasn%26#39;t that much, 7-8 euros maybe??Check out Versailles website.

You can however still use your pass to assess the lower grounds( which are free for all anyways) and Marie Antionettes Hamlet( you realy should try to do this) which is not free, but is perhaps covered on your pass? As well as see the Grand and Petit Trianon and Maries little Theatre. You will however,, if you choose not to pay the extra fee for the fountian show, need to walk outside the Chateau walls around the back , till you can reenter the grounds in the %26quot;free area%26quot;.

I think a tour is a complete waste of money,, a family of four is going to set you back at least 150 euros.. way too much. The train return ticket is only 5.90 euros, and as you noted, admission is free for girls ,, ( I do not know all the detail of what is included in MP, never used one) .

I would however still get a auido guide,, at least one,, its only a few euros, otherwise, you are only walking through elaborate rooms, no idea what exactly you are seeing,, there are little to no signs. I have no idea how much info the RS audio guide gives you ,, altough I am pretty sure you don%26#39;t get many details with him.

Have girls watched Marie Antionette with Kirsten Dunst, in it,, ? It was filmed at Versailes so it would be fun to see the movie before you go.

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I think all buildings and grounds other than Ft show area will be covered by Pass.

If the girls are readers %26quot;Abundance %26quot; is a good book about MA and life at Versaille.

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If going by train to Versailles, the cheaper fare will be to Versailles Rive Gauche on line C which is a better located station for the palace. Tickets to Versailles Rive Droite from central Paris (eg St Lazare) are a euro or two more expensive and the station is slightly further away but still in walking distance.