Louvre audioguide--worth it? Strategies?

I always get the audio guide - and I’ve been multiple times - makes it much more interesting- learn something new each time .

I don’t follow a Audi guide route - I just wander a different section each time and punch in the numbers of the pieces that interest me .

It’s a cheap rental .

Bring a piece of ID to leave as collateral - they will accept a DL , which I prefer to leav as opposed to my passport

I agree with Pat. Do your homework ahead of time to figure out which galleries you want to see, and familiarize yourself with the online map. Then just get a map and audio guide when you arrive, and off you go. I prefer to wander at my own pace, spending as much or as little time as I want in each room. Because I like to understand a bit about the paintings that interest me, being able to punch in its number on the audio guide is really handy.

Seems you’ve done a lot of homework, along with preparing to get your timed entry. This may not be an option for one reason or another, but we’ve used Paris Muse several times. They give focused tours of the Louvre and other museums, usually led by an expert art professor or graduate student. We’ve found their shared knowledge and educational tours of selected works to be an efficient and effective use of our time, well worth their charge. They might possibly have something that’s would fit your schedule, and interests. Check their Website.

Audio guide - last time I was at the Louvre was 4 years ago and I rented one. There was a rental desk at the entrance to each wing. Remember which one you rented from so you don't waste time returning it and reclaiming your ID. If the battery runs out (mine did), you can go to any rental desk to exchange it.

Look at the Louvre's website. They have self-guided themed tours called "trails". On one visit, I used one called something like Palace to Museum. It took me through a lot of the museum, more from an architectural point of view but it also went past most of the museum's highlights - Winged Victory, Mona Lisa (there's a huge painting in that room that is worth seeing), classical Greek and Roman, and parts of the Egyptian collection and much more, of course. While the tour itself didn't mention the highlights, it was a little hard to miss them :-). I printed out the tour using cut/paste onto a word.doc. You can probably download as a pdf.

We were there last week. Bought PMP on the very first day(Tuesday) and reserved a time slot for Friday at 4:30. there were many slots available. so no need to get PMP mailed in advance.

we did rent audio guide. We used audio guide as needed. Just punched in the numbers for the ones we wanted more info on. It is humongous place. after few hours tiredness just kicks in and brain stops taking any more information in. at that time we just decided to roam around with any information from audio guide. we even returned it around 8:00 pm to get our credit card back that we had to submit as security. after that we just wandered around and admired.

Thanks for the info, BG. Glad you had success in buying the museum pass in Paris and getting Louvre timed reservations the same week.

"We were there last week. Bought PMP on the very first day(Tuesday) and reserved a time slot for Friday at 4:30. there were many slots available. so no need to get PMP mailed in advance."

Thanks BG, this is good information to know!

Thank you all for your replies! Ashley, I am glad to be reminded that the French and Italian paintings need natural daylight--I will head there first and that also puts me in the Denon Wing, which will probably hold the most appeal. Chani I will investigate further on the website about the various audio tours available. It sure sounds like most people appreciate the audioguides--no surprise. And I will remember the ID for collateral!
It is also nice to know that there plenty of openings even the week of for timed entry. I appreciate this because it would be nice to not commit to a time too early in case weather, etc. creates a need to change our itinerary on some of the other days we are there. Thanks everyone!

One more question: the Louvre website says you buy a ticket for an audioguide at the ticketing level under the Pyramid, THEN take your ticket to the entrance to the wing you want, and pick up your audioguide there. The website says that you can get the ticket from a ticket window or automated machine.
Seems the advantage of the PMP is to bypass all the lines at the ticketing level and just go up to the wing you want, no dinking around. Are there long lines to get this audioguide ticket? Can't you just buy and collect the audioguide at the wing entrances?

First, the tours - thematic trails - I mentioned are written - not audio.

Second, the lines for the Louvre are mostly at security before entering the pyramid. Ticket lines aren't very long because there are many agents, many machines and many people who buy in advance.

Thanks for that clarification, Chani!