versailles station droite or gauche--hotels Novotel or Ibis or Mecure?

Take the train to Rive Gauche and you will be 4-5 blocks from the palace.

but is there a train that connects at La Defense to Gauche? We are coming from DLP and are limited to where the RER A connects. Also, will a single ticket be good from DLP on the RER A transferred to a Rvie Gauche train?

The Ibis is just about a block from Rive Gauche, the Mercure a little further. The Novotel is closest to Rive Droite. Of the three, The Ibis has the best location to both the station and the Palace.
You really want to take the RER A to Les Halles, then change to the RER B (direction Robinson) to St Michel, then change to the RER C to Versailles Rive Gauche. This is the fastest way with the least walking. If you go to La Defense and take the "L" train, you will end up at Rive Droite about a mile from Rive Gauche and the Ibis.
Edit- A single t+ Origin-Destination ticket is 10.55 euro.

Why not take the RER-A to Gare de Lyons, walk over the bridge to Gare d'Austerlitz and get on the RER-C there?

What train are you expecting to connect to at La Defence?

If we go out of station, don't we have to buy another ticket? Plus, we will have luggage, not much but still rolling carryon each.
how much of a pain to do all that switching? can we do SAm's suggestion of RER A to B to C on one train ticket (arond 8 euros) or will we have to buy another ticket--increasing the cost X6 persons? Is it worth it to stay at Ibis for location over Novotel?
Rome to Rio said we would connect at La Defense from DLP to V. No personal knowledge.

See my edit reply. Stay in the stations the whole time with a single ticket.
Don't use Rome2Rio, when www.ratp.fr operates the system and sells the tickets.

By the way, the hotel chains you have named are all the medium priced levels of the Accor mega-chain.

Sometimes the it goes up Ibis (close to the economy hotels), Mercure (note the letter "r" that you have been missing out), then Novotel; sometimes Ibis > Novotel > Mercure.

It is surprising to me that they are in dollars, and exactly $200 difference a night between levels.

Usually they will be priced in euro and much closer together in price.

Where are you getting your prices?

I rounded up/down the $ (novotel website auto quotes in $ for Accor member in US). Novotel ($150 per night) is cheaper b/c we can do 2 triple rooms. With Ibis ($85/night) and Mercure ($135) , we need 3 rooms. Those are all fully refundable Accor club rates. Ease of Ibis for dropping off luggage and heading over to V for a few hours is tempting me, but then I think the Novotel might be much nicer, as it is almost double the price for the room (double rooms are also $150, so not extra charge for triple). But, if it is a long walk (in July) to V from station/Novo/V, maybe convenience wins???

Also, taking the 2 change route is 0.90 euro cheaper per person. Think of what you can do with the extra 5.40 euro.

of course, 5 euros difference is silly. But, if we had to buy an 8 euro ticket from DLP-Paris and then another 8 euro ticket P-V, that is 48 euros more. Moving/feeding 6 persons adds up, so taking a route that could take 10 minutes longer, but save $50 is a consideration in planning.

Yes you do need another ticket if you are using tickets if you walk across the bridge at Gare de Lyon.

I only mention it because I don't use tickets, I usually am there a week and have my Navigo Decouverte, or occasionally I will have my Mobilis. I, personally, only tend to dip into my carnet if I am just passing through on the way south (Monaco) or east (Alsace).

I guess I probably walk more in Paris than some folk. And I like the view from the bridge. And I'd rather make one connection than two.

http://www.transilien.com/?siteLanguage=en is giving me a price of 11.45 for DLP to VRD going through La Defense. It won't give a price for VRG.

http://www.ratp.fr/tarifs/en/ratp/resultat?depart=Marne-la-Vall%C3%A9e-Chessy-Parc+Disney&arrivee=Versailles-Rive+Gauche+Ch%C3%A2teau&depart_id=775&arrivee_id=339 is giving a price of 10.55 for the RER A to B to C route DLP to VRG. You have to specify "Least walking" to get that route.

elaine,

One additional point to mention is that when you board the RER "C", look for the word "Vick" above the driver's window as that will be the correct train to Versailles. When you arrive at Versailles, walk to the end of the platform and down the stairs to street level. Turn right and then left at the wide boulevard, and you'll see the Chateau.

If I'm reading correctly, you'll be staying at a hotel in Versailles and therefore won't have to worry about luggage storage while you're touring.

Bon Voyage!

thanks, Sam. I also only get the VRD option, so I am thinking those trains only go to VRD. I guess if we want Novotel, then VRD is an option, and if we want Ibis, then we should do the 2 changes to arrive at VRG. i am leaning towards Ibis for ease with luggage/location.
We could drive--we will have had a car at DLP and could drop the car at V. But, I think we are too nervous to try to drive into a congested area. We are Ok to drive from DLP on smaller roads to Vaux and maybe to Reims, but the map looks a bit scary to V. Anyone concur/disagree about ease/safety driving DLP-V.

elaine,

I wouldn't suggest driving as that will likely be a more difficult option for a simple "Point A to Point B" trip, especially as you'll likely have to rent a larger vehicle for a family with luggage. Public transportation will be much easier, although hauling luggage on the RER and changing trains will be a bit of an ordeal.

The change at Les Halles will be quite easy, although you will need to switch platforms. That means taking the elevator or escalator (they have both) to the mezzanine level and walking over to the far platform entrance and taking the escalator or elevator down to the platform.
The change at St Michel-Notre Dame is a bit more complicated, but they do have escalators. Just follow the signs to RER C (direction Versailles-St Quentin-Pontoise) and get on the train marked VICK. There are overhead monitors on the platform showing where the the train is going.