Help me plan time use on Fountain Spectacular day at Versailles

I can only give you my opinion on a bit of what you've asked... I would highly recommend you rent a golf cart and not rely on the mini-train for transportation. The train fills up fast so you could miss getting a seat going or coming, they always cram it full with people, and you can sit there for quite a while before it leaves. With a golf cart you can go wherever you want, when you want, and to many places the train doesn't go. We've rented one in the past and it was great, well worth the money. It's best to rent it first thing b/c they only have so many and they go fast. Yes, the Hamlet is definitely worth seeing. As are the two Trianons. I think your schedule is very do-able.

Ozzy Just a quick question regarding the amount of time you are spending inside the Chateau. If you are the type of person who spends lots of time in museums and the Vatican tours, then the time in the Chateau is fine. However, since only a tiny bit of the chateau is open to the public, I think you will need only the 1 1/2 hr tour or RS, not both. I have heard recently from friends coming from a Fountain Day at Versailles that it is absolutley packed with people. I love it though, Do the fountains only go on 1 time on that day? Also you can rent bikes. Did you read RS Paris book on going to Versailles? I think he had some suggestions on buying tickets in advance. Check to see if you can buy a combined Chateau and Garden tour together. Bobbie

Ozzy,
Sounds like you're really excited to see all of Versailles! We visited just this last September and really liked it, but next time we'll do things in reverse and spend more time at Marie Antoinette's areas, as there is something about that place... something magical. In fact, I wouldn't doubt it if psychics said it is built over a "energy vortex". I'll post this and see what other people have 'felt'. Anyhoo, the insides of the castle are absolutely jammed packed with people, literally if the windows were opened people would just pop out of them! And there is no furniture but here and there... it is a series of rooms with lots of portraits... that's about it. We were, frankly, dissapointed. But then when we got outside, now that's a whole different story! So here comes the advice, throw your timeline aside, leisurely make your way to the Trianon and visit that part, then finish your visit with the "Spectacular" fountain and music show at the end before they close the grounds. We walked everywhere, so I couldn't give any advice in getting around with help. Sorry, have a great time!

I agree with Bobbie, if you and your friend can ride a bike that's the way to go. We've done that many times and love it. And, it's less expensive than the golf cart. You'd have to take transportation down to the Grand Canal to rent them, if your friend can't walk that far, whereas the golf carts are at the entrance to the garden. I've been to Versailles more times than I can count, and I love all of it... the grounds and the inside of the palace. Seeing the Hall of Mirrors, the theater, the bedrooms, etc, is fascinating to me b/c I love the history of all that's happened there and the people that lived there. I agree that it's extremely crowded on fountain days, which makes it less enjoyable, imo.

Unless you have walking issues, there is no need to take any transport from the Chateau to the Grande Canal. It's not that far, downhill and filled with fountains along the way. Fountain day is jammed packed. And they all hang out by the fountains as they are turned on (they don't turn them all on at once - ironically they didn't historically either). So your schedule may shift depending on which ones you want to see. The Hamlet is worth a trip, but walking is a loooong way. The crowds are less as you get away from the formal gardens, so the trams might be an option. Otherwise a bike or cart is great. I suggest a picnic along the canal. Confirm that you can re-enter the formal gardens after you leave - I think they stamp your hand or something. The rest of the gardens are free, even on fountain day. Some people love the chateaux and spend lots of time in them. For others, they breeze through and get to the gardens as quickly as possible.

As Ozzy said... "I'll be with someone who doesn't cover long distances easily on foot." For someone who can't cover long distances easily on foot, it is a long way from the entrance of the gardens to the Grand Canal. Are you walking from the train station to the palace? That too is a long walk for someone who has trouble walking.

I also feel that someone who can't cover long distances on foot easily might find 2.5 hours in the palace a bit much. It can be hot and crowded and standing and shuffling along can be as tiring as walking. I would recommend either the tram( we call it the train, but its not a train) or renting the golf carts,,the distances involved are really quite a lot , even for youger and fit. Yes, you can reenter formal gardens after leaving on fountain day, I have done so , can't remember if I showed ticket stub or was stamped,, but I know it was no problem. I think your timing is a bit tight, just so you know I have waited up to 15 minutes just to use a washroom, that might bite into your 30 minute lunch break! Suggest not using the washrooms in the palace they are busiest and slowest to get into to.

Thanks to everyone who has posted replies. All excellent advice and all much appreciated. But the answers raise a few more questions in my mind. Okay, from what I gather the golf cart is the way to go for group. 1) Do I have to rent the golf cart for the entire day starting at 9 AM? Or can I just rent it for the afternoon? 2) Can the golf cart seat 3 persons, and is it covered in case it rains? If I have to rent for 6 hours it will be $240 by the time I return it. Kinda pricey for my budget. A 4 hour ($160)rental in the afternoon I can handle. I'm still trying to figure out the Guided Tour vs. Rick's 3) Do the Guided Tours cover everything on Ricks book/audio tour? If yes, that would save me 1.5 hours right there. More leisure time for lunch, etc. My hope is to take a taxi from the hotel to the RER station and then a taxi from Versaille Rive Gauche to the Palace to save on some walking. 4) Does anyone think it's better to just take a taxi right from the hotel in the 9th Arr. straight to Versailles? Between the taxi, golf cart, and various admissions to sites this day trip is not shaping up to the budget friendly visit that Rick is constantly promoting. Something like $400 for transportation alone. Yikes! Any answers to the above would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :-)