Hi! I am going to france in a few days and had planned on taking the monet bike tour. Well, they just bumped the price to 75 euro! This is quite expensive. After some research, it looks like almost 25euro for train, 12euro for a bicycle and the monet house is like 10. I wanted to do the tour because I travel solo and thought it'd be nice to do a group thing once, but I'm a cheapo traveler....
Should I do this alone or just bite and go on the tour?
Posted by
Spokane, WA, USA
58 posts
That is a tough question. I know that after I had been in Paris for a few days I really appreciated sharing my experiences with other American tourists when I took a day long D-Day tour. The question is whether it is worth 28 Euro to you. I think you will know that better than anyone else. For what it's worth, the bikes outide the train station in Vernon are very easy to rent and the route is pretty clear. I really enjoyed the bike ride through town and the French country side. Good luck!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
alayna,, the tour IS fun , but if money is an issue, then go on your own.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10627 posts
On the other hand, if you've paid this much to get to Europe and see so many things, why not allow yourself a 28 euro splurge.
Posted by
OP
NYC
47 posts
Yeah, when i priced everything out- to go alone it wouls cost 67 euro, but the fat tire tour is 75. I've heard that it's nice to tour the gardens on your own time.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Alayna so going on your own is only 8 euros cheaper. Take the tour. You DO tour the garden alone. They simply give you your ticket and you get to SKIP the line at the gardens( so if you are on your own you will likely have to stand in line) .. and they give you more then enough time to wander in the gardens,, in fact, I wandered the garden, visited the gift shop, LEFT and went and found a place for a drink , THEN remet tour... The tour IS worth the extra 8 euros.. it really is,, you see more then you would on your own,, I mean would you see the cemmentary on your own? Would you know what you were looking for?
Posted by
OP
NYC
47 posts
good point pat- i'm not a big fan of tour groups or any of that but I really enjoyed the fat tire tour i took in berlin. thanks for the advice!
Posted by
Sacramento, CA, USA
38 posts
From my research online I have heard nothing but good things about this tour. I was a little daunted by the price as well, especially because I don't care for organized tour groups. However, seeing the numbers broken down that way (with the tour only being 8 euros more) I'm definitely going to be splurging for the tour. Also, I have traveled through Europe on my own before, and this seems like the perfect kind of tour to get to meet people but also be on your own. Since you can take the train there on your own then join the group, then be on your own again for Monet's house. So my verdict is JUST BITE and go on the tour! :D
Posted by
Niceville, FL, USA
154 posts
I did the Fat tire bike tours Monet tour once. I enjoyed it. And I just went on my own using the Rick Steves guidebook. It's very easy. And I liked being able to go earlier in the day.