I'm going to Paris, Nice and Barcelona in two weeks and am wondering if it's a good idea to prepay for tickets/tours before hand or should we just pay as we go? I'd rather skip the lines if at all possible. The Louvre, tour or do it ourself? Moulin Rouge,dinner & show? This is a spur of the moment trip with a friend (two "girls" in our 50's)and I'm usually a planner. Thank you so much for any help.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Susan, as Steve pointed out, do not bother with a MP for the Louvre, it is easy to avoid lines there( I always go in the very busy summer months and never have a problem by using the underground entrance, it works great) .
In all my trips to Paris,, I have only purchased a two day MP ,, once,, and frankly, it was not really worth it, I just thought I would try it since I knew it would be handy to get in Versailles( lines are insane there) and they had discontinued selling the Forfait Loisirs pass which I had previously used for line skipping.
They now sell tickets to Versailles online in advance, I do recommend that,, as well as they now do the same for the ET,, both places it is worth line skipping,, but for most other places don't bother.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
PS Most importantly, do not prepurchase pass online, it just costs more and there is simply no advanatage to doing so.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15791 posts
Louvre - the entrance mentioned above is called the Carousel entrance. Once thru security you walk thru the mall to the Pyramid where you buy tickets, check bags, and rent audio guides. I didn't take the audio guide, so I can't opine, but next time I will. I had Rick's audio guide and it was very confusing because much had been moved around since Rick did it. The Louvre had themed written guides in English that you can download for free from their website. I followed the one "From Palace to Museum" which takes you through the building more from a perspective of history and architecture, but it also takes you past all the major works. I went on a Friday evening (in June) and the Louvre was positively empty!
Moulin Rouge - skip it. Go to a concert at the Sainte-Chapelle instead, it's magical, especially as the setting sun lights up the stained glass. It's also about a tenth of the $$.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Chani is so right on about Moulin Rouge,, a concert at St Chapelle would be more magical for sure.
Posted by
OP
Hamilton, MA
37 posts
Thank to all! Carousel Entrance through the underground Mall and Concert at the Sainte-Chapelle it is! Now if anyone has a favorite Bistro they'd care to recommend?
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15791 posts
Bistros - just about any place that doesnt have a tourist menu! Little neighborhood restaurants are often surprisingly good, as is house wine in most places. Dinner in restaurants - not before 7 pm. But at the cafes & bistros you can get a nice meal any time.
If you like chocolate, go to Angelina's at some point for hot chocolate. If you are tempted to have a pastry as well, I suggest you share one chocolte and one pastry. It is across the street from the Tuileries Gardens, so a nice stop before or after the Louvre.