Versailles: lines, free admission...?

Don't be surprised if the free admission is for EU residents only. If it is open to everyone, the fact that your boyfriend studied graphic design years ago should be irrelevant. That would be like asking for a student discount anywhere because you used to be a student. I used to be a student a long time ago. Should I get a student discount? No, I think it is meant for current students only. When are you going to be there? That should make some difference as far as lines go. I was there twice, in January and in October. The lines weren't bad either time. In high season you can expect more people.

Well according to their free admission page - found here: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/resources/pdf/en/exonerations/exonerations_en.pdf - it says: "Students attending public art schools (national, regional, municipal or others), studying visual arts, graphic arts, industrial design and creation, art trades,
photography, film, audiovisual, fashion and design, museums and heritage (excluding non-registered students attending night classes or those attending senior citizens' universities)" This is listed separately from "All European Union citizens 18-26." It also lists unemployed people, which would currently describe my boyfriend, but we've no way of proving that (he just quit his job and isn't going to get any unemployment benefits.) I guess you're right that he no longer counts as a student since he's not enrolled any more officially. Also, we will be there the last week of May.

It 'might' work if you can show you are a CURRENT student of graphic arts. You boyfriend is no longer a student. The fact that he quit his job is unlikely to get him in for free. The website directs you to go to the Principal Entrance with your documentary proof. Worse case scenario is that you will be rejected for free admission and then you will have to go stand in another line to buy a ticket, then get back in line at the entrance. I don't see any scenario that will get your boyfriend in for free. Looking at the Versailles website, students eligible are from national, regional, municipal or other schools. I take that to mean French students, not students from other parts of the world. Maybe I'm wrong. I guess you will find out.

I managed to find a page on my online course planner that showed my name and my major listed as fashion design - do you think that will work? I printed it out. Along with my student ID, I'm hoping that will be enough. I'll have to talk to my boyfriend about whether he'd like to purchase his ticket in advance.

lia,, I think you will be turned down,, I am 90% sure they mean their( French or more generally EU) students,, but it might be worth trying, but, forget about boyfriend getting in for free, that is not going to happen. Really you are paying thousands on this trip, and this is a very important site,, so why mess around with trying to save 18 euros.. you probaly spend more then that when you go out for lunch or dinner at home,, and this is a world class historical site and you are trying to cut corners here.
I would prepurchase tickets online or buy and use the Museum Pass,, it can be cost effective if you use it enough, and it gets you skip the line at most places including Versailles.

I hope they respond because I really can't afford the extra money on anything! I can't remember the last time I went out to eat and spent anywhere near that much XD At most I only go out to eat if I'm getting paid to review the restaurant. Since there is a different section for youth of the EU than the listing for students studying fashion design, I am hoping it applies to me. I am crossing my fingers that they respond to my inquiry so I can know for sure.

Lia - if you really want to try fine, it's your time. But my experience as a former French design student is that the free admission is for French students only. You'll need a student ID from a French university. It's possible that it now applies to all EU students, but unlikely. I can almost guarantee that it does not apply to US students. And most certainly does not apply to former students. There are threads here about techiques to pre-purchase tickets and avoid lines. Do a search for those. Also, the gardens are free except on days when the fountains are running. If you go on a fountain day, you will pay more. So if cost is an issue, avoid fountain days.

You have to be registered in a French school. Your unemployed boy friend has to be drawing French unemployment. I am 100% sure.

Thanks Nancy! That's very helpful. We'll make sure to be up early to get out there!

I don't really understand people that spend a lot of money on a trip for transportation, lodging, etc., but have NO money to spend when they get there to see any sights. Especially one that seems so important to you. Have you thought about postponing your trip until you can save more money? Another thought - If you really want to go and are able to come up with the money for it, but your BF doesn't want to go, split up for the day and each do your own thing. It would be very sad for you to not fulfill your dream because of him. Who knows when you will get back to Paris again.

My budget is really none of your business, as it has nothing to do with my post. But since you're so interested, the airfare for the trip is a gift to me from someone else, and the rest of the trip I've been saving up for myself for quite some time. My boyfriend and I are each happy to spend this money once we get to Europe, although things like sleeping in hotels or silly tourist traps are not a necessity to us and we'd like to save money wherever possible so that we can spend it elsewhere without worrying about our finances during the trip. Splitting up is not an option.

No offense meant Lia. You're right, your budget is none of my business. And it is possible to go to Paris (and elsewhere) and spend little money by sleeping in hostels, buying your food at a grocery store or getting a crepe from a street stand, and not going anywhere that charges admission. I happen to be a pretty frugal traveler myself. My point was that if I was going to a faraway location, with the possibility I would never return, and there was a place on my bucket list that was very important to me, I would do what it takes to go there. I do have a suggestion for you. There is a program called Paris Greeters. You can register with them online. They will ask what your interests are and then match you up with a volunteer that will show you around. There is no charge for this, but they do accept donations online to their organization. I did this last October and it was fantastic. They will email you with a proposition, which you can accept or decline. If the first proposition doesn't appeal to you they will come up with something else. Once you accept you can email the individual to make arrangements with them. We had a great time touring the Marais for 3 hours or so. They don't accept tips, but we did take our guide out for a drink as a thank you. That is not required. If you do decide to register with Paris Greeters I would do it ASAP. I hope you have a great trip.

Thanks. Luckily for me, I've already been to Paris once, and there is a very high possibility that I will go again many times as it's the fashion capital of the world - or one of them anyway - and I do work in the fashion industry! Plus I've got a job lined up after graduation paying me enough to be able to take some awesome vacations, so I plan to take a trip each year. So this isn't like do or die, now or never or on my bucket list, I just happen to have time this trip to see it and it's something I didn't see last time, so I wanted to see it. This will be the only time that I will be a student and visiting Europe, though, so I want to maximize the amount of discounts and savings I can accrue through that status.

I guess what we are all trying to tell you ( which you do not seem to want to hear) is that your status as an American student means very little, almost in every case you will need to either be a student in the country you are visiting, or at very least a EU student. Remember sites are partially supported by government grants, and those benefits given to certain sectors( seniors , and students for example) are for the benefit of those who pay taxes in those places. As an American student you have very little discount benefit status. You may get some breaks in some places but I wouldn't build the anticipation of it into my budget.

If your "budget is none of our business", take your fingers off the keyboards. You post the sob story of how broke you are and then tell us it is none of our buisness? I bet if we had said "oh yes, they will let you in free" And "splitting up is not an option". Oh my. Good luck!

I posted no sob stories. I asked a question about admission to Versailles, and my question has been answered. The point that I should just pay for it without making a fuss was the reason I said I will take every discount and concession available to me. Not finding out if I can get a discount is a waste of my money because if it's possible to get one and I didn't know about it, that's money I just threw away that I can spend on something else later. Splitting up is not an option because only one of us has a phone and because we will not know where we are sleeping and thus have no place to meet back at. More importantly, let's try to not derail this topic by posting nasty, rude messages about my budget or my trip that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, which is whether or not I qualify for free admission to Versailles (which, as it seems, I do not.) Luckily, I purchased an ISIC card a while ago, which should get me a few discounts. I'm sorry I chose to post my question in Rick Steve's forum instead of somewhere else like Let's Go. I'll think twice next time. I didn't realize that the reception here would be so vicious.

Hi Lia, We visited Versailles just a couple of days ago and this is what you need to know...you must take the 8:00am train to Versailles, MAKE SURE you already have your ticket and you will be one of the first in line. We practically had the palace to ourselves for the first half hour or so. We saw the gardens after the palace and by the time we left 3 1/2 hours later the lines were at least a half a mile long. No kidding. Take the 8:00 train not the 8:30 train, and you will hav e a great visit.. No help
with the free admission part,but it sound like you already have that figured out. Enjoy..it is wonderful!

I didn't realize that the reception here would be so vicious. That's actually pretty mild. You should see some forums elsewhere... What people here actually did was take a mature position based on what they were told - not knowing you or your situation - but, if you read closely, trying to save you that most precious commodity in such short supply - time. Until you have seen the same lines at the various queues at Versailles that I have - sometimes 3 hours - you will not know how much these vicious people have saved you. If you spend an hour trying to get through the free line then get sent for a couple of hours to the ticket line then another long line... Versailles has many specific entrances all with their own lines, Oh well....

New suggestion.. Treat others as you want to be treated. You keep attacking... LOL! And I am sorry, but "we can't split up" still makes no sense. It's not a 3 legged race (or even the TV show!) You just set a meeting place.. Now we have problem two with your plan. I am not sure how much stuff you will have with you, but the last time I was at Versailles they were rather strict on "backpacks" (That may have changed, but the French have a long history of terrorism and have "adapted" in some ways better then we have) I am not sure if you can leave your bag anyplace there or if you need to leave it at the train station someplace, but you might want to do some research. Also, if you re-read Nancy's posts she stress be on the 8 AM train WITH tickets. So at least have the boyfriend's ticket. (Based on everything I have read and seen.. I would have your ticket too. I just went and looked and I think you are going to be disappoitned but MAYBE you will get a sympathetic soul. All I can say is that my elderly mother rarely got a discount in Paris because they required EU proof... and she's an American.

If you don't know where you are going to stay, you may not get past the passport control.

Thanks all but everything else is taken care of. Hotel is booked and tickets are purchased. My question has been answered. Thanks!

lia,, ,I travelled around Europe for almost 3 months with a friend, at 23, .. we had a ton of fun, but everyone needs some alone time,, and yes we would split up,, and yes, we didn't always know where were staying each night either.. and now, this is the amazing part,, wait for it.......we had NO cell phones,, cause they weren't around yet! In that 3 months we phone home twice,, from phone booths in post offices, and we wrote postcards to keep in touch with family. Gosh this new generation doesn't get how TETHERED they are by their cell phones etc.. It was nice to be unreachable for months on end,, it was freeing. Splitting up is of course an option, but some people are afraid to,, thats all. People have travelled without cell phones for centuries,, and some of us still do. You just arrange to meet somewhere after a split acitivity.