Versailles and Paris

My family, 11 including 5 children will be docked from 8AM to 10 PM. in le Havre. I would like to go to Versailles and then on to Paris for some brief touring, as most of us have been several times. Does anyone have suggestions for transportation as all the driver/tour guides I have quoted wanted over 3400 euros. Thank you. Also, any dining suggestions for that large of a party would be helpful as most of the brasseries I recall being tight seating. Thank you

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I am not sure you will have enough time to do both.

As a guide we often take tourists docked in Le Havre and take them by bus to either Versailles or Paris...

It takes a good 2h30 to Paris with a non stop drive.

I really think if you do Versailles, then you will NOT have much time left for Paris. Just do Paris, one day is not yet much. That would mean you arrive in Paris at 10h30 and depart no later than 6pm to allow time in case there are traffic jams.

Usually the ships organize tours to Paris for 150 dollars per person approximately so check with the ship to know about this, i would be surprised if they didn%26#39;t organize anything...

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I just took my 13 and 15 yr. old to Paris 1 yr. ago, and quick trip to s. of France last summer, but we did miss Versailles. I%26#39;d like them to see it, but know they get bored in museums, palaces, etc. after 1 hr or 2. I thought if I got a driver to Versailles at 8AM and just spent 1-2 hours there, we could make it to Paris for my favorite macaroons at Laduree, mont blanc at Angelina, bateaux mouche, Tour Eiffel, etc. Am I too ambitious?

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Why not simply take the train to Paris from Le Havre and organize your own visit? round trip train fares for your family could be as little as 300€ with non-refundable second class advance purchase tickets to perhaps 750€ with fully refundable first class tickets. The actual cost would depend on the age of the children (and seniors?) in your party, and how far in advance you are booking. The train to Paris takes about two hours. I do know that trains from/to Le Havre are not frequent but you should still be able to manage a good six or seven hours in the city. You can check timetables and fares at

www.voyages-sncf.com

I think the maximum number you can book online is less than 11 (perhaps 5?). However phone bookings are possible.

Given the time of your departure from Le Havre, dinner in Paris is not an option, but lunch at a large Paris brasserie such as Bofinger or Le Boeuf sur le Toit should not be difficult to arrange for a party of eleven with a prior reservation. Perhaps even lunch at Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower, which would allow you to bypass the ticket lines?

I do kind of think that your proposed list of places to visit is a bit ambitious for a short visit. I%26#39;d be inclined to skip Versailles and concentrate on a quick tour of Paris, visiting your favorite places and one or two special places that will be memorable for your children. Apart from anything else, you will probably spend a long time standing in lines waiting to purchase tickets for Versailles and the Eiffel Tower.

No doubt you could get a private operator to take you on the trip you are thinking of, but given that you are thinking of a round trip of around 500km (more than 300 miles) and about 11 hours it is not going to be inexpensive as you have already discovered.

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As noted, there is direct train service from Le HAVRE directly to PARIS-Gare Saint Lazare (2 hrs)...and then direct service (approx every 15 minutes) from Gare Saint Lazare to VERSAILLES-Rive Droit station (30 minutes). The problem with this is that of schedule. The earliest a train from Le Havre (that fits your time frame) departs is at 10:13 AM and doesn%26#39;t get you to Paris-Gare Saint Lazare until 12:12 PM, which even with EVERYTNING working in your favor, doesn%26#39;t get you to the gates of Versailles until much before 13:00 (1 PM) . The absolute latest train back from Paris to Le Havre departs Gare Saint Lazare ay 18:40 (6:40 PM), arriving at the train station in Le Havre at 20:34 (8:34 PM). All things working excatly in your favor, this leaves you with perhaps five(5) hours for Versailles and Paris.

This is one of those trips that is probably best saved for another time....and exploring Le Havre and Haute Normandie is the more prudent choice.

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