toger

$129?! Wow, that's crazy! If I remember correctly, Avalon's fee for the 1/2 day tour to Versailles was about $80. We did it for the price of the Museum Pass (we were in Paris an additional 4 days so had other museums on our list). The Queen's Apartment's tour was an additional 7 Euros; while the train ticket to Versailles was less than 8 Euros (round trip). I think I got an especially good deal! :D

Loved your pictures and following along. I just did a very similar itinerary with Avalon (Scenery) and loved it.

I, too, share your dislike of being herded about and being told when to eat (my friend and I were actually scolded by a traveling TA for being late to a dinner because we were enthralled by going through our first lock).

Once we got to Paris, we essentially "ditched" the rest of the group and did our own thing - including going to Versailles on our own. Much cheaper and far more enjoyable. We did a 90-minute guided tour of the Queen's Apartments which takes you to rooms not normally open to the public. It was quite hot, so we chose not to see any of the rest of the interior of the Palace and went straight to the gardens. We were able to walk to the Hamlet and enjoy the vast gardens.

Versailles is huge! I don't know how it could be done in less than 6 hours (we arrived at 9:15 and didn't leave until almost 3 while spending next to no time inside. Nor did we see the Grand or Petit Trianon). But it's definitely easy to do for less than $80USD !!:D