travel – Page 9 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: AIR FRANCE AF 1304 – Paris CDG to Rome – Short Inter-European Hop to Italy’s Capital City [November 2022]

After spending 5 days around Paris (Days 1 and 2 + Days 3, 4 and 5), it was time for us to leave this beautiful city. My friend and I took an Uber from Le Village Montmartre to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and hopped on a short flight to another beautiful and famous city – Rome, Italy. We flew with Air France on their inter-European flight AF 1304 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport. Join me in today’s flight report as I run you through my first-ever Air France flight experience.

Air France

Air France is the flag carrier of France. Founded in 1933 from a merger of a few airlines, the airline is one of the biggest subsidiaries of the Air France-KLM Group. It operates most of its flights from its hubs in Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly Airports.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category..

The airline flies to over 90 countries and 200 destinations in the 6 habitable continents. It has a mixed fleet of narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline also operates a cargo division named Air France Cargo. The airline also has substantial shares in regional carrier HOP! (also known as Air France Hop) and low-cost carrier Transavia France.

Air France’ frequent flyer program is called Flying Blue. The airline is a founding member of one of the world’s biggest airline alliances (with 19 members) – SkyTeam. Aside from this alliance, the airline also has codeshare and interline agreements with over 50 airlines from all over the world.

Air France is a semi full-service carrier. The airline provides inflight snacks and drinks on their short, medium, and long-haul flights. Complimentary check-in baggage depends on fare bundle you purchase from the airline. Basic fares normally only include carry-on baggage allowance with check-in baggage available for a minimal fee (or complimentary in a higher fare bundle). The airline offers inflight entertainment in selected sectors but not on flights within Europe.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

My friend and I booked our flights 4 months before our intended trip; we paid €116,64 each for this one-way economy class flight. We were charged by our bank ₱6,854.74 each including foreign currency conversion fees.

This expensive ticket included 12 kilograms of carry-on baggage (1 backpack or luggage + 1 accessory bag), 23 kilograms of pre-booked check-in baggage, a randomly-assigned seat during check-in and inflight snacks. Unfortunately, the plane assigned to this flight did not feature personal entertainment screens.

This ticket was probably one of the most expensive one-way economy class tickets I have purchased to date. It is more expensive than my 2019 Brussels Airlines Brussels to Prague and Czech Airlines Prague to Copenhagen flights combined. It is even more expensive than my Vietnam Airlines Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh one-way business class flight last January 2023. It came with a hefty price but it was the best and most convenient option that fit our itinerary.

Travel Requirements

Italy has scrapped all pandemic-related requirements during our flight back in November 2022. The airline only required a valid ID for Schengen residents and passport for foreigners or visitors.

Before the Flight

30 hours before the flight, Air France sent an e-mail advising that our flight is already open for online check-in. We checked in for our flight and were assigned to exit row seats – 25B and 25C.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Air France flight AF 1304 was operated by a 24.7-year-old Airbus A321-200 aircraft. This aircraft, delivered to the airline in March 1998, has 212 seats in a 2-class configuration – business class and economy class. All seats had a 3-3 configuration with business class section having a blocked middle seat. The blocked middle seat business class configuration is typical in inter-European flights.

AP 1304 took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport at 3:06pm and landed at Rome–Fiumicino International Airport at 4:40pm. The quick and relatively uneventful flight only took 1 hour and 34 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

At the time of the flight, this Air France flight to Rome departed from Paris CDG Terminal 2F.

CHECK-IN

Airport check-in / bag drop for Air France flights open exactly 2 hours before the flight. All passengers can print their boarding passes and luggage tags using the check-in kiosks outside the bag drop area. After printing the boarding pass and tags, those with luggage can drop their bags in the automated bag drop machines. Our check-in and bag drop process only took 4 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we got some snacks then passed by final security. Airport authorities in the European Union ask all passengers to take out all laptops and 100-ml liquids from the bags and have them checked in using a separate tray. They are a bit strict compared to how security checks are made in the Philippines. We then walked to Gate F28 and waited for boarding to start.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 2:14pm. Business class passengers, Flying Blue and SkyTeam status holders boarded first. Economy class passengers boarded the plane last. The crew handed out face masks and sanitary wipes to passengers upon entering the aircraft.

The aircraft doors were closed at exactly 2:50pm. The whole boarding process took 36 minutes. It took longer than usual because all seats were booked. There were no empty seats.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

The aircraft used in this flight is equipped with 212 seats on an all-economy class 3-3 configuration. The cabin features a business class section but only with the typical blocked middle seat on a few rows. Each seat has 18 inches width and 32 inches of leg space.

Each seat features a foldable tray table, a small seat pocket with an aircraft safety card and a decent recline. Passengers have access to individual reading lights, air nozzles and attendant call buttons. Each row also has 2 USB charging ports which passengers can use during the flight. Short haul flights on economy do not feature headrests, pillows, and blankets.

I got seat 25B – a middle emergency exit row seat which cannot be reclined. I got a bigger than usual leg room; I had a pleasant seat experience in this short flight to Rome.

INFLIGHT SNACK

The cabin crew started the snack service 15 minutes after take-off. They offered sandwiches and a long list of drink options for passengers to choose from – beers, fruit juices, carbonated drinks, wine, coffee, tea, water, and spirits.

I got a ham sandwich and a can of Heineken beer. I applaud Air France for keeping the snack service even on such short inter-European flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

This Airbus A321 aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe Air France does not offer inflight entertainment options on their flights within Europe.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

I saw an icon in the aircraft saying that this Airbus A321 is equipped with on-board wi-fi service. I tried to connect during the flight but I did not see an active wi-fi option during the flight.

LAVATORY

The lavatory was busy throughout this full flight to Rome. I decided to skip it and used the toilet upon arrival at Rome–Fiumicino International Airport.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight from Paris to Rome was just alright. The crew did their job in assisting the passengers during boarding and meal service.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation and baggage claim process was quick and organized. We got off in a gate far at the far end of the terminal, walked towards baggage claim area and got our suitcases in no time.

Final Thoughts

It was an interesting experience with Air France. I will not say it is a great flight but a normal or usual inter-European flight.

Here are some points where I believe the airline excelled. First, check-in and bag drop process was quick and efficient. All passengers will check-in through the kiosks and print their boarding pass and luggage tags. After this, those with check-in luggage need to surrender their bags in the automated bag drop counters. The whole process finished in less than 5 minutes including a short queue.

Second, Air France provides a generous carry-on baggage allowance of 12 kilograms for a bag and a personal item. I believe they are the only airline that I have flown so far that allowed up to this generous allowance. Third, the airline provided masks and disinfectant wipes during boarding.

Lastly, the airline provided a snack service (sandwich and beverage of choice) on this 1.5-hour flight to Rome. I, kind of, expected it given Air France is a full-service airline but I did not think that the beverage list will be that extensive.

This flight also had some let downs. First, the fare was not cheap. I booked the ticket 4 months before the intended flight date but it was still more expensive than my 2019 Brussels Airlines and Czech Airlines tickets combined. It was even more expensive than my Vietnam Airlines business class ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. Maybe the fare was expensive because of high demand (the flight was full), soaring fuel prices (at that time) and inflation?

Second, the cabin cleanliness can be improved. The tray table, seat pocket and seat itself were all unacceptably dirty. Third, the aircraft does not feature wi-fi service even if there were signs showing that it is wi-fi equipped. Fourth, without the meal service, I felt like I was flying a low-cost carrier. I may not be used to how flights are within Europe but I felt like it was just so-so.

This sums up my first ever Air France inter-European flight. Will I fly them again in the future? For sure I will but only if the flight schedule fits my itinerary. Please note that this will only apply for flights within Europe. I am still keen on trying their medium and long-haul products.

Do you want to know the geeky details of this flight? Here you go!

Airline: Air France
Flight Date: 20 November 2022
Flight Number: AF 1304
Route: Paris, France (CDG) to Rome, Italy (FCO)
Duration: 1 hour and 34 minutes
Seat Number: 25B (middle emergency exit seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-200
Aircraft Registration: F-GTAE
Engines: 2 x CFM International CFM56 engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 24.7 years old
Delivered: March 1998

Have you tried Air France in their short, medium and long-haul routes? How was your experience? Share them in the comments section below. Do you have comments, suggestions, or questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to comment them below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me on this Air France flight report. I have a long list of flight reports and Europe blog contents coming up so I hope you can watch out for them. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: VIETNAM AIRLINES VN 219 – Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City – Wide-Body Business Class Product in One of the World’s Busiest Domestic Routes [January 2023]

The Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight route has amazed me ever since; it is always busy with flights departing every 30 minutes. In an article published by Simple Flying last 29 December 2022, this domestic route within Vietnam was the world’s 4^th busiest domestic route in the world for the year. It trailed behind Seoul Gimpo-Jeju, Melbourne-Sydney, and Jakarta-Denpasar Bali. The route had 21,574 flights for the whole of 2022 and even reached a peak of 70 flights daily.

Early this year, I had the chance to fly this busy domestic route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. I flew with Vietnam Airlines on flight VN 219 on business class on board their Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Join me in today’s flight report as I share with you my Vietnam Airlines experience in one of the world’s busiest domestic routes.

Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam Airlines traces its roots back in January 1956 when the government formed the Vietnam Civil Aviation. For decades, the carrier focused on expanding its reach domestically and internationally. In 1993, the airline went through restructuring and became a state-owned transport enterprise. It was also in the same year the airline was hailed as the Flag Carrier of Vietnam. The airline has experienced important developments throughout the years such as rebranding in 2002, receiving IATA membership in 2006, joining Skyteam Alliance in 2010, listing publicly in 2014, receiving 4-star rating from Skytrax and welcoming ANA Holdings as strategic investor in 2016.

Fast forward to 2023, Vietnam Airlines is the country’s biggest carrier. With a fleet of close to 100 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the airline flies to over 20 domestic destinations and over 40 international destinations across Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania. It has main hubs in Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and in Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi – the country’s capital. The airline also has substantial stakes in Pacific Airlines (formerly known as Jetstar Pacific) and VASCO (Vietnam Air Services Company).

Vietnam Airlines is known for its Golden Lotus Brand which drew inspiration from the Lotus flower – the country’s national flower. The airline is a member of the Skyteam Alliance and has codeshare agreements with a few airlines. The list of codeshare partners can be found here. The airline also has a frequent flyer called Lotusmiles. Lastly, Vietnam Airlines is a full-service carrier; it means that they provide check-in baggage, meals / snacks, and entertainment in their flights.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

I booked my ticket 5 months before the intended flight date. I was searching for the best Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight and randomly found a good business class deal from Vietnam Airlines. I got my ticket for $118.20 one-way on business class. For context, a normal one-way business class fare for this route costs $200-$380 per person. I paid my ticket in Japanese Yen (¥) because I believed it was the best currency to pay with at the time of booking. The ticket cost me ¥15,950. My bank charged me ₱6,733.73 including foreign currency conversion charges.

The business class ticket included 18 kilograms of hand baggage (allowed up to 2 bags + 1 accessory bag), 32 kilograms of checked baggage, priority check-in and security, lounge access before departure and a lie-flat seat with personal entertainment screens and a full meal onboard. The business class privileges seemed to be the usual ones; the deal breaker was the wide-body aircraft to be used in the flight. The flight utilized an Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft – the same type of aircraft used by most carriers for long-haul flights. It is hard to find an Airbus A350 assigned to a domestic route elsewhere.

The business class privileges I got plus the wide-body aircraft used for the flight made the ticket price worth it. Not bad for a first business class experience, eh?

Travel Requirements

Vietnam Airlines staff only requires a valid ID or passport (for foreign nationals) during check-in. Covid-19 requirements and restrictions have long been removed in Vietnam.

Before the Flight

Vietnam Airlines does not send any pre-flight reminders via e-mail. The airline cancelled my initial flight, VN 265, and did not inform me ahead of time. They moved me to the next flight VN 219 without any e-mail notification or alert.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Vietnam Airlines flight VN 219 was operated by a 7-year-old Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft, delivered to Vietnam Airlines in December 2015, is equipped with 29 business class seats on a 1-2-1 layout, 45 premium economy class seats on a 2-4-2 configuration and 231 regular economy class seats on the standard 3-3-3 layout.

This VN 219 flight took off from Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi at 7:32pm and landed Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Saigon at 9:15pm, a few minutes behind schedule. This smooth flight only took 1 hour and 43 minutes in contrast to its 2 hours and 10 minutes flying schedule.

Ground & Airport Experience

Vietnam Airlines’ domestic flights operate out of Nội Bài International Airport Terminal 1.

BUSINESS CLASS CHECK-IN

Business class passengers have dedicated check-in counters in the right part of the Vietnam Airlines section. The whole check-in process only took a few minutes. The check-in agent informed me that I have been moved to a later flight (VN 219 from VN 265) and that I was still given a window seat for the flight. After check-in, I went through security. Business class passengers have access to the fast-track section. Security was a breeze considering it was the start of the peak Lunar new year holidays in Vietnam.

DOMESTIC LOTUS LOUNGE

My business class ticket gave me access to Vietnam Airlines’ Domestic Lotus Lounge. This huge lounge is located on Level 3 Wing D and provides a nice view of the tarmac. It has hundreds of seating options, toilet and shower areas and a buffet spread. Food options were good but limited. It has a dedicated phở station for those who want to indulge in local Vietnamese noodles.

I was 3 hours early for my flight so I stayed in the lounge for more than 2 hours. I enjoyed the buffet spread, drinks selection, the comfortable seats and the beautiful tarmac view. I wish I had more space for the phở – maybe next time. I noticed the lounge did not get crowded during my whole stay.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After my long stay at the lounge, I went down and walked to Gate 5 to wait for boarding. The ground staff did not make any announcements regarding the status of our flight. I sat down and still waited for a few minutes before the boarding announcement was made.

BOARDING

The boarding process started at 6:48pm. Business class passengers, Lotusmiles and Skyteam status holders boarded the plane first. Economy class passengers followed and boarded by groups. Business class passengers boarded through the front jet bridge while economy class passengers took the rear jet bridge. The whole process only took 21 minutes; the cabin doors were closed exactly at 7:09pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

WELCOME DRINK & NEWSPAPER SERVICE

After all business class passengers settled in their respective seats, the crew started to walk around the cabin, introduced themselves and offered cold towels and welcome drinks. They offered a glass of passion fruit juice or water as welcome drink. The drink was served in Vietnam Airlines-branded coaster and glass. They also went around and offered local and English newspapers to all business class passengers.

BUSINESS CLASS SEAT FEATURES

Business class passengers on Vietnam Airlines’ Airbus A350 aircraft have an access to lie-flat seats even on short domestic flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These seats are 21 inches wide and have a generous legroom of 42 inches. The seats have a footrest under the entertainment screens and can be placed in bed (lie-flat, reclined (or relaxed) and upright positions. These also feature adjustable head rests. Pillow and blanket are only available upon request.

The seat has a console that features the following: adjustable reading light, magazines, aircraft safety card, stowage spaces, seat controls, entertainment control system, water bottle holder, universal power outlet, USB port and a soft arm rest. The headphones are placed under the arm rest while the table and safety cards are found by the seat entrance. Unfortunately, the seat does not feature individual air nozzles.

INFLIGHT MEAL

Vietnam Airlines offers a full course meal on their domestic business class routes. Normally, they offer noodles, pasta or rice meals on these domestic routes. This flight, however, had a different meal offering. To join the whole country in celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year), the airline offered 2 traditional dishes on this flight to Ho Chi Minh City. I forgot the other option but I went for the Bánh Chưng / Bánh Tét – Vietnamese sticky rice meal.

The traditional meal came with a big portion of sticky rice with fatty pork and green bean fillings served in banana leaf, a piece of orange fruit, củ kiệu or pickled scallion heads and a traditional rice cake dessert. It also came with a glass of water and a drink of choice. Drink choices include carbonated drinks, tea, coffee, wines, fruit juices and beers.

The crew went around for the 2^nd round of drinks offering tea, coffee, and water. Overall, it was a solid and filling meal. The only thing I hoped for during this flight was a non-traditional meal option for foreign passengers like me.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

All business class seats on Vietnam Airlines’ Airbus A350 aircraft are equipped with 16 inches of personal entertainment screens. These personal screens, at that time, had 66 movies and around 100 television show episodes to watch and over 160 audio options to listen to. It also had games and a kids-only option for those travelling with kids.

The entertainment system also featured an inflight map which passengers can use, monitor and play around with during the flight. Individual headphones (which were not noise-cancelling) were also provided.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The aircraft assigned to this flight was not equipped with inflight Wi-Fi connectivity.

LAVATORY

The business class cabin has 2 lavatories in the front section of the aircraft. These lavatories were both relatively spacious, clean, and well-maintained. It had a plant ornament in it and smelled great throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this business class flight was exceptional. The assigned cabin crew in our area introduced herself individually to the passengers. She served us with her best smile, answered our questions politely and even took note of our requests. She also engaged in small chats during the meal service.

I would also like to give a special shoutout to the cabin manager. After the assigned cabin crew took our food orders, she personally went up to me and apologized for only having the traditional food options. She explained what the meals consist of and advised me to reach out to her in case I have problems or issues with the food. After the meal service, she again came to my seat and asked how the food was. I appreciate her going out of her way and taking care of the only foreign passenger (me) in business class during the flight.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation and baggage claim on this flight to Ho Chi Minh only took a few minutes. Business class passengers disembarked first. Checked baggage were already in the luggage belt when we arrived in the arrival hall. Our aircraft apparently parked near the baggage claim section of the terminal. Believe it or not, I was already out of the terminal in about 5 minutes after I stepped out of the aircraft.

Final Thoughts

I had a decent and memorable first-ever business class experience with Vietnam Airlines. I believe the airline has a potential to become a major carrier in the region if they continue to improve their service and offerings.

This business class flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City had some notable positives. First, the airfare was affordable for such an experience. Imagine paying only $118 for a one-way full-service business class flight on a wide-body aircraft? It was definitely a steal. I got more than what I actually paid for. Second, the check-in process and security were quick. I finished everything in less than 10 minutes. Of course, I was able to enjoy this as part of the privileges of a business class passenger.

Third, Vietnam Airlines’ Domestic Lotus Lounge at Nội Bài International Airport offered limited but decent food and drink choices. The lounge had plenty of seat options and had a nice view of the tarmac. It also remained quiet during my stay given it was peak season in Vietnam. Fourth, it is rare these days to find lie-flat business class seats and wide-body aircraft utilized in short domestic routes. Flying the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City route on a wide-body was a pleasant experience.

Lastly, the cabin crew service on this flight was pure excellence. The assigned cabin crew and the cabin manager took care of me throughout the flight and made sure that I have a memorable flight with Vietnam Airlines.

This flight also has some areas where the airline can further improve on. First, the airline should make sure that passengers are well-informed of flight changes, cancellations, and delayed boarding schedules. I was told by the ground staff during check-in that my initial flight, VN 265, was cancelled and that I was moved to the next flight, VN 219. I did not receive any e-mail notification of this last-minute flight change. Also, I, together with the rest of the passengers were not informed of the delay in boarding schedule.

Second, the seat assigned to me, 6A, is starting to show its age. I can hear an annoying eeky sound every time I try to adjust the seat from the bed, to relax and upright positions. Third, while I did not have issues with the traditional meal options (in fact I liked it), I hope the airline can include a third and western option for foreign passengers who do not want to have the traditional meal options. Maybe retaining the noodle option all throughout is a good option.

Fourth, the headphones provided in business class were not noise-cancelling. Fifth, I hope the airline can start rolling out Wi-fi connectivity systems in all their widebodies. Today, I believe Wi-fi connectivity service (whether free or paid) is already an integral part of the flight experience. I hope the airline works on these areas and try to further improve the passengers’ flying experience.

This sums up my first ever business class flight with Vietnam Airlines. Will I fly them again in business class? I will but only if the price is right. I am also keen on trying their economy class in both short and long haul if given the chance in the future.

For those aviation geeks out there, here are the technical details of this flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines:

Airline: Vietnam Airlines
Flight Date: 17 January 2023
Flight Number: VN 219
Route: Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN)
Duration: 1 hours & 43 minutes
Seat Number: 6A (window)
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900 XWB
Aircraft Registration: VN-A889
Engines: 2 x Rolls Royce Trent XWB
Age (at the time of the flight): 7.1 years old
Delivered: December 2015

Have you flown with Vietnam Airlines in business class? How was your experience? Have you flown with them in economy? How was it? Is it worth trying? I had a memorable flight with them but I am also interested in your experiences. Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about those mentioned above? You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Vietnam Airlines flight report! I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Emirates, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air & other airlines I flew with in the past. Also, please watch out for more in the coming weeks & months. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

PARIS MUSEUM PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Paris Museum Pass – I have repeatedly mentioned this pass in my Paris (Days 1-2 and Days 3-5) and Versailles blog posts. My friend and I availed of and used this pass to enter different museums and monuments during our trip to Paris and Versailles last November 2022. Today, I will share with you my thoughts about this pass and whether it is worth it.

Paris Museum Pass

Paris Museum Pass is a tourist pass that gives access to over 50 museums, chateaux and monuments located in Paris and in the Paris Region. It allows access to famous sites such as Arc de Triomphe, Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Panthéon, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles et de Trianon.

This pass allows the pass holder to visit as many museums, chateaux and monuments as possible (found in this list: Paris, Paris Region) for a specific cost and under a specific timeframe. The pass only allows single entry per site during its validity.

Cost & Validity

My friend and I bought our 48-hour pass for €52 each last November 2022. Prices have changed since then. As of April 2023, the Paris Museum Pass now costs €55 for the 2-day / 48-hour pass, €70 for the 4-day / 96-hour pass and €85 for the 6-day / 144-hour pass.

As per the website, museum pass savings / value is unlocked from the 4^th visit for the 48-hour pass, from the 5^th visit for the 96-hour pass and from the 6^th visit for the 144-hour pass. Please also take note that the count / validity starts from the time of the 1^st visit.

Please note that most museums and sites are free of charge for non-EU national visitors up to 18 years old and up to 26 years old for nationals of the European Union.

Where To Buy

Interested visitors can avail of the Paris Museum Pass in 2 ways – online and on site. Those who want to save time and paper can buy their Paris Museum Pass from the website. Those interested can choose from French, English, Spanish, Italian and German and will receive the pass in the chosen language. The museum pass will be sent via e-mail; it can be presented via mobile phone in the checkpoints.

Panthéon can be accessed using this pass.

Those who want to have a physical copy of the museum pass can buy the paper ticket from the Tourist Information Points found in major airports (CDG and ORY), train stations and even in major museums / sites. We bought our pass at CDG Airport Terminal 2F’s Tourist Information Point.

The Paris Museum Pass, once purchased, cannot be returned, exchanged, or refunded.

Advantages

Now that we know more about the Paris Museum Pass, let us look at the advantages of having this pass during your visit to Paris.

Fixed cost for all major museums and sites – The Paris Museum Pass already includes all the entry fees of the sites and museums listed in the website. Pass holders do not need to shell out additional euros to enter these sites.

Two must-see in Musée du Louvre. You can see both using your Paris Museum Pass.

Perfect for visitors with limited time in Paris – The pass provides visitors the chance to cover as many museums, sites and chateaux as possible during their limited time in the city.

Hassle-free and separate entry in selected sites – Pass holders need not to worry about long queues. Most of the sites have a special line for Paris Museum Pass holders. These special lines are often not crowded and provide immediate entry to the museum.

Special Line for Paris Museum Pass Holders

Great value for money – The Paris Museum Pass provides a great value for money for those who are visiting Paris in a well-planned itinerary. You can visit up to 5 sites in a day provided you have allotted ample time for all these places.

Disadvantages

The Paris Museum Pass also has some disadvantages. Let us discuss some of them below.

Some sites require reservations / timed-entry – Major museums and sites require timed-entry reservations which is almost like buying entry tickets for these sites.

Not ideal for long visits – The Paris Museum Pass is not for those who plan to stay longer in every museum / site or in Paris in general. This pass is not for you if you are the type of traveler who wants to explore in a calm and relaxing pace.

It does not cover all Paris landmarks – The pass does not cover other Paris Landmarks such as The Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier and The Paris Catacombs. You need to pay extra to enter these landmarks.

Pass is not for everyone – The Paris Museum Pass is not valid for those visiting below 18 years old for non-EU nationals and below 26 years old for EU nationals. It may also be not for backpackers or those who are travelling on a budget because it comes with a hefty price. There could also be other passes like the Paris Pass which suits your travelling style.

Tips to Maximize Paris Museum Pass

I want to share with you some tips on how you can maximize your Paris Museum Pass.

Check museum / site opening hours – Some museums and sites have extended operating hours a day every week. For example, Musée du Louvre is open until 9:45pm every Friday compared to the usual 6:00pm closing time on a normal day. On the other hand, Musée d’Orsay extends its opening hours to 9:45pm every Thursday, from the usual 6:00pm on other days. If you have the 48-hour pass and you started it on a Thursday morning, you can visit Musée d’Orsay on Thursday night, Musée du Louvre on Friday night and make time for other museums and sites during the day.

Be aware of museum / site closures – The museums and sites usually have 1 day in a week when they are closed. Musée du Louvre is closed every Tuesday, Musée d’Orsay and Château de Versailles et de Trianon are closed every Monday. Some of them are also closed during Christmas, New Year and other special holidays.

Château de Versailles is can also be accessed using the Paris Museum Pass.

Know which museums and sites require timed-entry reservations – Some museums and sites require Paris Museum Pass holders to book and reserve their visits. These schedules make the pass holder’s visit faster and secured. Sites that require reservations include Château de Versailles et de Trianon, Saint-Chapelle and Musée du Louvre. Please note that pass holders do not need to pay in reserving their slots / schedules.

Saint-Chapelle is included in the Paris Museum Pass

Plan your itinerary well – Maximize the cost of the Paris Museum Pass by planning your itinerary well. Avoid redeeming the pass during days when some museums are closed; also take advantage of longer museum hours.

Verdict: Is It Worth It?

It is time to answer the most important question. Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it? For the sake of this post, I will make a stand and answer it with a Conditional Yes. It is not an easy ‘yes’ but a conditional one where you will be only be in Paris for a limited time / period and you have a well-planned itinerary to maximize it.

My friend and I planned our itinerary well and used the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass in the following attractions: Saint-Chappelle (€11,50), Musée du Louvre (€17), Musée d’Orsay (€16), Château de Versailles and Trianon Estate (€21,50) and Panthéon (€11,50). We had plans of going up the Arc de Triomphe but we opted to skip it last-minute and met with our friends instead. We only paid €52 each (that time) for the pass and used it in 6 museums and sites that cost €77,50 in total if availed individually. On top of it, we saved tons of time by not queuing in all these attractions.

The Paris Museum Pass is not a cheap investment when visiting Paris but it is something that can be maximized during the availed timeframe. The key to maximizing the pass is knowing which places you want to visit and planning your itinerary well.

What do you think of the Paris Museum Pass? Is it something that caters to you as a traveler? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the pass? Apart from posting it below, you may also send it via e-mail contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Don’t forget to check out my previous posts about Paris – N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2], N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5], N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog & Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District.

Thank you for joining me in today’s review. Please watch out for more Europe posts in the coming weeks. Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog

Previously, I shared with you what my friends and I did in Paris for 5 days. I posted 2 blogs (Days 1 and 2, Days 3-5) giving details about our trips to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Saint-Chapelle, Basilica of Sacré Coeur and all other Parisian landmarks. I also mentioned in my Days 3-5 blog that we took a day trip to Versailles to check out Château de Versailles. Allow me to share with you photos and some details about this day trip.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 7^th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG, our hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels and our itinerary during our 5 days around Paris – Days 1-2 and Days 3-5.

Château de Versailles

Château de Versailles or The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence located about 20 kilometers away from Paris. It started out as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII and was then expanded by King Louis XIV into a grand palace and estate. With the hopes of controlling his power and reign over Paris, King Louis XIV transferred the seat of his government and court to Versailles. That time, the Palace was the capital of France. The French Revolution prompted the royal family to return to Paris in 1789 bringing the country’s capital back to Paris.

The Palace of Versailles now sits as a popular museum visited by millions of tourists per year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its contributions to French history. The 800-hectare estate is divided into sections: The Palace, The Gardens, The Estate of Trianon, The Park, The Royal Tennis Court, The Great and The Small Stables.

Transportation

Most people visit Château de Versailles on a guided tour. My friend and I decided to visit it on our own. From Anvers Station, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) to Place de Clichy Station, changed to Metro Line 13 (Light Blue Line) to Invalides Station. From there, we transferred to the RER C (Yellow) Service to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station.

The train journey including transfers took about an hour but the train ride from Invalides Station to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station only took half an hour. From the station, we walked for less than a kilometer (about 10 minutes) to the Palace Gate. We took the same way back to Paris after the visit to the estate.

I am very sorry I don’t have the exact cost as to how much the train rides cost. The trains, including the RER C (Yellow) service is included in the Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass we availed. Please note that there are other options to the palace from the Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite Stations.

Opening Times

The Palace opens every day except Mondays at 9:00am and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Estate of Trianon opens every day except Mondays at 12:00 pm and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Palace Gardens and The Park open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm except during extreme weather conditions like strong winds and snow.

Ticket PRICES

The Palace of Versailles offers a variety of tickets depending on what the visitor wants to experience. The Palace-only ticket costs €19,50 per person; it guarantees access to the Palace on a timed entry, to the temporary exhibitions, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Estate of Trianon-only ticket costs €12 per person. This ticket guarantees access to the Trianon Estate from 12:30pm, to the temporary exhibitions within the estate, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Palace also offers a combination ticket for both the Palace and The Trianon Estate. This combination ticket called Passport costs €21,50 per person. There are still other ticket options; feel free to check these in the Palace website.

I mentioned in the Paris Days 1-2 and 3-5 blog posts that my friend and I availed of the Paris Museum Pass. This museum pass includes Château de Versailles in the list of museums and sites that can be visited with the pass. My friend and I used our Paris Museum Pass to enter both the Palace and the Trianon Estate. We did not pay anything to enter these sites.

Note: Château de Versailles requires timed entry bookings even for Paris Museum Pass holders. We booked our schedules through the Palace website a few weeks before our intended visit. We got the 9:00 morning schedule for the Palace and the 12:00 noon schedule for the Trianon Estate. The staff only scanned our Paris Museum Pass at the entrance.

Château de Versailles Photos

THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES

The Grand Commun

The Royal Chapel

The Hall of Mirrors

The Royal Apartments

THE GARDENS

THE ESTATE OF TRIANON

The Grand Trianon

The Petit Trianon

The French Gardens of The Petit Trianon

The English Gardens

Beautiful place, right? No wonder millions of people visit the estate yearly. Château de Versailles is a day trip worth taking outside Paris!

The Hall of Mirrors was charming without other tourists / visitors. It felt surreal seeing it in person. I also liked The Petit Trianon and The English Gardens. Which area of Château de Versailles is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Château de Versailles? You may post them in the comments below or you may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you enjoyed browsing through today’s photoblog. Thank you for checking up to this part. In case you missed it, my friends and I also went around Paris, France for 5 days. Feel free to check my posts about this postcard-perfect city – Days 1 and 2 + Days 3 to 5. Everything about our 3.5-week trip to Euro can be found under the N9 in Europe category. Stay tuned for more posts about this trip!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. Catch you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5]

Last time, I shared with you what kept us busy on our first 2 days in the beautiful city of Paris. We started our trip with a dinner meal at Carette, a visit to Place du Trocadéro, Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. We spent our second day knowing more about Paris, France and its history. We took the walking tour with SANDEMANs New Europe; we also visited Saint-Chapelle, Musée du Louvre and Musée d’Orsay.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 6^th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG, our hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels and our itinerary during our first 2 days around Paris.

Today, I will share with you what my friend and I did for 3 more days in the postcard-perfect city of Paris, France. Allow me to share again the details about our accommodation, public transportation pass and museum pass.

Accommodation

Given the high accommodation rates around the city, my friend and I decided to stay in Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels. We booked 2 beds in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room for 4 nights and paid €132 each including city tax. I wrote about the hostel, its amenities and our experience in the latest hostel of the day feature. Check it out here.

Going Around Paris

We opted for the Navigo Découverte Travel Card in our 5-day trip around Paris. We bought the week-long unlimited travel ticket for around €35 (including the card itself) and we had access to all RER trains, bus lines and city metro lines (in all of Paris’ 5 fare zones) until Sunday 23:59 that week. The ticket also included train lines to Paris Disneyland, Château de Versailles and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Tip: Please take note that the train card requires a photo of the card holder. You may bring your own photo or you can use the photo booths located near the train offices in CDG Airport and major train stations.

Tip 2: The Navigo travel card is valid for 10 years. You can use it again in your next trips to Paris. Also, the weekly pass validity starts 00:01 every Monday and ends 23:59 every Sunday. It is not advisable to get the weekly pass if you are arriving Paris on a Thursday or Friday.

Paris Museum Pass

We bought the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass for €52 (now €55). This pass allowed us fast-track entry to known museums and sites within Paris and the nearby region. Some museums and sites like Musée d’Orsay and Pantheon do not require reservations. The more famous ones like Musée du Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles require reservations prior entry.

Tip: Plan your itinerary well. The pass period count starts when the museum pass is scanned in the first museum or site.

Places Visited in Paris – Days 3, 4 & 5

We went around Paris for 5 days (or 96 full hours) and went to a lot of famous spots. We did not aim to see all places and decided to take our time in every spot. The only planned itinerary we had was when we used the Paris Museum Pass for 48 hours. Allow me to share with you days 3, 4 and 5 of our 5-day chill itinerary around Paris.

Day 3 – Versailles Day Trip, Pantheon & Jardin de la Tour Eiffel

Day 3 started very early with a day trip to Versailles. We visited the Château de Versailles; walked around The Palace of Versailles and The Estate of Trianon. I will walk about this day trip in a separate blog post – please look forward to it.

We dropped by KFC Versailles for late lunch and then headed back to Paris. We were supposed to go up the Arc de Triomphe but decided to change plans while we were on the RER C train – our Navigo pass allowed it. We got off at Javel Station on RER C and transferred to Javel – André Citroën Station. We took the Metro Line 10 (Dark Orange Line) and got off at Cardinal Lemoine Station. We walked for a few minutes and made it to The Panthéon. We got in using our Paris Museum Pass.

Note: The Panthéon does not require booking for Paris Museum Pass Holders. Visitors using the pass can use the fast-track line. Regular tickets cost Є11,50 per person.

The Panthéon was initially built as a church in honor of St. Genevieve. It was commissioned by King Louis XV. After the French Revolution, the government decided to make a place of honor for those who fought during the revolution. Nowadays, it is also a burial place of prominent French writers like Victor Hugo, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Alexandre Dumas. It is also where the famous scientists Marie and Pierre Curie are buried.

After The Panthéon, we walked to Place de l’Estrapade to check out the Emily in Paris shooting locations. We saw Emily’s apartment, the small park in front of it, Gabriel’s restaurant and the boulangerie where Emily got her first French pastry. We, then, walked towards Jardin du Luxembourg only to find out that the park was already closed. We had no choice but to leave and head to the Eiffel Tower. We took RER B Luxembourg Station to Denfert-Rochereau Station then changed to the Metro Line 6 (Green Line) to Bir-Hakeim Station.

Note: Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night due to copyright laws.

We met with our friends again at Jardin De La Tour Eiffel before heading to Gusto Italia 218 for dinner. We had pasta and wine to celebrate our friend’s memorable trip to Europe. After dinner, we walked back to Jardin De La Tour Eiffel for more photos with the iconic landmark. We bid our goodbyes to our friend and her family and took a FreeNow ride back to our hostel.

Day 4 – Sacré Coeur, Paris Highlights & More Eiffel Tower

Our 4^th day in Paris started with a decent breakfast meal from Le Village Montmartre. After breakfast, we walked up to La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre or the Sacré Cour Basilica. We also inside the church and saw the beautiful art painted in the basilica’s dome. This basilica is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It sits on top of a Montmartre Hill and has a panoramic view of Paris and its suburbs.

Note: Entry to Sacré Cour is free of charge. Just fall in-line near the steps for a quick security check.

After Sacré Cour, we walked down the hill and went to Barbès – Rochechouart Station. We took the Metro Line 2 (Magenta Line) to Les Halles Station and walked to Palais-Royal. We checked out Domaine National du Palais-Royal and took photos in this cultural landmark. We also strolled around the nearby Jardin du Palais-Royal.

Note: Entry to Domaine National du Palais-Royal and Jardin du Palais-Royal premises is free of charge.

We had our late lunch at Burger King and continued our walk to one of the most beautiful Starbucks branches in the world – along Boulevard des Capucines. We then walked towards Academie National de Musique / Palais Garnier before heading to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. We checked out the department store’s iconic dome and Christmas tree as well as its crowded roof deck.

After the quick visit to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, we took the Metro Line 9 (Yellow Green Line) from Chaussée d’Antin — La Fayette Station to Alma-Marceau Station. We headed to Flamme de la Liberte (Liberty Flame). We also enjoyed the magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower from the banks of River Seine.

We continued our walk to Rue de Monttessuy where we found Chez Ming – a Chinese restaurant. We have been craving for rice so we decided to have Asian food for dinner. We ordered their set meal which included fried rice, fried spring rolls, sweet and sour pork, beef sauteed with garlic, dumplings and ice cream.

After dinner, we walked along Rue de l’Université to check out a famous photography spot with the Eiffel Tower. We went to Bateaux Parisiens by the River Seine and took the night river cruise. We got our ticket from Le Village Montmartre for only Є9 per person. We enjoyed the beautiful view of Paris from the upper open deck area of the boat while cruising along River Seine.

After the hour-long boat cruise, we walked back to Alma-Marceau Station and took the Metro Line 9 (Yellow Green Line), changed at Miromesnil Station and took the Metro Line 13 (Light Blue Line) to Place de Clichy Station. We walked towards the famous Le Moulin Rouge and checked out the place from the outside. We finished the day by taking the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) from Blanche Station to Anvers Station and walking back to our hostel.

Note: I am still doing research about copyright if I can post photos of Moulin Rouge.

Day 5 – Montmartre & Goodbye Paris

Our 5^th day in Paris was not that eventful. We started our day by packing our stuff and getting breakfast in the nearby French bakery – Les Fournils de France. We enjoyed their croissant, pain au chocolat and other local pastries. We also took some time to walk around the Montmartre neighborhood.

After check-out, we took an Uber ride to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Merci at au revoir, Paris!

This ends our 5 days around the postcard-perfect city of Paris. My friend and I have been to and have seen a lot but we still have not seen everything. My personal favorite is Saint-Chapelle from Day 2 – what is yours?

Which is your favorite Paris landmark or museum and why? Are you looking to visit Paris in the future? What are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Do you have questions about those mentioned above or about Paris in general? Feel free to post them as well below. You may also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will help you in any way I can.

Thank you so much for checking out today’s post about Paris, France. Please look forward to the upcoming posts about this trip. In case you missed the other posts about this trip, you can check them out under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. Catch you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.