Here is some practical information if you would like to visit Versailles, but would like to do it independently - which is cheaper, and gives you more time than an organised tour can allow.
The "Office du Tourisme et des Congres" has five locations across Paris, with the main one being in central Paris on the rue de Pyramides near the Opera.
They can sell you the Versailles ticket, valid for two years, and the train tickets, valid for a year, to get there and back.
Eighteen euros for Versailles and eight euros total for the return travel by Metro and the RER above-ground train.
(They will charge you 1.50 euros for the service, but once only, so get your Louvre and other tickets at the same time - also valid for two years.)
The train to Versailles leaves from the "Invalids" station - so take the Metro closest to your hotel down to there, stay within the station and follow the signs to the RER section and train "C" with the destination of "Versailles/Rive Gauche" - which is the last stop on this line.
Each of the two tickets, which look the same, "work" for an hour and a half from the first use - more than enough time for the journey.
Use one for the trip out and keep the other for the return trip at the end of the day. (Don't exit the station between the Metro/Paris underground and the RER above-ground or your ticket will be finished.)
Low season at the moment which means no fountain displays or flowers, but also, no queues at security or to get lunch.
Also, no crush in the corridors or the famous Hall of Mirrors.
Another plus is that it is dark early, so the lights in the Hall of Mirrors come on about 5.30pm and look wonderful if you are in the garden at the back.
Also, the gold work at the front of the Palace, and on the gates, has been restored and the flood-lighting comes on early at this time of year and is marvellous.
I would recommend taking the "Petit Train" shuttle to the Trianons as you will be doing plenty of walking anyway and this will give you more time for looking at the buildings or gardens.
This costs 7.50 euros, but is worth it to get the most out of your time.
Another plus for this time of year is that the queues for this "little train", at this time of year, are not great and hardly anyone is left waiting for the next pickup. (Keep your ticket safe as they check it each time you re-board.)
There are free toilets in the Palace in at least three locations, and also at both the Trianons.
The baguettes in the kiosks within the grounds today were fresh and a good price, plus there were tasty hot Mexican potatoes at the Grand Trianon - which is acutally outside the grounds.
(You'll need your Versailles ticket for both Trianons, and to go through another bag check, but nothing time consuming.)
The staff were very, very helpful.
I lost my husband for a couple of hours within the Palace, but a young man took me down a grand staircase not normally open to the public, handed me over to another man who handed me over to another man, who called upon a woman, who called upon another woman who then took me to another woman and they put an announcement out throughout the Palace for my husband to come to the information area, and within a few minutes he was back.
Also, the audio-guides are free and you don't need to leave any ID as security.
I hope if you want to visit this stunning place you don't feel you need to speak French, or to have a professional tour operator take you.
Once you do it like a local, you will see you can go several times throughout your stay here - and it will take several day-long visits to cover everything.
I hope you get the opportunity to see it for yourself if it is a place that interests you.
I'll try and post a few photos when I'm back home.
P.S. There are other stations where you can take the train from central Paris to Versailles of course -from Montparnasse and Saint Lazare - or Austerlitz where the "Invalids" train originates.
PP.S. When you reach the "Versailles/Rive Gauche" stop, just cross the road in front of the station and walk right, then turn left and a little way up you will see the main, front entrance of the Palace complex.
That's interesting, thanks An Ard Ri. It will be good to see the hotel develop! I can imagine that it will be expensive to stay in though... which is a shame, because I would love to.
