Definitely try to get there early. Our day got messed up because we failed at the metro we got to the souvenir shop meeting point at 9:02 and the group had already started walking. Thankfully we caught up and while the entry is a bit chaotic (this appears to be every group entry regardless of your company) we got our tickets, the guide was very knowledgeable and we were pleased with our time spent. I originally booked the tour because stand alone tickets the day we wanted at the time we wanted were sold out. I paid more than the standalone- but I got to enter when I wanted to and got some historical knowledge along with it. All in all a great experience.

We booked 9 am tour, which meant an early start but also meant we managed to avoid the queues. It was a bright and breezy April day so we picked up a beret at the souvenir store (had to be done!) where you meet the guide! Our guide was fab, good fun and knew all there was to know about the Eiffel Tower!

It was a wonderful experience. Diana, our guide, was exceptional, received us with great affection and left us enchanted with the history and beauty of the tower. She is a thousand. In the end we had a little problem, because we got a wrong ticket, which didn't give us the right to go up to the top of the tower, but they apologized and refunded the money. I highly recommend!