I will be in Paris with a friend from Oct.8 -13/06. I was hoping that someone could give us some advice on what tour(s) to take while there. I do want to go see the Louvre. I was there once many years ago ... I had a fairly quick tour of it. I was hoping to find a tour or tour guide that offers a more indepth tour. Any other advice/suggestions of tours/sightseeing is welcomed. Also, is there many day tours that will pick one and return to your hotel???? We are hoping we can book the tour(s) last minute once in Paris. As we are arriving in Paris right after a coach tour through Ireland.... so we decided we are going to plan things day by day in Paris. Thanks ;)
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Hello again,
Which hotel are you staying at. The most popular bus tours compainies are Paris Visions and Cityrama. You can look for them online and read their web site.
They have there main depots near the Lourve on Rue du Rivoili, but for some tours they do hotel pick ups. If you are in the area it is easier and cheaper to just walk over to main depot.
We ( my teenage son and I ) took one bus tour, it was with Cityrama , and it was a day tour to see some Loire Valley Chateaus. It was exspensive( to me, about 147 euros) but, I must say it was a trip highlight. We saw three chateau, never waited in lines and our guide spoke very good english .The tour with ParisVision was almost identical, but cost a bit more , so I just went with cheapest. It is a long day( from early say about 6:30 till about 8:30 pm). I packed a few snacks for a %26quot; breakfast snack%26quot; onboard as most places do not serve breakfast at 6 am! And the first bus stop wasn%26#39;t till almost 9 I believe.
Many people like to do a day trip to Versailles, but, I think it is too exspensive and too easy to do on your own. We just took a train, cost us 5 euros each, and then admission, it really was easy to do. Once there you could sign up for a tour, or just rent the audio guides( which I like ).Since you are going in Oct the gardens will not be spectacular, so you will find that Versailles will be doable in a half day or so, the small town of Versailles is nice to wander in, and have lunch in town as I consider the eating venues at Versailles to be such a horrid rip off.
Giverny is also a popular day trip, and I am sure they keep the gardens nice right through Oct.
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Hello again!!!!
I wrote down the names of the tours you suggested. We will look into them. I appreciated the heads up about Versailles. I will take your advice and hop a train and have a go on my own. As this is one place my friend and I were hoping to see. Some of the tours to go there from Paris we rather pricey in my opinion. Also, it is nice to know in advance that we can get a tour ( if the price is right) upon arrival.
Did you go through the Louvre? If so... do you know if one can sign up for a last minute tour upon arrive at the Louvre? Or should I pre-book? When I was 18 years old I went through the Louvre through a European coach tour company .... too quick for my likings. I would be willing to invest some money on a quality half day tour. This is one place I really want to see again.
I am glad you stumbled upon the forums I posted... you have been very helpful :)
Thanks
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The bus type tours are not cheap, warning. I was shocked myself.
If you are willing to rent a car it can be more economical when doing the Loire chateau, and you do need a car to see them as they are of course spread out .
Yes, I have been to the Lourve, four or five times. I love it. My first time was when I was only 13! My french grandmother took me, and we had just missed an english speaking tour, so , my grandmother did the most generous thing. She hired a private english speaking guide, just for me( my grandmother spoke no english) for the day.
I have never forgotten that, it made everything come alive. The guide provided a real insight into the exhibits that seeing on my own, or even with a audio guide could have never done. It cost a ton, but it was worth it to me.
I have since gone on my own and just used the audio guides. I rather like going at my own pace and skipping the areas I don%26#39;t like so I can spend more time in other areas.It is annoying that in some areas there are no english explanations, even on the english audio guides. Of course there are exspensive books/ guides that they sell you if you wish, LOL.
I am sure you can sign up for tours as you arrive, but, you should find out the times so you don%26#39;t miss one, I am sure they are not every hour. Go on the Lourve website, they have one. I don%26#39;t know how to do links. Sorry, I am not a computer wiz at all. I just google anything I want to find out about and search through sites.
If you can afford it , I would take a tour, a group tour can%26#39;t be that exspensive.
This site (Tripadvisor) was incredibly helpful to me, and if you ask specific questions the locals and experts on this board are so helpful with exact information.
Good luck.
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Thanks kindly for all the information you have provided. You have been very helpful. I passed on to my friend the info about Versailles and going on our own. She too passing on a thank-you for the heads up.
As for the Louvre... You are very lucky to have had such a kind grandmother. That is a warm memory to have about your childhood.
I think we will simply check the times for when the tours start. We are not terrible far from the Louvre. We are staying at a hotel called the Republique. I%26#39;ve been told it has small rooms... but is in a good location for the price, is clean, and helpful staff. My friend speaks some french... me little to none. Which is too bad for my mom only spoke french until she was 6, then learned to speak english. I wish
she would have spoke it more around us as kids. Oh well.
I will let you know how the trip went when we get back....... I leave in 4 days... I am very excited!!!!
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Yes, please post a trip report!
Have fun, and remember you can always go back again so try not to over schedule yourself! Sit in a cafe and have a glass or wine or a cafe au lait and think of us all sitting on our computers in our kitchens and offices, envying you!
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