Pre-Booking Tour

[dep0515]

Hi everyone....my mom and I want to do the Seine cruise and Illuminations tour through Paris Vision when we are there next month (NEXT MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D) and I wanted to get your opinion on whther or not I need to book in advance.

It's a tour I'd like to do on a "good weather" night, and since weather is so unpredictable, I was wondering if I would be able to book that tour the day of or the day before.

Or, should I just book it now and take my chances?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

[dep0515]

Anyone?

Maybe this was a dumb question....sorry if it was! I'm just trying to figure out how to best plan my time...

[sistereurope]

hey Dep,
No question is a dumb question! Well, I take that back, some of them are pretty dumb...but this one isn't one of them
However, I really couldn't answer you on this one, as I've never taken that tour. I've only done the Vedettes du Pont Neuf, and for that you print off the discount coupon via the inertnet and buy your tickets when you get there. I think that GENERALLY it's always better to wait til you're in Paris to buy tickets, but perhaps someone else has info to the contrary for this particular tour...
In any event, you must be getting so excited!!!!

[luckyluc]

Like Sister say it is not a dumb question! I am not familiar at all with the Paris Vision Tour, is there a specific reason you pick that company? For the regular bateaux-mouches tour on the Seine you would be right to wait for a nice clear day or evening, so that make it impossible to buy in advance.

[dep0515]

Thanks for your thoughts, Sister. I am unbelievably excited! It seems like I can't think of anything else...I just keep staring at my itinerary and all the notes and advice I've written down!!

LuckyLuc - I picked Paris Visions because Gitte had recommended it and I have heard good things about on a couple of other forums.

I just don't know if tours in general are all booked up in advance, or if things are beginning to slow down in October. This is a tour that includes a nighttime cruise on the Seine, then a drive around the city to see everything lit up. Seems like it wouldn't be so much fun if it's raining.

I think unless I hear a strong opinion otherwise, we will just take our chances and book when we're there.

Thank you both for your responses!!!

[grunblack]

We leave in a week and a half and I have just booked the us & boat hop on hop off - I figured we can cruise on the Seine that way. The other thing I have heard (although have nothing to base it on) is that there are so many options for cruises and you may be better off waiting until you are there to choose the best one.

[dep0515]

Thanks Grunblack and Gitte for your responses. The more I think about it after reading what you wrote, I'm going to hold off on booking and see if we are happy with what we see on the hop-on, hop-off boat and bus. We were planning on doing those anyway, and I think we'll accomplish the same thing.

Thanks again to all of you for your responses!

[joan1]

I never book anything ahead. These tour companies handle thousands of tourists, there is always another tour going , or at least the next day. I also resent paying MORE for pre booking some items.
I was going to take my friend on the hop on and off bus( L"open Tour") and I am glad we did not prebook as the weather sucked when we were there so sitting on top of an open top bus in the rain would not have been fun. The hop on and off bus and boats are never " fully booked" they just keep selling tickets so don't worry. Daylong bus trips do need to be booked the day before as they leave early in the am, tours to Loire Valley Chateau, and Mont St Michel and D Day beaches etc. You still don't need to book ahead( as in before you arrive in Paris) , just a day ahead is fine.

[dep0515]

Thanks, Joan. I believe that I read somewhere that we can buy our hop-on, hop-off tickets right on the boat or bus, correct?

[joan1]

Absolutely , do check out the L'Open Tour wevb site, it will show you a map of routes and you can find stop closest to your hotel and just wait and board there and have money for ticket.

[dep0515]

Wonderful! I will check out the website right now. Thank you so much for the info.

[suzanne]

We did an illunination tour tour with Cityrama years ago. It was a gift so beggars can't be chosers right? That said, it was not IMO, all that great. The tour part I mean. Our tour ended with a dinner at the Altitude 95. the food was ok and the veiw was great. We've taken many tours with both Cityrama and parisvison and liked them all pretty well except for this one.