|
|
Post by GitteK on Oct 15, 2007 11:29:29 GMT -5
This is a guide recommended by (among others) our own Luckyluc and Reverend Truffaut himself.  Vincent Delaveau arranges exclusive walks and visits to places that are normally closed (e.g. Hôtel de Ville, Le Sénat and in this December: the newly restorated Hôtel de Lauzun on Île St.Louis, which I would break a leg to be allowed to see on the inside !). His tours are in French only, but you do get an opportunity to see new exciting locations !  www.lavoixdeslieux.fr/pages/accueilpag.html |
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Oct 15, 2007 12:04:47 GMT -5
|
|
dep0515
Full Member
Next time I'm hiding in your suitcase.
Posts: 205
|
Post by dep0515 on Oct 18, 2007 9:41:49 GMT -5
I will be posting about this on my trip report, but wanted to add that we had a FABULOUS private walk with a lovely, knowledgeable lady named Barbara from ParisTalks.com. She used to be part of another "tour" company....I think it was Paris Photo Tours. I actually got her name and a recommendation a while ago from TA. She is an American that has lived in Paris since 1991. She allowed my mom and I to completely customize our tour and was so wonderful and personable. When we left her at the end of our tour, it was like we were leaving an old friend. I thought her price (250 euros for six hours) was VERY reasonable. She knows a lot of the people in different neighborhoods (we were in St. Germain) and we were able to do a lot of "insider" things that other people are not able to do in the shops. I cannot recommend her enough, especially for first time visitors. Her website is www.paristalks.com. She is really a wonderful, intelligent person. She is really into history and gives great background information on everything. I hope you will give her a try! |
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Oct 18, 2007 10:32:04 GMT -5
Darcy and I both love to tour with Michael Osman, even though we've both been to Paris a lot. He takes great personal care of his clients, picks you up around 9 or whenever you want and will spend 8,9, 10 hours with you whatever you want. He's an American , has lived in Paris for years, an artist, graduated from that famous art school in Philadelphia,and is very personable and caring. He was charging 75 Euro for the day but it may have gone up to 100/day and it doesn't matter if there are 2 people or 10! If he's not available , he can get his partner, Scott, to take you around. Scott is an opera singer and is often on tour though.
We both consider him a personal friend. His only problem is he's almost always booked solid so you have to plan really far in advance. I'll let Darcy tell you how kind he was to her.
|
|
|
|
Post by joan1 on Oct 19, 2007 3:42:36 GMT -5
Gulp, Dep I looked this post up special as I was interested in the name of your walk guide, going next year with my daughter, so I thought I could get something customized for a young girl( she will be barely twelve), but TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY EUROS,, she had better walk on water for that price. LOL
I am glad you found it a good investment though, and who knows, perhaps I will either win the lottery, or, just keep going back to Paris enough times I can hire myself out for half that price and pay for more trips, LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by GitteK on Oct 19, 2007 3:45:23 GMT -5
>>will spend 8,9, 10 hours with you whatever you want<< demarais, does that mean one can have him do WHATEVER one wants...... for 10 hours !!??     Wauw ! Now THAT would be the best 100 € spent in Paris ! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Oct 19, 2007 3:48:04 GMT -5
Gitte - Why don't you give it a try and then report back to us? ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Oct 19, 2007 3:57:51 GMT -5
Gitte, maybe you should have a look at the guy first |
|
|
|
Post by GitteK on Oct 19, 2007 4:00:10 GMT -5
 Well, he is not a cute as my William, obviously - and he does need a shave and a haircut, BUT still...... I've seen worse..... |
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Oct 19, 2007 4:24:23 GMT -5
So have I, Gitte . GO FOR IT  !!! |
|
|
|
Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Oct 19, 2007 8:48:12 GMT -5
Demarais - this may be somewhere else on the forum, but would you mind posting (either a new one, or a modification to the one above) a link to Michael? Even if he has raised his prices a bit, that sounds very reasonable (and Dep - I would recommend Barbara to someone who I knew could afford it, given your glowing review, but as Joan notes, not everyone could do that  ). |
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Oct 19, 2007 10:01:38 GMT -5
Becky,
Michael's website is
[ftp]http://www.geocities.com/parisfinder/index.html[/ftp]
He's sometimes a bit slow on answering emails if he's been out late with a group. If he is not available , Scott might be...and you wouldn't be disappointed in him either.
|
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Oct 19, 2007 10:37:31 GMT -5
Go for it, Gitte...Remember: What happens in Paris STAYS in Paris |
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Oct 19, 2007 11:03:28 GMT -5
Amen to that Happy!! If only it were true.......  |
|
|
|
Post by Darcy on Oct 19, 2007 11:32:25 GMT -5
You will LOVE Michael! I have 'walked' with him about 6 or 8 times over the years. I feel that I know Paris well, but sometimes it's nice to just be lazy and let someone else take the lead.
As demarais said, you can suggest places that you would like to visit and Michael will add to that or you can leave it up to him. You will not be disappointed. Your group will be you (and your travel companions) and Michael. No one else. His fee is for the day, usually 9am to 6pm, for your group, not per person. You will pay for his lunch and for his admission to places not covered by his passes. He pays for his own transportation, usually by bus.
His daily fee has been €75 for a long time, so please don't quote this as he may have raised it. I always tip him €25.
As demarais said, Michael was very kind to me in May. It was my first solo trip and it was my best trip except for eating dinner alone. I think Michael took pity on me, as he invited me to share dinner with him and Scott at their apt on three evenings!
Gitte, that's a good picture of Michael but it's a few years old. His hair is much longer now. ;D So much for a haircut.
And please be patient when you email him. He's a one man operation so it may take awhile to hear fom him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Oct 19, 2007 11:35:37 GMT -5
Hmmmm.............Very interesting things have been going on on the forum during the past 24 hours: Happy is getting hooked up with Sarko, and Gitte with this Michael guy.  |
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Oct 19, 2007 11:44:10 GMT -5
I think Michael took pity on me, as he invited me to share dinner with him and Scott at their apt on three evening Did you read that Shoesy ? THEIR appartment I'm afraid that Gitte can forget about her hot love affair with Michael (and we all can forget about her juicy report too  ) |
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Oct 19, 2007 11:52:43 GMT -5
You might be right, anne, but we can't be sure. |
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Oct 19, 2007 12:55:55 GMT -5
A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do |
|
!!!
).
)
hahahha