The trip was 14 days in Paris from 18 May to 31 May 2011. Several guides and travel services were used. Three companies in particular stand out. The fourth, though not a total failure, There are better options. First there is Sight Seekers delight - email karenrebrudel@gmail.com. Owner and guide, Karen Brudel is a treasure. This first trip to Paris used her as a resource for all kinds of info. Karen gave a sense of confidence, and a belief that I had, in her and her company, a base in Paris which I could use for tour as well as information and help if and when problems or questions arose. Both situations materialized. My wife developed an illness - not life threatening, but problematical for a busy tour schedule, and Karen pitched in with advice about pharmacies, and rearranging our tour on the fly. Karen gives a great and informative walking tour along the Seine both hilarious and informative. One of her guides Sarah was also terrific and helpful with our Metro 101 tour and our introduction to Roland Garros which we later enjoyed for two days of tennis at the terre battu. Sight Seekers delight has many options. Check out the site. Oh yes the price - very reasonable!!!!
A second private guide is Sabine Duault. Her website is www.paris-authentique@yahoo.fr. Sabine is another treasure in a sea of operators. We toured Versailles with Sabine. Very informative and pleasurable. Sabine picked us up at our hotel in Paris in a very comfortable airconditioned van . She also altered our planned tour due to physical limitations on our part. We ended our day at her home for a "light" 6 course meal with four bottles of wine. We didn't drink them all. Oh My God!!!! We had a lifetime memorable evening with Sabine and her husband, Francois, who so graciously put up with my bad French. Our wonderful dinner ended at 23:00H at which time she and Francois drove us back to our hotel in Paris since the last train had already departed. Francois was kind enough to take us on a drive around the lighted Tour Eiffle knowing that we would not have a chance to take this night tour in Paris, what a gem of a couple! Sabine's company has many tours in and outside of Paris . Prices are quite reasonable for the quality of personalized tours which she provides.
A third tour was of the Louvre Museum. this was conducted by mylouvretour.com. email address: https://www.mylouvretour.com/tours.aspx. Our guide was Catherine and the tour was for three hours. Catherine had a portable mike and communicated with us in the museum through a compact system whereby we all (17 persons) had headsets and could hear her every word regardless of the background noise from the museum crowds. The tour was based on historical themes beginning with the Egyptian Religion sun worship, mummies, and daily life. The tour then took us to collections of Greek sculpture and the art of the ideal body. Then to Roman sculpture portraying the myths followed by the medieval collection depicting religious domination in art and life followed by a more realistic Rennaissance period ending with the national period of David's portraits of Napoleon Bonapart and the develpment of a more realistic portrayal in art with a painting of ships passengers and hands adrift after their storm wrecked ship had sunk. The painting showed tragedy, hope,and a sense of impending doom. - fascinating!!!! It was a great tour for folks who find art interesting but know little of it.
The fourth tour was not completely successful. It was run by My paris Tour.com. The tour we booked was an all day introductory tour of Paris. The morning segment was excellent. The guide Isabel picked us up in a comfortable van with four other passengers. Isabel did a fine job. Showing us the left and right banks of the Seine giving much architectural and historical info. We made stops at Notre Dame, The Louvre, Eiffle Tower, and the Arche de Triomphe. Isable gave some practical info on retaurants along the Champs Elysees. We the were dropped at Batteau Parisienne, a seine river cruise with lunch (really dinner) provided. This was spectacular. The food was great, we met a very friendly couple from London, and while sipping champagne the singer on board regaled us with La Vie En Rose as we sailed by Notre Dame - couldn't have been more idyllic. The last leg of the day was a different experience. The driver picked us up at the boat and was to give us a tour of Montmartre. There were only the two of us, and although a friendly fellow, he had no interest in telling us much and was unable to answer several questions we had as we were driving to Sacre Coeur. After dropping us off at the cathedral for an hours look see he couldn't get us back to our hotel quickly enough. Thus Although I would recommend doing the three parts of that tour, do it with another company!