Private Guided tours/Private guide in Paris
May 19th, 2003, 08:06 AM
#42
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We found a great tour company called Paris Photo Tours which is lead by two Americans. They do photo tours but also any other kind of tour you might want. They were lots of fun, very knowledgable, and we saw much more with a tour guide than we would have on our own. Try them. They are really great. web site is www.parisphototous.com. Dianne
May 20th, 2003, 01:43 PM
#43
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Domen,I'm glad to hear about your very positive experience with Michael. How many days did you spend with him and what did you see? I have a day booked with him but, other than the Louvre, I am unsure of how to use the rest of the day. He's made suggestions but it's hard to choose. It seems like he would be wonderful showing us just about anything.
May 21st, 2003, 12:25 PM
#44
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Goin to Paris next week and would like to go to the Louvre - should we make reservations here in the US before going? Or can we make them thru the hotel? We would also like a 1/2 guided day tour in Paris - any suggestions.thanks
May 22nd, 2003, 04:34 PM
#45
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Does someone have the website for Michael Osman? He sounds great.
Does anyone know if he does tours outside of Paris? We are looking for a guided tour of the Normandy Beaches from LeHavre, where our cruise ship stops.
Thanks for any help.
Sylvia
Does anyone know if he does tours outside of Paris? We are looking for a guided tour of the Normandy Beaches from LeHavre, where our cruise ship stops.
Thanks for any help.
Sylvia
May 26th, 2003, 01:36 PM
#46
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Dear Happy:
Just noticed your post. Sorry I haven't been checking the boards much since returning from our trip.
Since we planned our trip in a very short time, we ended up depending a good deal on Michael's knowladge of Paris. We have been talking a good deal about the things that he showed us in the city, and the vast amount that we learned from him. It's been great looking over our photos at how much we saw of Paris.
We don't know much about art so all that Michael told us as we strolled the museums or churches helped make us understand much more. He took us to one church that had a paintings in a chapel there. It's the work of a famous French artist. I don't think that we would have ever even looked at this, but it's something that sticks in my mind today. We saw the same artist's work in the Louvre.
We used Michael's services for three days. We started with just two and then decided to add the third. We had become a bit lazy about wanting to find our own way. There was a day that Michael took us around Paris to a variety of neighborhoods. We took city buses, which was fun. My wife did ask a few shopping questions, and Michael had the right answers to them. He also showed us a few special Paris treats.
Just noticed your post. Sorry I haven't been checking the boards much since returning from our trip.
Since we planned our trip in a very short time, we ended up depending a good deal on Michael's knowladge of Paris. We have been talking a good deal about the things that he showed us in the city, and the vast amount that we learned from him. It's been great looking over our photos at how much we saw of Paris.
We don't know much about art so all that Michael told us as we strolled the museums or churches helped make us understand much more. He took us to one church that had a paintings in a chapel there. It's the work of a famous French artist. I don't think that we would have ever even looked at this, but it's something that sticks in my mind today. We saw the same artist's work in the Louvre.
We used Michael's services for three days. We started with just two and then decided to add the third. We had become a bit lazy about wanting to find our own way. There was a day that Michael took us around Paris to a variety of neighborhoods. We took city buses, which was fun. My wife did ask a few shopping questions, and Michael had the right answers to them. He also showed us a few special Paris treats.
May 26th, 2003, 01:44 PM
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Jun 1st, 2003, 01:59 PM
#48
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These recommendations for Michael sound great. His web page has some good ideas that might interest an 11 year old. Has anyone used his services with a kid along for the tour? I'm wondering how interesting he might make a visit to the Louvre. I sounds like he would have a decent amount of interesting things to share with us. I'm again wondering if it would be enough to entertain my 11 year old. Any thoughts on his dealing with children?
Thank you,
Anna
Thank you,
Anna
Jun 6th, 2003, 09:53 AM
#49
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I was looking for some resent experiences that anyone may have had using Michael's expertise in Paris. My thanks to the posters here for suggesting the idea of a guide, and for those of you that have written to me with your suggestions. If you like, please just write to me directly with any other travel comments or suggestions.
Many thanks,
Anna
Many thanks,
Anna
Jun 14th, 2003, 01:45 PM
#50
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I wanted to get back here sooner to post a proper trip report. Just haven't had the chance. That will have to wait for now. What I wanted to do is thank everyone that posted such positive information about Michael the Paris tour guide. He was the best! He was possibly the highlight of our trip. We saw so much of Paris with his help. We saw things and places we are sure we would have never seen without him. He had an answer for every question we asked no matter how silly.
Since I started this post I wanted to return to post my highest recommendations for Michael's great service. He's a good guy. Contact him if you need any help in Paris. You will see and do more there than you ever thought possible.
Thanks to the original posters that helped me find him and other helpful information on this travel talk post.
Paris was great!!!
I hope to be back here soon once I have more time, and my notes on our trip get organized.
Paul
Since I started this post I wanted to return to post my highest recommendations for Michael's great service. He's a good guy. Contact him if you need any help in Paris. You will see and do more there than you ever thought possible.
Thanks to the original posters that helped me find him and other helpful information on this travel talk post.
Paris was great!!!
I hope to be back here soon once I have more time, and my notes on our trip get organized.
Paul
Jun 15th, 2003, 02:34 PM
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We contacted Michael for a visit to Paris in summer 2002; we were traveling with 2 kids ages 10 and 12 at the time. Michael was not available the one day we had but suggested his friend Scott Emerson. IT WAS A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE!!! In spite of the fact that my husband and I had been to Paris several times before, our children had not. They did so much more at Scott's direction than they would ever have been willing to do for mom and dad. He really streamlined the Louvre for us. I met with him at 8:15AM before the family came down to the lobby and said "this is what I want them to see". He came up with the game plan. It included shopping for French perfume for my daughter! What a bargain, too. Would do it again in a heartbeat.
Jun 22nd, 2003, 10:40 AM
#53
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I've been looking over the Rick Steve's site (just discovered the Fodors forum) and I think that this same guide is recommended by some travelers there at their boards. Would anyone know if he is the same person?
Tim
Tim
Jul 4th, 2003, 12:54 PM
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Dear Parispic:
I'm very happy to tell you that my wife and I used the services of Michael while we were in Paris in May. He was exactly what we needed to help us to see all that we wanted and much more. We found his name posted here at Fodors so I would not be at all surprised if he is also recommended at other sites.
I've been wanting to post a report on the great experiences we had while we were in Paris in May. Michael really helped to make our trip very special. My wife was very happy to have him to show us the works of art at the Louvre, the d Orsay, the Rodin, and the Modern Center Pompidou. He made each period of art make better sense to both of us. My wife is a budding artist and Michael's insights were enlightening. He is an artist. I wasn't sure I would understand anything, but he made art for me at least, not seem so intimidating. Just the size of the Louvre is scary enough. He knew his way around that place like he lived there. My wife asked to see a favorite work and he took us right to the painting. We certainly learned a great deal about art and Paris history with Michael's help.
The French were all very kind and gracious. None of the bad things we heard were even thought about once we were in Paris. There was nothing to make us feel in any way uncomfortable. We were welcomed at every place we went.
I still haven't gone through all of our photos. We saw so much while in Paris.
We didn't think we would want to use a guide but were very happy that we did. I think if you were considering using the services of anyone you should look up Michael. His price is also very affordable.
I will post a full report here soon so that I can return the help left by others.
The Fodors forum is great and it helped make our trip a special one.
Paul
I'm very happy to tell you that my wife and I used the services of Michael while we were in Paris in May. He was exactly what we needed to help us to see all that we wanted and much more. We found his name posted here at Fodors so I would not be at all surprised if he is also recommended at other sites.
I've been wanting to post a report on the great experiences we had while we were in Paris in May. Michael really helped to make our trip very special. My wife was very happy to have him to show us the works of art at the Louvre, the d Orsay, the Rodin, and the Modern Center Pompidou. He made each period of art make better sense to both of us. My wife is a budding artist and Michael's insights were enlightening. He is an artist. I wasn't sure I would understand anything, but he made art for me at least, not seem so intimidating. Just the size of the Louvre is scary enough. He knew his way around that place like he lived there. My wife asked to see a favorite work and he took us right to the painting. We certainly learned a great deal about art and Paris history with Michael's help.
The French were all very kind and gracious. None of the bad things we heard were even thought about once we were in Paris. There was nothing to make us feel in any way uncomfortable. We were welcomed at every place we went.
I still haven't gone through all of our photos. We saw so much while in Paris.
We didn't think we would want to use a guide but were very happy that we did. I think if you were considering using the services of anyone you should look up Michael. His price is also very affordable.
I will post a full report here soon so that I can return the help left by others.
The Fodors forum is great and it helped make our trip a special one.
Paul
Jul 12th, 2003, 02:05 PM
#56
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Dear Tim:
I made contact with Michael this week, but found him through another site. He seems very busy. It is tourist season in Paris I would think. His letters to me were very helpful on a few points. I think that my family will be using his services during our trip. From these posts I'm feeling lucky to have gotten any time with him.
Sal
I made contact with Michael this week, but found him through another site. He seems very busy. It is tourist season in Paris I would think. His letters to me were very helpful on a few points. I think that my family will be using his services during our trip. From these posts I'm feeling lucky to have gotten any time with him.
Sal
Jul 26th, 2003, 11:44 AM
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We used Michael's expertise in June, and I don't remember him mentioning going out of the city. I would write and ask him...he just might do it. He is a great guide! I mentioned him in my trip report, "Home from France... tres jolie!!"
