The tour was the perfect balance of activities and free time. Fantastic hotel with a super friendly staff. My favorite was the gathering of our group after our Fair Well Dinner, on the great lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower. We should have a monument and statue honoring Mr. Paine in Washington, D.C by 2026. Also the Orsay museum contains many fabulous paintings!". The metro made it very easy to get around! My first Rick Steves tour was excellent - all I hoped for and more. It was priceless. Paris is huge and history is everywherea week is barely enough for an introduction to its history and its present. I would highly recommend this tour to others. Daniela helped us build confidence in navigating such a big crowded city. Her insights into the artworks themselves were extraordinary. I absolutely loved Paris and the cafes, the history and museums. When I heard their daughter gasp loudly with unrestrained joy and delight after seeing a sparkling Eiffel Tower after dark, for the first time, I thought that this trip was worth every penny! Paris is a vibrant city to visit nearly year-round. Some aspects of the tour were great (e.g. Very well organized and flexible! She was a great wealth of knowledge, fostered confidence in us to explore Paris safely on our own, and got us passed super long lines and into all the major sightseeings in the blink of an eye. "Sitting in Musee de l'Orangerie in the midst of paintings of Monet's lily ponds.". "Going into Saint Chappelle was my wow moment. We previously visited Paris in 2000 and the dOrsay was closed due to a rainstorm damaged roof during that time so visiting it this time was very special. Truly a Magical city of Amour ?? Our tour guide Julie was exceptional in her breadth of knowledge, her sense of humor and patience, and her ability to get us to where we needed to go despite the pension strikes. As an aging person most of my concerns about traveling were alleviated by the general RS travel approach and specifically the kindness and competence of our guide Marie. He was very informative and funny on our walks. We learned a great deal of the French culture and history from her. We thoroughly covered Paris during our weeklong tour. Our meals together we at amazing restaurants. It was a perfect day. Guide provided good coaching on using public transportation. There was a good mix of the history, culture, and and atmosphere of Paris with plenty of time for exploration in the neighborhoods. ), Our tours are physically active! Her enthusiasm for the sights, history and culture was contagious, but best of all, Marie conveyed the Parisian spirit of savoring each experience. The guides were extremely informative and engaging. My second wow was the picnic on the last night by the Eiffel Tower. Take a guided tour of Versailles or not - Rick Steves We were there during the strikes and she was able to make quick decisions so that our trip was not affected. I actually started to cry!". My partner and I had the information and resources from Rick Steves Tours to experience fulfilling free time on our own. It was a wonderful tour of one of the world's greatest cities. Rick's online guide to Versailles. She really provided us with the ability to navigate Paris comfortably on our own. Food was excellent. Our guide Virginie was amazing . Enjoyable time. Rolinka, our tour guide, was a gem. Once we finished the palace tour, it was absolutely delightful to wander on our own through the gardens and visit the Trianon.". I thought 7 days would be too much . Well planned group activities yet free time to explore on our own in the afternoon and evenings. This was our first Rick Steves tour. My overall tour experience was very good! "Just being in Paris after all these years!!!". She is pleasant, informative and keeps to schedule. This was our second Paris tour (first was in 2005) because friends and a relative wanted us to join them. We hit everything that I had wanted to hit! Very well organized tour hitting all the highlights we wanted to see in Paris. Every king's dream, Versailles was the residence of French monarchs and the cultural heartbeat of Europe for about 100 years until the Revolution of 1789 changed all that. "Hard to narrow down--everything was very memorable. This is a moderately active tour! ", "The stained glass windows in Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny day. Our guide, Rolinka, was amazing and the experience of seeing Paris with her guidance was incredible. This experience was Incredible!!! Wonderful tour. My first wow was that everyone in the group was so friendly and eager to see and learn! 01/04/16 10:12 PM 1515 posts For only like 9 euro more you can get the guided tour, skip the line and have access to places most of the general public does not get to see. I enjoy history, and I definitely received a crash course in Frances history. Tour Questions? Another wow was the food. The detail into each day and the care our tour guide gave us was outstanding. You'll also enjoy guided neighborhood walks through the city's historic heart, as well as quieter moments to slow down and savor the city's intimate cafs, colorful markets, and joie de vivre. Sleep in Paris. "We loved our hotel (and staff) and felt very secure and at home there. Happy to report this tour was every bit the quality and value as the first. A walk around the Paris area, maybe Luxemburg Garden or Rue Cler, or a visit to the Opera Garnier would have been more fun and interesting. However, I don't spear French and I did not expect the people I met to speak English. ", "Seeing and photographing the Statue of Thomas Paine in Parc Montsouris in Paris. I loved it! The wow moments continued throughout the week-the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Montmartre, Sacre Coeur, Norte Dame, the Louvre, Versailles, the Orsay, the Rodin, Napoleons Tomb-all wow, wow, wow moments.". Thank you! Rolinka and Claire knowledgeable, professional fun , and just all around great guides. Tour itinerary well thought out & always interesting. Loved every minute of it! More Episodes 2007-2018 by Rick Steves' Europe ", This was my first Rick Steves tour and my first trip to France. Well done. You'll then have free time to wander through the expansive gardens and visit the farm animals at Marie Antoinette's hamlet, or to zip back to Paris early via one of the frequent trains. "Every day I experienced "wow" moments. No bus. Our seven day tour in Paris was just amazing! The tour guides were so genuine, helpful and educated us to be able to get around to make the most of our free time. "Saint Chapelle was beyond my expectations and the stories that go along with the history are attention grabbing". Our day at Versailles was beautiful and I appreciated being able to come back on the train on our schedule. Our guide Rolinka and all of the local guides were great. We had wonderful visits to museums and a great metro lesson. No bus. Of course, the museums and sights were out of this world. It was perfect. "A better understanding of why Paris has a cafe culture! First of all, our tour guide, Claire made our experience extra special! So helpful re: learning how to navigate the city on public transit. We did the Kings Apartments and loved it. Great tour group. I thoroughly enjoyed the week in Paris!!!! In Rick Steves' Tour: Versaillesfor less than the price of a caf au laitRick shares his candid advice on how to get the most out of a visit to Versailles, including when . She was wonderful.". And also how to allow me to continue the tour while staying in a separate room. "When the Eiffel Tower lighting happened as we cruised on the river". This tour was so unique, that I felt like I was living in Paris, not visiting Paris. I also liked how our guide, Rolinka, showed the group how to use all of the modes of transportation in navigating Paris.". "Favorite moment was the evening Seine River Cruise.". Allow two or three hours to do justice to this tour. Apply the same recommendation to the Versailles tour. It wasnt part of the tour but there was ample free time to visit. "There are too many wow moments to count! The Gardens and the fountains were beautiful.". Explore the chandeliered mansion and stroll its immense, landscaped backyard dotted with statues and fountains. The restaurants we ate at were delicious. To be inside and to be up in the rafters, and so close to the spire and flying buttresses takes your breath away. I appreciated the guides efforts to educate us about the history. I have seen it in pictures but being there was my "wow" moment.". Loved the location of our hotel. "The cruise on the Seine at night - such a wonderful and unexpected experience that I might never have chosen. This tour was our first visit to Paris and it couldnt have been more organized, time efficient, comprehensive, informational and enjoyable! I personally would have preferred more time to soak in the feel of the city and different areas and less time cramming things in, more time experiencing art or architecture or the city in my own head, a little bit less time with someone talking in my ear. We saw the fountains in the gardens dancing to Handel--unforgettable.". Hotel very nice, great staff, great amenities. On the negative side the cost of the tour was expensive given the fact that our room was the size of a postage stamp. "I loved the guided walking tours of the neighborhoods--The Marais, Montmartre, and the historic center. It was a well planned, well organized exploration of Paris! And that is exactly what we signed up for! All the major sites and attractions were covered. And I must rave about the French food and the restaurant chefs and service we enjoyed. See our FAQ | Email tour@ricksteves.com. Rick Steves Tour: Versailles (Enhanced) - Avalon Travel Knowledgeable, personable, very accommodating! We were really in Paris! The proximity of wives and lovers dismayed me. There was a concert to listen to and lots of people to watch. We learned so much about French history and culture, which is the reason we travel in the first place. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful. This was my first Rick Steves tour, but it will not be my last. Highly likely we will do more. Rolinka is a fantastic guide. "Enjoying the neighborhood around our hotel". She was also very good at staying on schedule. Your guide will lead a walking tour of the city's early history, including a pair of the world's most significant medieval Gothic churches: the resilient and legendary Notre-Dame and the exquisite Sainte-Chapelle. The chic little hotel (Londres Eiffel) was close to everything we needed and the staff was extremely helpful. The hotel was awesome and the location was excellent. Our tour guide Rebecca, was OUTSTANDING! The tour guides and the friendliness of the tour group made the Paris tour exceed all my expectations. Taught us how to use the metro, how to get around, where the best museums are, etc. I 've been wanting to do his tour for many years and I finally did it. This tour did not disappoint! Tour guide exceptional as to information on various historical sites & very personal who connected to the group. Patrick Vidal was great! I learned how to take the metro. "Lots of them but more than the places visited I came home with memories of great connections with other solo travelers, lots of laughs and memories made.". The Basilica itself was breathtaking and fun to go up into the tower and see such a beautiful, commanding view of Paris.". Getting to places on the metro was ok but trying to navigate back to the hotel on our own was confusing at times. I noticed that the fellow participants were all rich white people like myself. We liked being able to settle into our well located hotel, have daily adventures to learn about the city and history, and then have plenty of free time to explore on our own. Our time in Paris was wonderful. "The Paris tour had several WOW moments, from the Louvre tour, the guide who was exceptional & educated in the arts to just commuting daily on the trains. Places & Travel Around 1700, this massive palace of Louis XIV was the cultural heartbeat of Europe. It was fabulous! This morning we'll hop on the Mtro, then hike up Montmartre to tour the colorful neighborhood that was the haunt of artistic geniuses a century ago including Van Gogh, Picasso, and Renoir and generations of hopeful artists since. I would say Versailles was my most favorite, especially as we all remarked at how "tacky" the Trianon was compared to Versailles. We are proficient European travelers and have traveled throughout Europe on our own and with tour groups, and found the price of the tour to not correlate with the value received (hotel, length of daily tour, sites included). The tour is a great blend of organized activities and free time to explore Paris on your own. The pace of the tour was well-timed and the group dinners were delightful. Wonderful. was fabulous! Rick Steves. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. There's nothing like walking around different parts of the city and having their unique history come alive with an awesome guide.". The group size seemed manageable as well. Loved the guides.They were friendly, informative, accessible and patient, especially Claire.The staff at the bed and breakfast were great, as was the location of the b and b, since it was in a great neighborhood with lots of dining choices. I learned so much from them! There was nothing that didnt exceed my expectations, "The beautiful night boat ride right at dusk on the Seine was WOW". Travel Bite: Versailles, France - Rick Steves' Travel Blog / Blog March 31, 2016 by Travel Bite: Versailles, France From time to time we share a random video clip to fuel your travel dreams. "The museums were wonderful but probably my favorite moment or day was the exploration of the Montmartre district. "The guided tour of the Orsay Museum with Joelle (?) Excellent accommodations with outstanding location and service. I loved the comfort that I felt on the metro after being taught how to use it by Rolinka. The sights selected for the tour gave us a superb diversity of Paris in a very short time. Virginie secured that reservation for us as well. Marie, our guide, and Gregoir, the assistant took very good care of us. Incredible opportunity to experience Paris and environs up close and personal. We had such a great group that it was easy to enjoy each day. Afternoon: Tour the Louvre. The sights we saw were great and hit the list of "must do's" so that was really good and the guides at the various locations (especially the D'Orsay museum) were really good. On our Best of Paris in 7 Days tour among other things you'll need to happily. Our local guide made it much more informative. "The last day of the tour was my birthday. France: Paris Audio Walking Tours | Rick Steves' Europe Wonderful. "Hands down - Versailles, especially Marie Antoinette's charming hamlet. Have been to France several times but always avoided Versailles because of horror stories of the crowds. The hotel was lovely and situated in a very good area. I am also very social and I really enjoyed meeting and traveling with "like minded people." "This is not really a singular "wow" moment, but I was very impressed by our guide's ability to switch up the schedule and manage to get us to everything originally planned for the tour despite French strikes and demonstrations.".