Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Local Guides
For many, Paris merits hiring a Parisian as a personal guide. Arnaud Servignat is an ex-
cellent licensed guide (€190/half-day, also does car tours of the countryside around Paris for
a little more, mobile 06 68 80 29 05, www.french-guide.com , arnotour@me.com ) . Thierry
Gauduchon is a terrific guide well worth his fee (€200/half-day, €400/day, tel. 01 56 98 10
82, mobile 06 19 07 30 77, tgauduchon@aol.com ). Elisabeth Van Hest is another likable
and capable guide (€190/half-day, tel. 01 43 41 47 31, elisa.guide@gmail.com ) .
Food Tours
Friendly Canadian Rosa Jackson designs personalized “Edible Paris” itineraries based on
your interests and three-hour “food-guru” tours of Paris led by her or one of her two col-
leagues (unguided itineraries from €125, €300 guided tours for up to 3, mobile 06 81 67 41
22, www.edible-paris.com , rosa@rosajackson.com ).
By Bike, Segway, or Pedicab
A bike tour is a fun way to see Paris. Two companies—Bike About Tours and Fat Tire Bike
Tours—offer tours, sell bottled water and bike maps of Paris, and give advice on cycling
routes in the city. Their tour routes cover different areas of the city, so avid cyclists could do
both without much repetition.
Bike About Tours
Run by Christian (American) and Paul (New Zealander), this company offers easygoing
tourswithafocusontheeasternhalfofthecity.Theirfour-hourtoursrundailyyear-roundat
10:00 (also at 15:00 June-Sept). You'll meet at the statue of Charlemagne in front of Notre-
Dame,thenwalktothenearbyrentalofficetogetbikes.Thetourincludesagoodback-street
visit of the Marais, Rive Gauche outdoor sculpture park, Ile de la Cité, heart of the Latin
Quarter (with a lunch break), Louvre, Les Halles, and Pompidou Center. Group tours have a
12-person maximum—reserve online to guarantee a spot, or show up and take your chances
(€30,askaboutdiscountwiththisbook,maximum2discountsperbook,15percentdiscount
for families, includes helmets upon request, private tours available, see listing on here for
contact info).
Fat Tire Bike Tours
A hardworking gang of young anglophone expats runs an extensive program of bike, Seg-
way, and walking tours (see Classic Walks listing, earlier). Their high-energy guides run
four-hour bike tours of Paris, by day and by night (adults-€30, kids-€28, show this topic and
ask for a discount, maximum 2 discounts per book, reservations not necessary—just show
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