PARIS - France 2014 - page 215

night (Paris Authentic and 4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie). Night is best. The student-guides
are informal, speak English, and are passionate about showing you their city. Appreciate
the simplicity of the vehicle you're in. Notice the bare-bones dashboard. Ask your guide
to honk the horn, to run the silly little wipers, and to open and close the air vent— c'est
magnifique! They'll pick you up and drop you at your hotel or wherever you choose.
Paris Authentic offersmanyoptions(€45/personfor2peoplefora1-hourtour,€33/
person for 3 people; €160/couple for a 2-hour tour that includes Montmartre and a bottle
of champagne, 10 percent tip is appropriate, 23 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, mobile 06 64
50 44 19, www.parisauthentic.com , [e-mail] ).
4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie , which translates to “4 wheels under 1 umbrella,” offers
comparable tours with candy-colored cars and drivers dressed in striped shirts and berets.
They offer several options; the Essential Ride lasts 1.5 hours and costs €90 per person for
two, €60 per person if you fit three passengers, and €180 if you want the whole backseat
toyourself(tel.[phone],mobile[phone], www.4roues-sous-1parapluie.com ,
[e-mail] ).
Pedicab Tours
Experience the City of Light at an escargot's pace with your private chauffeur pedaling
a sleek, human-powered tricycle from TripUp Pedicab Tours. Call ahead, book online, or
flag one down; they usually work until about 22:00 (€40-50/hour, mobile [phone],
www.tripup.fr , [e-mail] ).
▲ Nighttime Bus Tours
Below I've listed two different night tours run by City Vision. Tickets are sold through
your hotel (no booking fee, brochures in lobby) or directly at the City Vision office at 214
Rue de Rivoli, across the street from the Tuileries Métro stop.
Thenightly Paris Illuminations tourconnectsallthegreatilluminated sightsofPar-
is with a 100-minute bus tour in 12 languages. The double-decker buses have huge win-
dows, but the most desirable front seats are sometimes reserved for customers who've
bought tickets for the overrated Moulin Rouge. Left-side seats are better. Visibility is fine
in the rain.
These tours are not for everyone. You'll stampede on with a United Nations of tour-
ists, get a set of headphones, dial up your language, and listen to a tape-recorded spiel
(whichisinteresting,butincludesanannoyinglybrightTVscreenandapitchfortheiroth-
er, more expensive excursions). Uninspired as it is, the ride provides an entertaining over-
view of the city at its floodlit and scenic best. Bring your city map to stay oriented as you
go.You'realwaysonthebus,butthedriverslowsforphotosatviewpoints(€26,kids-€16,
1.75 hours, departs from 2 Rue des Pyramides at 20:00 Nov-March, at 22:00 April-Oct,