Hello - We're planning our first trip to Paris in May - only a few days, then Normandy, then London. We plan to do a lot of walking around on our own to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomph, but would like to skip some lines to tour the Louvre, and take an excursion to Versailles. Are there tour guide companies you recommend that are good but not too pricey? We don't want or need a private tour, and the real appeal is skipping long lines. I have heard/read that Viator is not great.
Posted by
Chicago
1236 posts
Viator is an agent, a booking platform. With a bit of searching, you can find the operating agent on the Viator listing. TripAdvisor works the same way.
If no one offers you a great suggestion for a tour company, I suggest looking at listings on Viator and TripAdvisor, then booking direct with the provider.
"Skip the line" tends to be a marketing slogan. Frequently, there are lines for security and timed entries no matter what your ticket agent tells you.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5631 posts
Skip the line is just a marketing gimmick. It is just an advance purchase ticket, and the only line you skip is the one in front of the booth selling tickets. Buy a timed entry ticket in advance and you still have to go thru the security line. Depending on the crowds, there may also be a line for timed entry, Get your tickets from the official website, if all you want is to streamline your entry.
Posted by
OP
Buffalo, State, NY
3 posts
Thanks. I actually did have a great experience with "skip the line" when I toured the Vatican last fall.
Posted by
254 posts
We used Fat Tire Tours for the Eiffel Tower and the Louve in 2018. We enjoyed both. My son also used them last year for the Eiffel Tower.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10729 posts
If all you want to do is enter by a slightly shorter entrance, saving you 10-20 minutes, just buy the cheapest, least inclusive tour you can find.
Posted by
20 posts
Blue Fox Travel is fantastic!