My wife and I will be in Paris for 3 days in early May. During that time, we want to visit Notre Dame, Versailles, Claude Monet's house and garden and do a foodie walking tour of the Latin Quarter. We would want the guide to provide private transportation and all needed tickets.
Does anyone have any recommendations?
I don't have a guide to recommend, but be aware that time at Versailles can be a whole day, or at minimum 5-6 hours. Giverny (Monet's house and gardens) is another trip outside Paris, about 1 1/2 hours away (2 1/2-3 hours round trip by car), so a solid half-day. That leaves you a day and a half to see Notre Dame, do your walking tour, and maybe something else. Just be sure you factor in enough time for getting to and from Paris for Versailles and Giverny. (Versailles is close, but not within Paris.)
Make the most of your three days!
Thanks Judy.
I have a few options to include Versailles and Monet's house, they are pretty much 10 hour tours which we are ok with. I picked the guides from toursbylocals.com who we have used in the past with success. What I really would like would be someone who has used a specific guide and recommends them rather than just picking on arbitrarily.
I am curious....does the tour say it is about ten hours total? Or ten hours from arriving at Versailles to leaving Giverny? If the former, after factoring in travel times, and waiting in the security line at Versailles, it seems to me you are getting a very limited amount of time there. Monet's house and gardens can be seen in about an hour, although somewhat rushed, if so, but two hours there would be much better. If you can visit these two places on separate days, it would be much better, as Versailles is huge. Even if you don't see a lot of the grounds, the palace can take quite some time to explore. You would not be trying to rush through Versailles (hard to do) if you allow most of the day there. Giverny would be a good half day due to the distance from Paris.
Just a thought. Of course, you must use your time in Paris in a way that best serves your wants and needs there. Whatever you decide, Paris is always wonderful! Amusez-vous bien!
Judy,
Really appreciate your great insight and something for us to think about.
Thank you
If you will be in Paris, Versailles and Monet's garden in Giverny are each one-day trips outside of Paris. That leave one day to do anything else you want to do in Paris—and that's assuming you mean three full days in Paris (i.e., four nights). If it were me, I would scale back my expectations and eliminate one or more or your must-sees. Personally, three days in Paris can be a great trip without leaving the city for Giverny or Versailles. This way you can also avoid having the bulk of your trip just sitting in a car or train getting between places.
