Has anyone done any walking tours with Paris Greeters? Also known as Paris d'un Jour? You can hook up with real Parisian tour guides (even if you're only a group of one) with your choice of language for the walking tour and they're non-profit, only accept donations. It sounds great on their website and I'm wondering if it's too good to be true?
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10609 posts
Thank you for asking this question, because I was wondering the same thing. I leave on my trip in about 5 weeks and was considering doing this. I hope you get some good information!
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1088 posts
We did a Paris Greeter walk last summer and it was one of the best things we did in Paris. The greeter picks the location he/she wants to show you, not you, so there's a fun surprise about what you'll see. Our guide met us at Bercy, the former entry point and warehouses for wine from all over France. She had prepared a portfolio full of maps and articles about the history of the area and had the walk all planned. She was friendly, very well prepared, informative and an interesting person. She was retired but her partner wasn't so she does this just to keep busy and meet people. The organization was excellent too. We received a confirmation emaill several weeks in advance with precise instructions about confirming the walk directly with our guide. Then another a few days before. Then an email from the guide with an exact meeting place and time. They don't want you to be a no-show because the guides are all volunteers. I brought a small gift (calendar w/pics of Cdn Rockies), which thrilled her bcs they had visited the area, and then submitted a review and a donation to the organization. Highly recommended.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
222 posts
Thanks for the input, Nelly...that's what I wanted to know. I'll definitey do this when I get to Paris in September.
Posted by
maplewood, new jersey, usa
818 posts
Great great day. Sarah met us at our hotel - it was our 2nd day of vacation. We took the bus over to Monmartre neighborhood where she lived and she showed us all around. We took our son on the carousel, we took her out to lunch to her favorite neighborhood haunt. After we walked under the ring road and went to the flea market. Great experience!!!!!
Posted by
Fredericksburg, TX, USA
74 posts
My husband and I had a tour with Paris Greeters in June. It was one of the best things we did. Our guide showed us through the neighborhood where she lives. She had taken time to look up some history and referred to a notebook to be sure we got correct information. We met at a metro stop and walked over 2 hours seeing things we would never have known about. It was well worth the time- we didn't know a soul in Paris and after our tour we felt like we had made a friend. Highly recommended!
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
We signed up for it last August, but unfortunately had to cancel. When we signed up we were given a choice of what neighborhood we wanted and they matched us with someone who knew that area well.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
We too did a Paris Greeters meet and it was just marvelous. The guide lived there in the Marais and it was more than we'd hoped for, all the back alleys, tourist free places, and it was better than we had imagined. We gave a donation in advance and found the tour to be priceless. Book it if you haven't already. You will find Parisians to be first class people, proud of their city, yet humble that you care enough to see beyond the tourist views of the city. It will be a special time for your family.