private guide in Paris

But a 8 hour layover is not an 8 hour tour. Time getting back and forth to airport,, and in time to get through security, means really you have about 3- 4 hours in Paris.

I agree, Arnaud is excellent.

I do agree that we only have have 4 hours.Im sure Arnaud is excellent but he is very expensive and we just want to do a couple specific things that we didn't get to do last time we were there so am looking for someone a bit more resonable

Hi Susan,

I have just recently read of a program called Paris Greeters, but I have not used it. It apparently is a program where local Parisiens volunteer to guide visitors on tours of Paris. It is free of charge. It has gotten some good press, but that's really all I know...

Here is their website, if you are interested:

http://www.parisiendunjour.fr/

susan,, in interest of saving time, I would do this. Take the RER into Paris, its 35 minutes,, and then you don't need to worry about traffic( whihc can make a 45 minute taxi ride well over an hour if caught at bad time) . It will cost 8.9o euro a head.

Plan on the two or three must sees, for many it would involve perhaps Notre Dame( but not going up Towers too time consuming) , seeing the Eiffel Tower( same ,, not going up)and a drive up the Champs Elysees,, around the cirlce( it is fun) and finally a view,, from the top of the Arc De Triomphe. You will get a great vantage view of Paris, plus lines there are shortest.

You could do these sites by jumping taxis,, and spend alot less then a private tour, even though it wouldn't be cheap.

I am finding private tours are way out of our budget and riding the train sounds like the best idea. Is the train available right at the airport and if so, where is it located? We have ridden the metro only in Paris and won't have any problems with it but have not done any trains. We just don't want to miss our flight out in the evening. Also, are there any problems with leaving the airport and coming back in as we don't want to be delayed in security. Neither one of us speaks any French.

Susan, if you take the RER in to Gare du Nord, the hop-on/hop-off bus stops right in front of the station. Or, you could go buy some metro/bus tickets at the metro station in the Gare du Nord, then walk outside and around to the back of the station. At the bus terminal there, take No. 42 and get off at Champs de Mars and walk a few minutes to the Tour Eiffel.

Thank you for the info. I'm sure this will be a better way to accomplish what we want.

This is exactly my question. We are flying into CGD and have a 7 hour layover. How much time should be alloted for security and customs? Does anyone know if we can store our luggage at the airport? Of course the name of a reasonable tour guide with a car.
Thanks to all who might reply.
Sheila
Riverdale, NY