Custom Tours of Paris
Washing fresh fruit from the market at a park fountain for a picnic beside the Seine, August 2010. (Thanks to tour client Justin Knight for the photo)
Perfect for those who know exactly what they want to see and do on their vacation, Heather’s private tours are completely customized to fit your needs and desires. Whether it’s a whirlwind walking tour of the city’s best specialty markets or a leisurely minivan excursion to family-owned Champagne estates, you get your tour exactly the way you want it.
Heather shows her guests the Paris that she knows and loves -- where real Parisians live, shop, drink and dine far from the over-priced tourist traps. Get off the beaten path and discover the hidden Paris rarely mentioned in guidebooks: scenic village streets, lively ethnic markets, authentic neighborhood bistros, forgotten monuments and charming boutiques.
At the Marché aux Puces (flea market) in St-Ouen, October 2009.
Why choose a custom tour?
Custom tours are always private, so you and your group (up to 5 people) get my complete attention from start to finish. I ask plenty of questions in the pre-trip planning stages, going over all of the options and making sure you get the most out of your time in Paris.
One of the benefits of custom tours is the flexibility: you and your group can change your plans at any moment, even mid-tour! You (or your tired feet) may decide you'd like to spend the afternoon people-watching from a sidewalk terrace café instead of visiting another museum. If we're driving through the French countryside on the way to a chateau, you can ask to stop at the charming farm along the way with the hand-painted sign advertising homemade foie gras . As your guide, I'm there to help you get what you want, not impose my own rigid agenda.
During the tour you can ask as many questions as you want. The city's rich history is always fascinating, but many of my guests also appreciate learning about modern French culture, the latest nightspots, what it's like to study or live in France , or even how to use those mystifying hand-held showers often found in Parisian hotels! As an American living in France, I'm also a bit of a cross-cultural ambassador. My guests come away with a better understanding of the real Paris, not just the postcard-perfect city seen on glossy tourism office brochures, nor the politically-skewed impression of France often portrayed in the press.
Eating the best crêpes in Paris in the gardens of the Cluny Medieval Museum, August 2010. (Thanks to tour client Justin Knight for the photo)
What kinds of things can we experience on your tours?
I can arrange everything from an introductory walking tour of the city's oldest neighborhoods to a specialized shopping tour with a chauffeured car. You can see the best of the city as a spectator, or interact with the locals. I can organize day trips to chateau gardens, medieval villages, or scenic vineyards. At night I can accompany you to the bars, clubs or concert venues that suit your mood and tastes.
Pastry class, February 2010.
I meet all of my custom tour clients at their hotel (or rental apartment) and drop them off at the location of their choosing within Paris. At the end of the tour you will get a souvenir map with your itinerary highlighted -- so you know where you’ve been! I can also provide you with dining and additional sightseeing recommendations for the rest of your trip.
Looking for some inspiration?
Click here for some of the tour themes I've done in the past.
Heather's Friends & Partners
I work with only the best guides and service providers in Paris. Ask about my recommendations for cooking classes in a Parisian home, wine tasting lessons in English, a private car and driver, museum tours with an art historian, behind-the-scenes tours of Versailles, or how to create an unforgettable setting for a Parisian marriage proposal!
Eating oysters at the market, January, 2010.
What do custom tours cost?
Prices for custom tours begin at €300 per half day (four hours) and €600 per full day (nine hours) for up to five guests. Prices include local transportation costs (metro/bus during the day, taxi in the evening), but do not include guest entrance fees to museums or monuments, nor any food or drinks purchased during the tour. If used, chauffeured car or minivan service is charged to guests at cost. Please e-mail me about fees for larger groups (eight guests maximum) and excursions outside Paris. All full-day tour clients receive a Seine River Cruise voucher, and clients who book two full days can request a Wine Tasting gift certificate.
At the open-air food market, April 2010. (Thanks to tour client Jon Rowley for the photo)
* Note: Ask about digressive rates for multiple-day tours. *
There's only one Heather, so reserve your custom tour as soon as possible!
** 10% of all 2010 tour fees go to the French food bank, Restos du Coeur **
