MademoiselleFifi

This was in today's Le Monde: http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,...-940768,0.html

Sounds interesting. Has anyone here been on one of their tours?

English page:
http://www.parisgreeter.org/indexen.html

scdreamer

Thanks for the link - I was wondering if there was such a program in paris. We used the Chicago Greeter service last summer, and found it to be wonderful. The guides they use are people who have lived in their cities for a long time, and want to share their knowledge and love of the area. I think many, if not most, are retirees. We had a great experience with the greeter who gave us an "inside" tour of Chicago. I am definitely going to look into the Paris service, as we will be there for the first time in early November.

mvor

I didn't realize that Paris is part of the Global Greeter network. I plan to use the Buenos Aires greeters service in November which I've read great things about (as well as Chicago, although I've never been able to hook with them whilst there). Thanks for the info, Fifi.

marthag

This is a wonderful service to offer visitors. I can think of two areas of Paris and Ile de France that I would love to have a local resident show me around. Thanks so much for posting this link.

ira

Thanks for the link, M.

Hi SC,

Does one take one's greeter to lunch or offer any other form of "thank you"?

scdreamer

"Does one take one's greeter to lunch or offer any other form of "thank you"?"

Haven't used Paris Greeter services, but when we used the Chicago greeter services, we were specifically told there is no "tipping" or any other kind of compensation allowed. As it turned out, I think it would have been embarrassing for all of us had we tried to offer anything (even lunch) - the greeters are more like docents than working guides.

springfling

How long are the tours? Has anyone used them recently?

We are booking a private guide, but this could be fun as well..

Robert2533

That website has been down for years. Try http://www.parisiendunjour.fr

Or post a new request and go from there.

welltraveledbrit

I'm meeting a Paris Greeter on Wednesday, so I'll let you know what it's like. They asked for a few different possible dates and as I had plenty of time here I organized it s few weeks in advance. I'm going to meet the lady in an area of the Bastille that I don't know and I'm very much looking forward to it.

MaineGG

Hope one of the Fodorites here, nukesafe, sees this thread. He wrote of his interesting experience with a greeter in this trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-amsterdam.cfm

annhig

bmk

nukesafe

Yes, I did see the thread, MaineGG. Sorry I had not seen it earlier so I could have saved the rest of you from having to wade through my long TR to find the bit about the Paris Greeter's tour. To summarize, it was simply marvelous! We lucked out i having a lovely guide who showed us around her own Belleville/Menilmontant neighborhood of Paris. Her love of the area, and her pride in sharing it with us made us realize how much the ordinary tourist misses by seeing only the usual sites.

HIGHLY recommended!

tdk320n

Thank you for this great info.
I will definitely check it out and use this year

cynthia_booker

Thanks, Nukesafe, for the recommendation. I have a trip next month and had been a little uncertain about this group, but with your endorsement, I will contact them.

welltraveledbrit

I just wanted to say I met up with a Paris Greeter this morning. Because of the snow she suggested we change our itinerary (originally in the Bastille) and we headed to the passages over by the Grand Boulevards metro. I had a wonderful morning chatting as we went. We went into a local auction house which was fascinating. I was really impressed by the generosity of spirit and the open welcome, highly recommended.

cynthia_booker

Thanks very much for the follow-up, WTB. That does sound fascinating. Another plus is the flexibility, willing to change things up due to the weather.