Anyone used Michael Osman as a tour guide lately?
 

I'm helping my sis-in-law find a tour guide for a one day crash course in Paris while on a business trip. Michael has some great reviews but nothing recent. Has anoyone used him lately?

The last time we've toured with Michael was in September. We enjoyed our days with him and Scott as much as ever.

They are both extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and an incredible value. We plan to use them again in May....and I've been to Paris at least 20 times. They can always show us places we haven't seen or give us more insight into some we've seen before.

Sounds like that's a yes! Thanks Judy. Does he still have the same contact [email protected]?

I believe it's parisfind....no s.

missed MO on our last trip but my friend who was there a few weeks ahead of us used him for about the 12th tme. He is a treasure!

yes it is [email protected] , Michael does a great one day crash course tour. My guess is he is very busy this week and next so you may not hear from him right away. Also, if he is already booked the day she wants and he suggests his partner Scott, do not hesitate to say "yes"... he too is a treasure!

Are his rates a fixed price? Last I remember seeing it was ~200E for the day.

How do you taylor the tour, does he have a set group, or do you iterate with him?

I assume also add lunch to the cost.

He is slow answering emails so try to contact him on Facebook.

I though the rate quoted for Michael seemed high, so just checked, his rate is EU 125 plus expenses (museum,transit, food fees).....less than half of most private guides.

Has he got a professional license?

It appears that I may meeting him next week at a cocktail party, so I may try to obtain useful information. Then again, I may refuse to talk to him. Who knows? :-)

(He is probably reading this so I am already in trouble.)

kerouac, you would enjoy meeting Michael!

That's what I am being told. :-/

A private tour guide for 125E a day seems very reasonable to me.

And it isn't "per person". Michael gives you more than your money's worth.
Kerouac, you really WILL enjoy Michael. Now, I may not be able to assure Micheal of that!! LOL No, I'm sure it would be mutual.

Michael is a terrific guide and a joy to spend time with. For his cost you can have him from early morning until late night, if you wish. He wears us out by around 4:00, but he'd keep going if we would :) He has his own metro/bus pass, likes to use buses to get around, but you'll pay entrance fees and lunch for him. He's not at all extravagant, so don't expect him to take advantage at lunch, for example. He always makes great choices.

My personal favorite: Pare Lachaise Cemetery. Like me, Michael loves cemeteries and PL is, IMO, a treasure. There is so much special to see and I've tried on my own and missed much. Michael knows it (and all the others) like the back of his hand.

If Michael is booked and he offers his partner, Scott, you can be sure of getting the same entertaining and knowledgeable guide.

kerouac, tell Michael I said hello and sorry he didn't get back to me for dinner at the apartment in Paris.

MIchael is a flat rate no matter how many in your group. ANd he will wear you out and still be redy with moe plaves if your feet can take it!

cigale, how can you contact him on facebook? Do you have to friend him first or is there a page? I'm not having much luck.

I think you must befriend him /

Toucan2 - I will be with Michael and Scott Saturday night, I can give him a message if you wish.

Toucon2,

http://www.facebook.com/cigalechanta#!/michael.s.osman

Thank you you seafox and cigalechanta! I have been offline a few days.

Seafox, I just wanted to contact them about availability week of March 10-17. I hope you have a great time with them Saturday.

Thanks for the facebook link cigalechanta!

Toucan2 We missed him last night - he has a bad cold, but we plan on connecting later in the week. I'll mention your inquiry

Tell him Gretchen says hello!!

*jealous*. Love Michael and Scott.

Thanks seafox. I'm back in town now and will start working on more Paris plans this weekend and will probably email him then.

We think Michael is a great guide and hope to see him again in the future. He has shown most of our family around Paris. Seafox, please give Michael regards from Mark and Kay in Florida...

Michael and Scott say "Hi" to everyone!

I've just sent off an email, wish me luck :-)

He's available! yay! To confirm what someone said above, it is 125 euros for the day, which I think is quite reasonable. I'm looking forward to meeting him (or Scott) and spending a day.

Just a side note on his rate, fees associated with entrances and lunch etc. are not included in the 125... not to worry though he strives to find a good deal at all times...unless of course you want to take him to Jules Verne....LOL

LOL seafox!

Yes, I knew that, I should have also mentioned.

You are sure to have a wonderful day with Michael, Toucan.

I wonder, would it be rude to "friend him" on Facebook? I do not know him, and it looks like a personal Facebook page, not a business page..

He's also on linkedin.
Hi to Michael, scott, seafox

Jinky, perhaps rather than friending him, you could just message him first through fb? That way you can let him know you're trying to contact him about availability or tour questions, and he has the option of replying or suggesting another avenue of communication. If it's a personal page and not a business one that can be "liked", that's what I would suggest. Hope you reach him!

We had friends who booked him for two days over the holidays and a business associate who used him for a day a month or two earlier. They all had a great experience.

((H))

Thanks! I already emailed him at his aol address, so we'll see what happens with that first.

We will be there for 8 days in April and hope he is not booked already.

I figured this thread deserved a bump anyhow, as there weren't any current posts about him - and I am curious to hear more about his tours.

I have recommended him on a number of recent threads. He really doesn't have "tours", but listens to what you want to do and then arranges a "tour" according to that. I hope you will engage him for a museum day. He took us to the Louvre (short by our request but EXCELLENT) and then the Orsay.