Best in France Tours
 

Is anyone familiar with this company? I'm interested in possibly booking a private 1/2-day trip with them from Paris. Their rates look more reasonable than most...and their reviews on Trip Advisor are almost *too* positive. (Can you say "grain of salt"?) Thanks!

Another option seems to be Artadventures Paris. But I can't find out anything about them at all...

I'm looking for a private guided tour from Paris to Auvers-sur-Oise for my teen daughter and myself...I'd like hotel pickup and dropoff and preferably a guide that knows art history. Not looking for anything too high end. Any ideas? Thanks.

We've visited Auvers-sur-Oise.

While I'm often a huge fan of private/escorted tours for day trips from Paris (for door-to-door transportation/commentary), this is one that is SO easy, it's just not worth the extra.

You need only go to Gare St-Lazare and purchase return train tickets. There's a quick/easy change of trains in Pontoise (or you can take a bus).

Once in Auvers-Sur-Oise, it's an easy walk to the Chateau d'Auvers (or you can take a bus). There was nearly no one there when we visited - no line whatsoever for tickets.

The audio is supremely hi-tech and most comprehensive. It's infra-red and "knows" where you are!

At the tourist information office, you can pick up terrific literature and maps. All the sights are within a short walk, along with fabulous dining destinations for lunch and/or dinner.

The Best in France tour price is seriously ridiculous. And, I believe you would be quite disappointed with the value.

If you're just not that comfortable going on your own, highly recommend contacting Michael Osman ([email protected]) who will escort you, provide excellent commentary, and is otherwise totally informative and charming!

If you're looking for a private tour why not go with one of the established, well-known companies such as Paris Walks or Context. You won't have to look far for info on these folks.

adrienne, the established tours don't have this on their itinerary...will they add things, at request? I realize that the trip can be done on one's own, but since my daughter and I will be on our own that day while my husband goes to Normandy, I'd rather have a guide -- and if he or she knew art history, that would make it even better.

As far as Michael goes, I've been reading the board comments about him and the consensus seemed to be that he did only in-Paris escorting. It also seemed like he's very busy, and we'll be in Paris next month. If someone has been on a trip out of Paris with him, please let me know and I'll at least try to contact him.

Thanks, folks!

No, I've been to Auvers and Giverney with Michael. He gives wonderful tours and is very well versed in art. He's a graduate of one of the finest art schools in the US. His price is so reasonable and he will give you a FULL day, no matter how many people are on the tour.

Also we have booked him for Provins in the fall, so he definitely does out of town tours

Thanks, avalon! I've sent him off an e-mail. I hope he's not already booked (it *is* high season), or maybe if he is, there is someone else he could recommend.

If he himself is not available maybe his partner Scott will be. Scott is also a delightful young man .Maybe he'll even serenade you!

<< the established tours don't have this on their itinerary >>

You must email Paris Walks and/or Context and explain what you want to see. They do custom private tours in addition to their set walks/tours.

It's going to be expensive.

adrienne, on your suggestion, I emailed Paris Walks (I didn't e-mail Context because I had requested an answer to a question -- twice -- and they never got back to me). Paris Walks basically said: We don't have anyone available, and if we did, you couldn't afford us. ;) But I appreciate the idea.

Here's a photo report on royal and impressionist suburbs of Paris. It does not include Auvers sur Oise, but please bear with me!

I'm not good with tinyurl, so I broke the URL into two lines (the two parts should run on with no space between them):

http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...action=display

&board=france&thread=4095&page=1#79308

This photo essay caught my attention as something fun to do near Paris. The guy who made this day trip does tours and there's a link to his website. You could find out if he'd guide you to Auvers sur Oise.

He did another post on the same board about biking along the Marne. Both of these posts were such a refreshing way to get a look at the river and residential Paris. I have no experience with any guides in or near Paris, including him; I'm just mentioning it because these were two delightful (and to me, unusual) glimpses of a part of the Paris area that most visitors wouldn't see.

I'm hoping somebody will do a tour with him and report back here! Who wants to go first?

I am sure the Paris Walks response was more diplomatic than you intimate.

How do they know you can't afford their private tours? Their rates are posted on their web site. Did you request other than the stated rate?

adrienne, it's not one of their standard offerings, so there's no way to know what it might have cost. And no, I didn't state a budget or anything at all similar. On the other hand, they were probably right. :)

Parisvision, one of the big tour companies, has a combined tour of Giverny and Auvers.

http://en.parisvision.com/15-giverny-monet-home.htm

Thanks, Michel_Paris. I saw that. Unfortunately, we're trying to fill a specific day, a Saturday, because my husband is taking a trip to the Normandy Beaches that day (and we didn't want to go with him!). The Parisvision trip is on Sunday. I appreciate the idea, though.

I am sad to have failed :(
We did a day trip to Auvers on our own. It is a nice experience. We happened to go in January, so missed some of the flaura.

Hi, folks. Thanks so much for the suggestion to contact Michael Osman. He is available that day, and it sounds as if we'd have a great day with him. I'll run it past my daughter tonight and get right back to him. I'm really looking forward to this!