Biking versus Walking Tour in Paris?
Sep 14th, 2008, 11:42 AM
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Biking versus Walking Tour in Paris?
Hi-
Seems that loads of people have taken bike tours around Paris via Fat Tire or Bike About Tours? Any thoughts on taking a biking tour versus a walking tour? I'm trying to decide what might be the best experience for my g-friend and I when we head to Paris in October.
Cheers,
-Rob
Seems that loads of people have taken bike tours around Paris via Fat Tire or Bike About Tours? Any thoughts on taking a biking tour versus a walking tour? I'm trying to decide what might be the best experience for my g-friend and I when we head to Paris in October.
Cheers,
-Rob
Sep 14th, 2008, 12:11 PM
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I guess bike tours are fine, but you'll get more out of your first experience in Paris if you simply go for a walk and explore the city on your own. All you'll need is a good Paris Arrondissement guide, which you can pick up at most bookstores in the city.
Sep 14th, 2008, 05:55 PM
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I've done several walking tours - guided and self-guided - and thoroughly enjoyed them. Paris is a walking city and full of romance.
I've never done a bike tour, though/
However, we did a Segway Tour and LOVED it. It was one of the high points of our Paris experience - 10 visits, so far.
Whatever you do - enjoy the city at your own speed and with your interests in mind.
Bon voyage!
I've never done a bike tour, though/
However, we did a Segway Tour and LOVED it. It was one of the high points of our Paris experience - 10 visits, so far.
Whatever you do - enjoy the city at your own speed and with your interests in mind.
Bon voyage!
Sep 14th, 2008, 06:59 PM
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Second the segway tour. we did the evening tour and loved it. However - check on the availability in October and they may not be running then. We also walked a lot and used the (guide books) Rick Steve's walking tours, InSight Guides walking tours and Paris for Dummy's suggestions to customize what we wanted to see and the pace. each book has a different level of detail so we just combined for the best of all of them.
Sep 14th, 2008, 08:56 PM
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To the people who obviously have not done a bike tour,, it is a safe and fun way to see a lot of Paris in a short time. I am a middle aged woman who did the FT Night bike tour, it was exciting and fun, and you cover so much ground, it is a great way to get a quick overview of central Paris , and it is better then doing it by Metro as you are above ground and can see everything.
Metro is great to get from place to place.
A walking tour is also a great idea, they tend to cover a more limited area, but more indepth, and they often have " themes" ( ie, Medievel Paris, or Revolution Paris , etc) .
I suggest you do both.
We used a guide from Paris Walks( Iris) for a tour of the Lourve, she was wonderful, and even though I had been 6 times before( at least, ) I had my 12 yr old with me for her first time and I wanted her to love it.. a guide can provide amazing insights, not provided on the audio guides or brochures.. .
Metro is great to get from place to place.
A walking tour is also a great idea, they tend to cover a more limited area, but more indepth, and they often have " themes" ( ie, Medievel Paris, or Revolution Paris , etc) .
I suggest you do both.
We used a guide from Paris Walks( Iris) for a tour of the Lourve, she was wonderful, and even though I had been 6 times before( at least, ) I had my 12 yr old with me for her first time and I wanted her to love it.. a guide can provide amazing insights, not provided on the audio guides or brochures.. .
Sep 15th, 2008, 02:28 AM
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I just booked the Chocolate Tour through Paris Walks and I plan to do a few other walking tours with them in October (Marais, Paris During the Occupation, Saint Germain-des-Pres, and maybe one more). I've also booked a Fat Tire Bike Tour of Monet's Gardens at Giverny and plan on doing the night bike tour of Paris. This will be my 7th trip to Paris, and although I've seen a lot of the "tourist" sights and done a lot of walking using guide books, this is the first time I'm doing organized walking tours. Hopefully we will get to see things that we missed along the way and find out things that were not listed in the books. Is there anyone out there who has done the Chocolate Tour? It sounded different and fun, and besides, who doesn't like chocolate (even if it's not Hershey's milk chocolate)?
Sep 15th, 2008, 04:50 AM
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MobileRob:
My vote is for walking and there is an American living in Paris who is great. You can get his name and website by typing in Anthony Atkielski. He charges by the day and his day starts when you want to and ends when you want to. he doesn't have set hours for your walking tours and does what you want to do and see. Especially helpful in that he uses public transportation.
My vote is for walking and there is an American living in Paris who is great. You can get his name and website by typing in Anthony Atkielski. He charges by the day and his day starts when you want to and ends when you want to. he doesn't have set hours for your walking tours and does what you want to do and see. Especially helpful in that he uses public transportation.
Sep 15th, 2008, 05:34 AM
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We loved the Fat Tire Bike Tours -- we took our daughters - ages 7 and 5 on it with us - they had tandem bikes behind us. They do an excellent job of using bike paths, small streets. There are only a few major areas where there is a lot of traffic and the guide walks you through how to go like a pack through the intersection.
I can't speak to a walking tour (although I've done a private photo tour - which I loved) but the bikes were great!
I can't speak to a walking tour (although I've done a private photo tour - which I loved) but the bikes were great!
Sep 15th, 2008, 05:49 AM
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I can add to the chorus of cheers for Fat Tire. Did it 2 years ago on my second trip to Paris; the evening tour that included the Seine cruise. It was a hoot! I haven't done a walking tour in Paris but otherwise just explored on my own. I found the FT tour to be safe and the little stories provided by the guide were great. If you know anything about cycling and the Tour de France its also fun to say that "I biked up the Champs Elysee" even if its only for a few meters!
Sep 15th, 2008, 08:31 PM
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I've done the Segway tour twice and love it. But the attraction is more the Segway than the tour itself.
Last month my daughter and I also took the Paris Charms and Secrets Electric Bicycle tour. It was excellent. And the tour guide was a charming and knowledgeable French woman. We covered a LOT of ground and although I am no Lance Armstrong by any means I was still fresh at the end of 4 plus hours. The electric motor gives you some extra kick.
By all means check them out... we had a most enjoyable and interesting time.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/66tb64
Rob
Sep 16th, 2008, 01:47 PM
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We did the "hop on and off" bus thing. I was really disappointed, as the headphones were not working well and the bus crawled through the Marais area. It would have been much better to take the Metro to an area, then walk around. We should have saved our money and taken buses and Metro at will. I saw some people doing the fat bike and it looked like a blast.
