One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Paris last April was a day with Michael Osman. We wanted a history tour of Paris, and it was fascinating. Some of you may remember my post about Nazi flags in Paris. Michael had been talking about the occupation and when we turned on to the rue du Rivoli, we saw huge Nazi flags hanging from the buildings. They were filming a movie. My only regret about our day with Michael is that our pictures with him did not turn out. If anyone has a picture of him they could post, I would love to have it for our memory book.

We had booked Michael for two days last November but as he was ill he sent his mate Scott along.

I can't tell you how much fun we had with Scott. Just the best time. He would meet us at 9am and he said goodbye about 9pm - what great days!!

The first day was the 'must sees' The Louvre, Notre Dame etc etc but the second day we basically said show us your Paris, we were not disappointed.

Michael was very apologetic in his emails for tardy replies but he was just so helpful as well and seemingly, couldn't do enough for us.

I recommend him very highly.

Oh I am so jealous you got to have Scott! We were booked with him but due to flight delays we had to cancel. :-( Looking forward to connecting with them over Christmas this year.

Maybe I'm odd (I hear people saying "yes, you are") but if I contacted somebody with an offer to pay him for work and he didn't bother to reply, then I would take my money elsewhere.

Since I started this post and thank all of you, especially Dawnnoelm for contacting me off line, I have to say that Michael was most apologetic about taking such a long time to respond and since we have been in contact, he has been great at suggesting itineraries etc. There is no need to make this ugly or personal.

Plambers - He was so delightful in emails that I am not in the least surprised to hear his response to you. I am thrilled that you pushed on and did connect. As I said, I think he just gets really busy being out all day etc. touring.

I am very much in hopes we can connect when we have the pleasure of being in Paris in December :-)

Not so much for plambers - - since this particular communication is solved...

...but for others interested, Michael Osman is on facebook.com and he is a member of the Fodors Friends group. E-mail me if you want an invitation.

Other than that, I know nothing about him beyond what I read here.

Best wishes,

Rex

I just want to add another thumbs up for Michael, a really nice, interesting man who knows an awful lot about a wonderfull city !!

We saw the scrotum display at the Pantheon as well...we still giggle about it !! :)

For those who have used Michael, can you tell me, in ball park figures, how much he charges. His website doesn't offer prices. I'm particularly interested in the 9 am - 9 pm greatest hits tour of Paris. Thanks!

100 euros for the whole day.

No kidding? So, that's about 10E/per hour? That is quite reasonable.

Is that for a couple, per person, an entire group?

Thanks for the information.

The entire group...

Well here is one more May/June group that finally heard from Michael and he's available. Now the "problem" is to figure out what to see/do. I'm inclined to the "underground" tour of Pere Lachaise and Montparnasse cemeteries, Montmartre and Sacre Coeur, and maybe the Pantheon.

We also want to ask him for suggestions for nightspots suitable for "senior citizens" - we're not really old, we just act that way. Jazz, blues, somewhere where we can enjoy drinks and music at a reasonable hour - meaning home to our apartment bed by 11:00 or 11:30?

Other ideas anyone?

Thanks,

Sam

Michael had recently lost his mother , so that was one reason he wasn't answering mail for a time.

Cigalechanta -

I meant to mention that in my post. Michael was very apologetic for a "tardy" response to my initial request but explained about his mother. Maybe all of us need to give each other a little slack.

Sam

sam, check out his site destinationparis, he has a list of jazz clubs and cabarets.

Does anyone know if Michael is still doing tours and if his email "[email protected]"?

Yes and Yes

Scott does his tours when not working on tour. He's
an opera singer. Michael is on facrbook maybe try reaching him there?

Plambers, he will gear the tour with what you want to see.
scott has the same address