I'm heading to Paris in several weeks with a friend. She suggested we hire a taxi one evening and have the driver take us around Paris with a list of destinations prepared by us -- she wants to see the City of Lights -- private taxi where we could get in and out of the taxi when we choose. Have any of you done this? Does it sound feasible? Where would one find a taxi driver to do this? How expensive could it be for two hours? I like the idea...just not sure how to carry it out. Thanks.

Best to start with a one page map of Paris, preferably one with the taxi stands annotated, and highlight the places you want to see at night. Any taxi driver will take you around to those sights. Recommend taking a taxi to each "cluster", getting out, walking around, then grabbing another taxi to the next cluster.

Normally, you must go to a taxi stand to get a taxi, but at night, where there is little traffic, you can usually hail one.

Keep in mind that there's a minimum taxi fare of €5 or 5.60 now (can't remember exactly).

If the weather is nice, highly recommend the Cityrama "illuminations" tour on an open top bus. The views are magnificent. These tours may not start until later in the Spring, but they also offer illumination tours in closed top buses all year around. The newer buses have huge windows.

Actually, you can just use the city buses to get from one cluster of illuminated places to the next, enjoying the scenery along the way (as opposed to using the Metro).

I'd personally take a night boat trip from Pont Neuf, and then buses (or taxis) round to any other sites you wanted to see that weren't w/i walking distance.

Hi luv,

You are planning to hire a cab for 2 hr.

The meter will be running while the cab waits for you - about 29E/hr.

See www.taxis-bleus.com/A_html/reglementation.html

I'm not sure, in a city that has so many fabulous public transportation options, why you'd want to do this. Of course it's feasible, but you have so many other options, including the hop-on-hop-off buses, the métro and bus systems, your own two feet, and the Batobus and Seine cruises.

But sure, you can spend a boodle and have a taxi driver take you around. As mentioned, get a map of the city and plan a route and go to a taxi stand and hire a cab. Or you can spend even more an ask your hotel to have a cab come pick you up.

The hop on hop off buses don't run at night, do they? Maybe her friend got this idea from Rick Steves website. You can look there and he gives a full itinerary including communication to print and hand to your taxi driver. Check it out! Melissa

i think it is a great idea and have done a similar set up when pressed for time.

maybe end up at tour montparnasse for the great view from the restaurant on the 56th floor.

Melissa, you are correct. My friend got this idea from Rick Steves. If the taxi fare came to 60 euro for two hours, that's not so bad at 30 euro each. That way we won't spend time looking for metro/bus stops or spend time waiting for the next one.

Ira, thanks for the info on taxi pricing.

The other ideas mentioned here are also good, and something for us to think about.

Thanks.

Oh, cool, I thought that might be where your friend got the idea. Sounds like a fun, hassle-free option to me. Rick Steves is known for his bargain travel tips and even he thinks this is a great idea. SO, I say go for it and enjoy! Melissa

The hop on/hop off buses do not run at night, but the same L'Opentour open top buses are used for "Illuminations Tours", though these are seasonal.

Is there a website for these evening illumination bus tours? Or would one see most lights from the batobus?

You were asking...

http://www.pariserve.com/city/parnight.htm

http://www.parisvision.com/index.php?langid=en

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

The Paris Visions (above post) minibus "Illuminations" tour is a good one. Only 2 hours. I would only do the minibus tours.

I will be using them for a friends first trip to Paris in Oct.for the "Illuminations" along with another out of Paris trip for her. I used them several years ago. I would not take any of the bus trips!

I used to think the minibuses were superior, but you should see the new tour buses with huge wrap-around (over the roof) windows.

I don't care for the large number of people on the tour buses. That is my reason for taking the small minibus. When I have used them previously we had some flexdibility to make some changes along the way.We had lunch in lovely places on full day trip etc.

Something for everyone............