I will be in Paris with my teenager in June and would like to take the day trip to Giverny. We don't feel comfortable navigating the train alone and I am looking for a small bus tour company that might pick up in Paris and go to Giverny. Are there any recommendations?

This is the only company I know of, I imagine there are others:

http://www.pariscityvision.com/en/giverny

it's 81 euro for 5 hours. At least you get to skip the line that way, that is one advantage of tours like that, and it is convenient. I didn't take the tour, but I did take a different one by the same company (to Vaux le Vicomte) which was excellent, so that's all I can say. YOu meet around Pyramides metro where their office is.

Compared to doing it yourself, the train is 15 euro each way and the admission is 11 euro, and then there is a fee for the bus to/from Giverny from Vernon, so DIY costs around 45 euro, I guess. That's not too bad a cost if the convenience makes you more comfortable. It can be a more relaxing way to do things than figuring out train schedules, etc.

If a bus tour is not an absolute requirement Fat Tire Bike Tours has a tour to Giverny. You catch the train from Paris to Vernon and ride bikes to Giverny. It's been a while since I did this tour, but it was fun. The bike ride is easy because the road between Vernon and Giverny is flat and car free.

I like nwtraveler's idea - it is easy to take a train to Vernon - just go to Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris and buy tickets which can be used on any train - just hop on and I presume Fat Tire Bike Tours meet you at the Vernon station for the lovely lovely ride along the Seine on nice side roads or on the bike/hiking path along the course of a disused railway to the quintessentially old cute villge of Giverny.

I've walked from Vernon's station to Giverny and it's about 3.5 miles or so so a simple bike ride - experience biking France and Mnet's House and Gardens to boot - assume Fat Tire will have a priority entry time so no waiting to get in, etc.

Sounds infinitely nicer than a bus tour with 40-50 other folk being herded around.

by a aller-et-retour or round-trip train ticket at Saint-Lazare and don't forget to cancel the ticket yourselves before boarding the train - stick your ticket in the 'composteur' date-stamping machines at the entrance to the platforms - both coming and going.

For lots of good info on French trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. If you want to print your own tickets at home - www.capitainetrain.com or www.voyages-sncf.com - same trains on either but the first is said to be MUCH easier to actually get to work - again there will be np problem buying tickets at Saint-Lazare as those trains never sell out I believe but you can negate any language problem or wait in line by printing your own tickets at home and then use them on any train Paris Saint-Lazare station to Vernon station.

Thanks! Giverny site lists Paris City Vision, the other option I found is Viator.
Does anyone have experience with either company?

Fat Tire meets you at the Gare Saint-Lazare train station and the round trip train tickets are included in the price of the tour. PalenQ described the road better than I did. The bike ride is on the bike/hiking path between Vernon and Giverny.

https://paris.fattirebiketours.com/t...dens-bike-tour

If it will change your mind at all this is really very easy to do on your own. Buy your round trip train tickets at Gare Saint-Lazare (they speak English at the ticket windows). The round trip ticket cost is 29.40€. When you arrive in Vernon the shuttle buses are right in front of the train station waiting to meet trains arriving from Paris. Buy your ticket on the bus and the round trip cost is 8€. Buy your tickets for Monet's garden on-line before you leave and print them at home. They cost 9.50€ and if pre-purchased you skip the line and use the side entrance for those with pre-purchased tickets. So the total do it yourself cost is €46.90. This also allows you to see things at your own pace and you can decide if you want to have lunch in town, or visit the impressionism museum in Giverny, spend time strolling the quaint streets and lanes in Giverny or perhaps spend a bit of time exploring the town of Vernon itself, which is quite pleasant. Paying 81€ for a tour is not unreasonable but if you change your mind then further specific instructions can be given to help you do this on your own.

I told you my experience, maybe someone else has one. Viator is just a tour consolidator, they don't run their own tours. Based on what their website says about it, I would guess it is the Parisvision tour. It must be as it departs from where their office is and has the same description exactly. It is US$94 which is just a very slight markup from buying it directly (at least right now) which would be US$92.

Unless you are saving money, I would not book through Viator if you know the company and can book directly. There is no advantage and you never know, something might get messed up in the communication between the two companies.

Thank you...that is helpful information.
We will book with Paris City