Recommendation for Private Tour Guide

My friend is going to Paris. She%26#39;s been there a few times and would like to go to spefic areas she hasn%26#39;t been. She doesn%26#39;t want to go on a regular tour but rather go to the places she choses and thought of hiring a private tour guide. She has the name of a couple people but hasn%26#39;t heard back from them yet.

Can anyone refer a private tour guide that speaks Eng/French that they have used that%26#39;s not outrageously priced. It%26#39;s just for 2 people. She would of course pay for their meals.

Thanks for any suggestions I can pass along to her.

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Michael Osman is highly recommended on the Fodor forums site.

Your friend could try placing an ad on the bonjourparis.com site; she might hear from some students who know the city and the museums.

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Yes. When I went to Paris I used Barbara James for a tour guide. She is very friendly and really knows her way around. She was an editor for a travel guide/magazine. She graduated from college in Az. and is an American married to a Frenchman so she speaks French as well. She can arrange tours, book food tours, everything. In fact I am going over to Paris again in Oct. and she is taking care of my trip events and is checking things out that I want to do. Her e-mail is bpj0000@yahoo.com. If you have trouble getting her e-mail me at RBruse@aol.com.

Tell her you got her name from me.

Richard

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hi Debelli. Barbara, who was referred by rbruse is with parisphototours.com and I can%26#39;t recommend them highly enough. They%26#39;re professional, fun, true %26quot;insiders%26quot; and their rates are reasonable too.

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Hi Debelli, in February 2005 I took a tour with Michael Osman to a number of areas I had wanted to see but could not find a friend to accompany me on, including, the Cite Universite and Parc Montsouris, the Butte aux Cailles, Batignolles, Belleville and Menilmontant. Michael planned a really enjoyable tour of all those areas by bus and metro and we had a fantastic day. His daily rate then (it might have gone up) was 75 Euros and I was to pay entrance fees (we did not go anywhere that needed them) and I paid for his lunch and coffee etc. He is a really nice American artist who has lived in Paris at least 7 years. He collected me from my hotel at about 10am and by the time he left after a last coffee at about 5pm, and since, I have considered him to be a friend. His email ( please start hassling him early %26amp; chasing him up, as he is famous for not checking his emails regularly) is Parisfind@aol.com

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Contact Michael Osman at Parisfind@aol.com. He is great! Give him an idea of what you want to do and let him take over.

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I have emailed Michael Osman with no reply,how long should I wait before contacting another guide?I am traveling May 31...any suggestions are appreciated

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Michael Osman is often slow to reply. Because he is so busy, usually out with people from early to late every day, he has only an hour or two in the morning to respond to inquiries. He likes to take his time with his responses, and answers them in order of requested dates. So, he answers people coming this month, then next month, then the month after that...You%26#39;ll hear more quickly if he is not available for your dates.

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Thanks,makes me feel better!

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A nice follow up would not hurt. Make sure your subject line and text are friendly and understanding that he is busy. He is a lovely person and very good company and knows Paris like the back of his hand. He showed me his favourite (fabulous) graffiti as we went around.

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Hi Debelli %26amp; Lonestarcars -

I just got back from Paris a couple weeks ago and had the best time with Barbara. I can not recommend her enough. She%26#39;s actually the author of USA Today%26#39;s Paris Cityguide....so obviously she knows her stuff.

She%26#39;s very professional and prompt when it comes to replying to emails. Just go to her website www.paristalks.com and go to %26quot;contact.%26quot; Have fun!