France Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

• Train Travel: France has an extensive and efficient train network, including high-speed TGV trains, making it easy to travel between and within cities.
• Guided Tours: Joining a guided tour can provide structured itineraries and insights from knowledgeable guides.
• Biking: France is bike-friendly, with many scenic routes, especially in regions like Provence and the Loire Valley.
• Car Rental: Outside of Paris, renting a car allows flexibility to explore rural areas and smaller towns at your own pace. Try renting a car or hiring private transportation in France for flexible sightseeing.

Most people consider March to April the best months to travel to Paris, but here's a breakdown of the overall travel seasons and what to expect; 

• Spring (April to June): Pleasant weather, blooming flowers, and fewer tourists. The ideal travel months.
• Autumn (September to October): Mild weather, beautiful fall foliage, and fewer crowds.
• Summer (July to August): Warm weather, occasional heatwaves and long days, but it can be very crowded and more expensive.

• Language: Basic knowledge of French phrases can be helpful, as English is not widely spoken everywhere.
• Tipping: Service is included in the bill at restaurants, but leaving small change is appreciated.
• Cultural Etiquette: Greeting with a polite "Bonjour" and understanding dining etiquette can enhance your experience.
• Public Transport: France has an efficient public transport system, but it’s good to understand how it works before traveling.
• Safety: Be aware of pickpockets, especially in tourist areas, and take standard safety precautions.

• Paris: The capital city, known for iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
• Côte d’Azur - The French Riviera or ‘Azure Coast’ refers to the country’s picturesque southern Mediterranean coast. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches, charming villas, renowned fashion outlets, and gorgeous cities including Nice and Marseille. 
• Palace of Versailles - The beautiful gardens and architecture of the Palace of Versailles represents one of the most striking examples of European artistry and construction, and is a site that is not to be missed. 
• Bordeaux - This port city is located on the south-western coast of France, the region being most famous for its excellent wineries, top-tier gastronomic experiences, and rolling green hills.

The length of your trip obviously depends on several factors, including time, budget, and the number of areas you want to visit, but 10–12 days (two weeks) is a good amount of time for those who want to explore beyond Paris. A great way to plan your itinerary is to contact a France private tour guide and have them help you craft a customized itinerary that fits your needs. 

Here is a quick rundown of some of our tour duration options: 

• Quick Tours: These tours usually last 2–5 hours and include a vast variety of activities that you can enjoy either during a short stop in the country or as a part of a longer tour. 
• Full Day Tours: As the name suggests, full day tours are a bit more involved and include detailed sightseeing experiences of cities such as Paris, Nice, or Cannes to name just a few. They are also perfect for a delightful wine tasting and exploration tour.

DO'S:

• Learn some basic French phrases.
• Keep your ticket stub on you and validate your ticket before boarding your train.
• Affectionate greetings such as ‘air-kissing’ are acceptable. Otherwise, stick with a handshake. 
• Dress respectfully, especially when going out to dinner or to culturally significant locations.
• Avoid standing too close when talking to someone or when queuing. 

DON’TS:

• Don’t eat with your fingers or on the street (unless you are specifically eating ‘street food’). 
• Don’t drink coffee or other drinks while walking around in public.
• Don’t feel like you have to tip as much as in some countries, a service fee is usually included in the bill, but you can leave a few euros as a tip for great service. 
• Don’t speak too loudly in public spaces, and especially avoid shouting.
• Don’t have dinner too early, in France dinner is usually served after 8:00pm.

While many people have basic English skills, you will undoubtedly enjoy your trip more and gain the respect of the locals if you take the time to learn some basic phrases before your trip. While you don’t have to be able to have intricate conversations, most people will be much more receptive thanks to a simple ‘hello’ or ‘thank you’ in French. 

Here are some key phrases to remember: 

• Hello = Bonjour (bohn-zhoor)
• Goodbye = Au revoir (oh-rev-vwha)
• Thank you = Merci (mare-see)
• Please = S'il vous plaît (seel-voo-play)
• Excuse me = Excusez-moi (ex-koo-say mwa)
• Yes = Oui (we)
• No = Non (noh)
• I don’t speak French = Je ne parle pas français (zhe ne parl pah frahn-say)
• Do you speak English? = Parlez-vous anglais? (par-lay voo ahn-glay)

Luckily, all of our French guides are fluent in English and can help you with translation throughout your tour. They can also provide some unique insights which may not appear on the tourist brochures.