Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make reservations online?

Yes, our online reservation system allows you to book and pay for your Paris Muse tour. Please note, however, that same-day or next-day reservations cannot be made online. (While we recommend booking your tour at least a week in advance, we can sometimes accommodate last-minute reservations. Call +33 (0)6 73 77 33 52 to inquire.)

Can I pay with a credit card?

Yes, if you book ahead of time using our online reservation system, which accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover through PayPal.

Can I pay without using PayPal?

Yes, please contact us at info@parismuse.com. We can either take your credit card information via email or phone, or we will give you other options for payment (such as US check). Sorry, we do not accept US dollars in cash.

What if I need to cancel my reservation?

Paris Muse provides a full refund for canceled reservations up to 24 hours before the reserved tour. We regret that we cannot offer refunds for tours canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment.

What if I'm late for my tour or do not show up?

Your Paris Muse guide will wait for you for up to 20 minutes at the arranged meeting point. Tours for late arrivals may be shortened so that the tour finishes at the original scheduled time.

For clients who do not arrive within 20 minutes of the scheduled time, we regret that we must treat this as a cancellation and cannot offer a refund. In some cases, depending upon availability, we may be able to reschedule the tour, but must charge a fee to pay for the guide's time for the original missed appointment.

Are your tours appropriate for children?
We have a "Paris Muse Clues" Louvre tour specifically designed for children, ages 6-12. The rest of our tours, however, are designed for adults or young adults with an interest in museums. There is no set age minimum. We've had 12-years olds who have enjoyed every last detail of our "Cracking 'The Da Vinci Code' at the Louvre "tour, for example, but 18-years olds who were bored and restless by art historical explanation. Of course, it depends on the personality and interest level of your child. But please be aware that while our guides are fun and accessible, the content of our tours is relatively sophisticated.

What if I have booked a walking tour, and it's raining that day?

Our walking tours go ahead as planned, rain or shine. (Our guides are experienced with Parisian weather, and will look for ways to keep you comfy and mostly out of the rain). Refunds are not available for rainy day or inclement weather cancellations.

What is the Paris Museum Pass, and should I get one?

This is a special card offered by the Paris Tourist Office. It gets you priority access to many different museums and monuments (around 65, they say) in and around Paris. It may be purchased at the Paris Tourist Office (25, rue des Pyramides) or the Espace du Tourisme in the Carrousel du Louvre (next to the Inverted Pyramid). It is also available at any of the 65 attractions.

We recommend purchasing this card if you plan on doing at least two attractions per day. Otherwise, it is not such a staggering deal: 30 euros for 2 consecutive days, and 45 euros for 4 consecutive days, 60 euros for 6 days. Another caveat is that the card gives you free access only to the permanent collections, not the special exhibitions.

If you decide to purchase the card, we ask that you specify this while making your reservation. The price of admission will then be discounted off the price of the tour, and your guide will not purchase your tickets in advance. Please note, however, that this is not an option at either the Musée Marmottan-Monet or at temporary exhibitions at the Grand Palais, as the Museum Card is not accepted at either venue.

Read more about the Paris Muse Pass here.

When should I reserve to avoid the crowds in the galleries?

If possible, avoid booking weekend tours. Also, for some of our tours, we have made specific recommendations for times when the galleries are likely to be least crowded. Please consult individual tour description for recommended days and times to reserve. The best time to visit the Orsay, for example, is on Thursday evenings. Wednesday or Friday evenings are ideal for many of our Louvre tours.

Do all your guides speak English?

Yes, all of our guides are native speakers. To read more about our guides, visit the "About Us" page, or read an interview with Pamela Warner, our Musée d'Orsay guide.

Can we take photographs or video?

We find that you get more out of the tours when you are not taking photographs, but this is entirely up to you of course. There are some museums, such as the Marmottan, which does not allow it.
And in all other museums, you are not allowed to use flash.

Do guides accept tips?

The cost of the tour includes everything, but if your instructor has been particularly helpful or generous with their time, they will be happy to accept gratuities.

Why isn't my question answered here?

That's a good question! Contact us via our online contact form, and we will respond to your question within 48 hours.

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page

 

 

Subscribe to the free "Quoi de Neuf?" e-mail newsletter to receive the latest Paris art news.