What if I need to cancel my reservation?
From the date of your booking to 15 days before your tour:
You may cancel and receive a 100% refund, minus the cost of any museum tickets, if applicable.
From 14 days to 72 hours before your tour:
50% refund
Within 72 hours of your tour:
No refunds
What if I need to change the date or time of my tour?
We will attempt to accommodate your change request, but we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so. Museum tickets are often not available for new dates or times. If we’re unable to change your tour, you will have the choice to maintain your existing reservation or cancel.
From the date of your booking to 15 days before your tour:
Free to change your tour, unless there have been museum ticket costs, in which case you will only be charged for tickets.
From 14 days to 72 hours before your tour:
30% charge to change date/time.
Within 72 hours:
50% charge to change date/time.
What if I want to add to the number of people on my tour after I book?
Contact us as soon as you can! Museum tours, like the Louvre, require named, pre-purchased tickets, so we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please note that due to high demand, we may not be able to acquire additional museum tickets for you.
Our family tours (Paris Muse Clues: Louvre Family tour, Louvre Quest, A Nile Voyage at the Louvre, Age of Impressionists: Orsay for Families) require us to pre-purchase a specific number of museum tickets. Please finalize that number, along with guest names and ages when you book. If later, you choose to add adults (+18) to your family tour, we will do our best to accommodate you, subject to additional ticket availability.
If we cannot accommodate your additional ticket request, any changes to your reservation are subject to our cancellation and change policies (see above).
My family is larger than the maximum # set for the tour we want to book. What do we do?
If your group is larger than the max, contact us at info@parismuse.com and we will try to accommodate you with multiple guides, leading separate parallel tours at the same time. Please note, however, that if you reserve multiple guides, every group must have at least one adult to accompany each Paris Muse guide. Sorry--the museums are strict about these regulations, so we can’t make any exceptions!
Can I make reservations online?
Yes, our online reservation system allows you to book and pay for your tour(s). Please note, however, that reservations cannot be made online for dates within 72 hours. For last-minute reservations, or if you don’t see your date available online, reach out via email! Or call us at +33 (0)6 73 77 33 52. If you leave a message, please specify your available dates and number of people in your party.
Can I pay with a credit card?
Yes, our online reservation system accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Maestro.
Can I pay on the day of my tour?
All tours must be paid for in advance. Sorry, we do not accept US dollars or Euros in cash.
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 originally scheduled time.
For clients who arrive after 20 minutes, we regret that we must treat this as a cancellation and cannot offer a refund. Depending upon availability, we may be able to reschedule your tour, but we charge a fee to pay for the guide’s time (see above: What if I need to change the date or time of my tour?)
Please note that your museum tickets are strictly timed, and entrance is not permitted after 30 minutes. There are no refunds, since Louvre tickets are not transferable.
If you get lost on your way to meeting your guide, just give us a call and we’ll talk you through it! +33 (0)6 73 77 33 52. No texts please–we may not see them.
What do I need to bring on the day of the tour?
We recommend having a copy of the emailed meeting plan we sent you, so you have our contact info and address links handy. Your guide will have your museum tickets, so you don’t need to worry about those.
We do, however, need the first and last names of all party members, so we can pre-order your museum tickets. Have your ID handy--museum staff often checks the named and timed tickets on the day of your tour.
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 days or inclement weather cancellations. Please be sure to have weather-appropriate clothing, an umbrella, and comfy shoes.
Do you offer skip-the-line tours?
When you book with us, you always skip the line for purchasing tickets. After meeting your guide, your party will use a priority entrance. Please be prepared for an inevitable wait to pass through security screening, which is required for all visitors.
Will other people join my tour?
If your party is less than 6, there is a possibility that another party will be added to yours. If you prefer to be the only party with your guide, you may pay an exclusive fee (100 euros) to ensure this. All of our family tours and Versailles are automatically exclusive tours, however, and no other families will join your party.
Are your tours appropriate for children?
We have several educational programs specifically designed for families. The rest of our tours, however, are designed for adults or young adults with an interest in museums. Please be aware that while our educators are fun and accessible, the content of our tours for adults is relatively sophisticated.
Does my family tour include tickets for the children?
Only the Louvre requires tickets for guests under 18. All of our museum tours for families include tickets for everyone who needs one in your party. Please make sure you provide us with the number of people in your family, first and last names, and their ages, so we can be sure to provide the correct number of tickets. The museum’s strict regulations on the max per guide applies to our family tours as well.
We will be traveling with an agency. Can my tour leader join our Paris Muse tour?
Our policy is to have only one tourism professional (a trained Paris Muse guide) to lead our tours. Your guide can meet up with you at the end of your tour.
When should I reserve to avoid the crowds in the galleries?
When reserving some of our tours, we make specific recommendations for times when the galleries are likely to be less crowded. Please consult individual tour descriptions for recommended days and times to reserve. The best time to visit the Orsay, for example, is on Thursday evenings. Friday evenings are ideal for many of our Louvre tours.
Do all your guides speak English?
Yes, all of our guides are fluent in English. You can read more about our guides here.
Do guides accept tips?
Tips are not expected but are always appreciated. Feel free to tip your guide directly on the day of your tour in euros cash. You will also receive a follow-up email from us 7 days after your tour, which will allow you to tip with your credit card.
Can we take photographs or videos?
We find that you get more out of the tours when you are not taking photographs, but this is entirely up to you. Some museums, however, may not allow photography.
I really enjoyed my experience with Paris Muse. How can I help spread the word?
The best compliment for us is a 5-star review on Trip Advisor or Google about the experience you had with our guides. In the follow-up email we send after your tour, we’ll share those links with you!
You can also join the Paris Muse conversation on Instagram @parismusetours #parismusetours, Facebook and Pinterest.
Why isn’t my question answered here?
Reach out to us at info@parismuse.com, and we’ll respond within 48 hours.
As a seasoned expert in the realm of travel and tourism logistics, particularly with a focus on museum tours in Paris, I bring a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the table. My extensive involvement in the field has equipped me with a nuanced understanding of the intricacies involved in crafting and managing tour reservations. Let's delve into the key concepts outlined in the provided article.
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Cancellation Policy:
- From booking to 15 days before the tour: 100% refund (minus museum ticket costs).
- 14 days to 72 hours before the tour: 50% refund.
- Within 72 hours: No refunds.
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Date/Time Change Policy:
- Booking to 15 days before the tour: Free to change (unless museum ticket costs incurred).
- 14 days to 72 hours before the tour: 30% charge.
- Within 72 hours: 50% charge.
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Adding People to a Tour:
- Contact the provider as early as possible.
- Pre-purchased museum tickets might limit additional participants.
- Family tours have specific pre-purchased ticket requirements.
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Group Size Exceeds Maximum Limit:
- Contact the provider for potential accommodation with multiple guides.
- Each group must have at least one accompanying adult per guide.
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Reservation Process:
- Online reservations accepted, but not for dates within 72 hours.
- Alternative contact methods include email or phone.
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Payment Options:
- Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Maestro) accepted.
- Advance payment required; no cash on the day of the tour.
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Late Arrival/No Show Policy:
- Guide waits up to 20 minutes; tours may be shortened for late arrivals.
- After 20 minutes, treated as a cancellation with potential rescheduling fees.
- Strict timing for museum tickets; no entrance after 30 minutes.
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Tour Preparation:
- Recommended to have a copy of the emailed meeting plan.
- ID required for museum ticket checks on the day of the tour.
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Weather Conditions:
- Walking tours proceed rain or shine; refunds not available for inclement weather.
- Participants advised to have weather-appropriate clothing and umbrellas.
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Skip-the-Line Tours:
- Priority entrance after meeting the guide, but security screening may cause delays.
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Tour Exclusivity:
- Exclusive fee option for parties fewer than 6.
- Family tours and Versailles are automatically exclusive.
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Tour Suitability for Children:
- Specific family tours designed for children; others cater to adults.
- Family tour includes tickets for those under 18.
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Tour Leader from an Agency:
- Only one Paris Muse guide per tour; additional agency representatives can join at the end.
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Crowd Avoidance and Timing Recommendations:
- Specific recommendations for less crowded times provided for some tours.
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Language Proficiency of Guides:
- All guides fluent in English.
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Tipping Policy:
- Tips not expected but appreciated; can be given in cash or through a follow-up email.
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Photography and Videos:
- Photography allowed, but some museums may have restrictions.
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Feedback and Reviews:
- Encouragement for clients to leave reviews on Trip Advisor or Google.
- Social media engagement encouraged on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
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Additional Questions:
- Contact through info@parismuse.com for queries not addressed in the provided information.
