Our road scholar program (Independent Paris) was wonderful. We learned so much and having the metro and museum pass was invaluable. Our guide and instructor made the trip so special and we will definitely try another program in the future.

I enjoyed my time in Paris and appreciated the museum pass and Metro pass. The lectures were interesting and the museums visited were all wonderful. The hotel where we stayed was adequate but not great. We were not as independent as anticipated; our guide was overly concerned with keeping us all together and this frustrated me. I did choose to leave some of the group activities as I wanted more independence than some others did.

My sister and I went together. It was just what we expected and we enjoyed it thoroughly. I would recommend it; it was fun, interesting and active.

Wonderful introduction to Paris. I would advise staying a few days extra as by the end of the tour you are very comfortable getting around Paris by metro. It is a joy to revisit the sites from the tour and to just sit and enjoy Paris, especially with a wine and a pastry.

This is a great tour, Julian and Charlotte are the best.

It works, well.

This program was amazing, so well organized and an incredible value for the time spent and all that we did. I highly recommend Road Scholars!

Invest in a good pair of walking shoes and do it!

This was the best week of my life. Jennifer and Brigitte were amazing guides and the schedule was perfect. It didn't hurt that the weather was also perfect but the wine, lectures, wine, food, wine, tours were wonderful...did I mention the wine? It was so much fun and educational. I cannot imagine that doing any trip alone or on your own could even come close to what we saw, experienced and learned with the RS trip. Amazing!

This was a wonderful program, which was made even better by two superb guides, Pauline and James.

What a wonderful trip! We went the first week of June and the weather was perfect. There's a nice mix of art, architecture, and history.

This was the trip of a lifetime for me! It's always been my dream to go to Paris and this program provided me the structure of a group with the independent time that I wanted as well. The instructors and the field trips were terrific.

We enjoyed this tour enormously! The group leader was so well organized, her planning was exceptional and carefully thought through. The education we received was also exceptional, the person delivering the knowledge was so good, such a good presenter that we were delighted. There's just the right amount of the educational part of the tour, too. The literature indicates that there can be days when you're walking 5 miles so pay attention to those types of descriptions because they were accurate. I would do this over again and would recommend this tour. The other guests were friendly, we had plenty of free time, we enjoyed the food and the city!

What a perfect way to spend a week in Paris! There was time to sit on a park bench and people watch, great food, beautiful things to see and do. I would do this again.

Our guides Pauline and Jenny were warm, delightful and knowledgeable. We were steeped in a multi Faceted experience of Paris with enthusiasm and joy.

I was concerned about the cost at first, but I came to realize how much value I was getting for my money. The program really exceeded my expectations and the facilitators were very learned and engaging. I hope I have an opportunity to take other Road Scholar programs in the near future!

This trip provided everything I wanted for my specific wishes that included Road Scholar itinerary plus a little family time during free time. It worked out perfectly. The hotel staff was gracious. Leaders were undeniably educated and accomplished. Participants were exceptionally friendly and endearing. Overall, a great experience! If I were to include anything on the downside, I would suggest that leaders familiarize with the suggested reading list so that more satisfying discussions might occur between leaders and participants. Otherwise, I highly recommend this trip to all loving Francophiles who desire good companionship with a little independence. And, please note that required abilities to walk up to 5 miles daily and negotiate many stairs at the Metro and museums are not exaggerated.

The Independent Paris program was, by far, the best travel experience of my life! For those who want to learn about the city which they are visiting, and gain insights into how the place, the people, the architecture and the art interact, this program delivers!

Independent Paris was our first trip. It was a great introduction to Paris and all that it offers to the curious traveler. Great food, great art, wonderful and engaging!

Thomas and Julian are tops in leading this tour. Incredible experience.

my first trip with Road Scholar. will be doing many more. was a great introduction and learning experience

I did not receive an evaluation for this trip. I really want to complete an evaluation so can you please send it to me. Evelyn Shaevel eshaevel@gmail.com

We organized our Paris trip around photography and a study group of Americans in Paris in the 1920’s. Knowing this Road Scholar adapted the Independent Paris trip to our needs including sessions with a professional photographer and a scholar knowledgeable about Americans in Paris during that time period. Our guides were top notch and we could not have asked more of them. Highly recommended!

What a wonderful excursion I just had! I was with a smart and savvy group of twenty road scholars and enjoyed my time with them a lot, but I also had plenty of time to explore the unique city of Paris on my own, too. That was truly marvelous. I can honestly say that nothing about this trip was a disappointment. The city, the people, the itinerary, the food, the art, architecture and history, were all a balm -- and a thrill. I learned so much from our group leader and instructor. Louis taught me to get around via subway and bus so I felt safe and comfortable wherever I went. And Malcolm, our charmingly eccentric British instructor, helped me plan all my solo excursions. His recommendations -- and directions -- were spot on. This is my second Independent City journey. I highly recommend both Paris, and Prague. Where to next, I wonder?

Best going with someone. People stick with who they know.

If you want to take a trip that is both entertaining and educational, Road Scholar is the way to go!!

This was a wonderful trip. The leader, Louis Bideau, was very caring and highly organized. He went out of his way one evening to escort a few of us to a concert at Notre Dame. Malcolm, on the other hand, was a bit scattered in his presentations. A power point in the mornings would have enhanced his organization. A brilliant man, he is not really a teacher. The itinerary was well selected. I will do another Road Scholar trip in the future. The hotel was OK. Jane S.

Excellent program, the guides were fantastic!

This trip was wonderful. Many things to see and do.

Our trip was made extra special by our caring and well prepared guides, Malcolm and Louis. We enjoyed this once in a lifetime trip!

Independent Paris was a very well organized progam that was the perfect blend and balance of organized group activities and free time to pursue individual interests and discoveries. The inclusion of a Metro ticket and Museum Pass made all of this possible.

This is a good adventure. You can walk til you drop, explore gourmet foods. Great people watching. Look at the world differently. The capital of the French speaking world is a beautiful mosaic. You'll never look at Africa the same way again. oh yeah & there are elements of this in the Impressionists from Gabon & Cote d'Ivorie. Get lost on the walks near the Sorbonne or the Marais. We even saw two brides whose photographers waited patiently for us--& all the other tourists to pass through. On y va :-)

A fun and extremely useful introduction on what the city of Paris has to offer, and how to access activities in an affordable way.

This is a very interesting, exciting, and educational program. I loved learning about the history of Paris and the people who live there. The guided walks and museum tours were the best. I learned about a side of Paris that I had only ever read about.

"Independent Paris" was the best program I have ever been on. I was apprehensive about being on my own in the afternoon but our guides, James and Louis, always made sure we had accurate information on what to see and where to eat and knew how to return to our hotel. I had thought of skipping parts of the program but realized i didn't want to miss anything. If you go, plan to go to Giverney before the trip starts and Versailles either before or after.

My daughter and I went on this trip together. We have a 30 year gap in our ages. We had different interests in the trip and all our interests were satisfied.

Excellent educational program. Staff was supportive, knowledgeable, well organized and very informative. Only take however if you like a lot of "free time." If you want a more structured program, look at another.

Great introduction to Paris, lots of insider information to make your free time more enjoyable. The leaders were interesting and informative with tips to make your stay as fulfilling and fun as possible. The included meals were excellent and you certainly won't leave the table hungry!

Before signing up for this Road Scholar program, I had heard only good things about Road Scholar and this trip confirmed all that I had heard. I participated in the Paris program and even though I had been to Paris on other occasions, I saw the city and the sites in new ways. This was largely due to the guides who were excellent. By the end of the program, they had become friends to participants. The group was 16 in number and the members were very compatible. I and a friend who signed up with me for this trip very much appreciated the overviews of the neighborhoods and sightseeing conducted mainly in the mornings and, in particular for us, the free afternoons - with some ideas from the guides - to wander around the city and pursue our personal interests. I want to recognize Pauline's ability to deal with unexpected events. One participant was ill during most of the program but was checked on constantly and a doctor was provided by Pauline and Road Scholar. Another participant was quite elderly, pretty confused and obviously had special needs - Pauline and Road Scholar provided someone to look after him on sightseeing excursions, which was really necessary but unexpected and therefore her response and the response of the person provided as a helper by Road Scholar was above and beyond the call of duty! My friend and I were very impressed. The fact that these two people were cared for enabled the rest of us to get the maximum out of the program, with no interruptions to the itinerary. It should also be reassuring that if an emergency occurs, that doesn't necessarily require major medical intervention, the guides and Road Scholar are prepared to do whatever is necessary for involved participants without delay, or bother for the group as a whole.

The check my trip section has never worked and has never been fixed, thereby leaving us at the mercy of people who shunt us from one part of the organization to the other. I loved the trip, but was very fed up with the details .

This trip was wonderful, educational, fun, inspiring. The group leader and instructor were great, we'd go anywhere with them! The hotel was lovely and well-located, close to the Metro. The group (16) became very cohesive and we intend to keep in touch with several fellow travelers. Just the best time!

This trip to Paris both met my dreams and made me long for more. The group participants were good travel companions, the activities interesting and informative, and the free time allowed me to experience a new place in a very "on the ground" way. I was able to figure out various modes of transportation and choose casual lunch spots on my own as well as stop at "must-see" and serendipitous shops I would have missed in a more structured program. Our guide was wonderful and the experience exactly what I wanted.

This was a wonderful experience. It was our first tour with Road Scholar and my husband and I were very impressed with their welcoming guides, the level of knowledge that our guides had about Paris. I feel like I had a vacation and a valuable education also. I can't wait to re-visit art history, and anything related to Paris! I honestly can't think of one thing I was not satisfied with. Can't wait to plan our next trip with Road Scholar.

Our experience with Road Scholar was wonderful. Our visit to Paris was informative and stress free. Our guides made us feel like family and it was incredible to share such memories with them and the other members of our group. Our trip was educational and paced perfectly with plenty of free time to explore the city on our own.

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! This was our first time out of USA and this could not have been any more perfect. Guides were great. Paris was great. Never felt in fear or worried. Wish there was a "Paris-Part 2" being offered. Can't wait to return to Paris. Sue A.

This trip was more than I expected. I knew the people who would lead us would be knowledgeable and helpful and I was not disappointed in any way. Every day was full of wonderful information, experiences and joyful activities that made us want to stay longer and have more of this beautiful city. There were four of us, myself, husband and two adult children. We had so much fun we were bursting with laughter as well. The days did not have enough hours to absorb all. We want to come again for another week with a more advanced look at Paris, not just the sites beginners expect. We hope that Road Scholar eventually offers this and that we might get the same guides. I hope they get rewarded for their wonderful, special treatment afforded all our group.

The Road Scholar Tour: Independent Paris: People, Places, Culture is a very well organized and run travel event. The leader and instructor were very well informed of Paris and the various museums and art works. Would recommend this tour highly.

My wife and I ended our Road Scholar Independent Paris program this A.M. and can't say enough good things about it. We arrived 5 days before the start of the program to acclimate to the 6 hour time change and to see some sites (Versailles, Giverny and Normandy) we thought we wouldn't have time for during the program. Our Group Leader Louis, who was warm and welcoming, did a great job organizing and leading the group and vigilantly caring for our safety and welfare. The Paris public transit system can be very busy at times but Louis made sure we stuck together and he always provided directions to those who wanted to venture off on their own. Our Instructor Julian was extraordinary - extremely knowlegeable about so many things French - art, architecture, history. His classrooms are the streets, arrondissements, historic buildings, churches and museums of Paris. He seamlessly wove stories and facts together and if we retain a small fraction of what he taught us, we will consider ourselves fulfilled. Thanks to Louis and Julian our short time in Paris will be fondly remembered.

Great guides. Great city. Great Food. Great People. Great Culture. Viva La France

As a first time visitor to Paris this program was perfect. The leader were so informative , friendly and helpful they made it a perfect week. The program is accurately desriibed in their info. Road Scholar exceed my high expectations.

Autumn, when the museums are less crowded, is a great time for a visit to Paris. Road Scholar makes it economical. What could be more fun than walking the streets with a dashing French Foreign Legionnaire in a trench coat and being guided to the best of each museum's collection by an art history guru wearing a red tam.

If you want to experience Paris, have only a week to do it, and are in good walking shape, Independent Paris is a great way to do it. No regrets, great value.

The Independent Paris program was so well crafted! By the end of our week we had experienced French culture not only in expert lectures and guidance in museums and other monuments, but also in the restaurant suggestions, the visit to the open air market, the wine tasting, the cooking lesson and even the metro and bus rides.

Just returned from my trip to Paris. Louis-Gabriel Bideau was superb. On more than one occassion he went above and beyond the call of duty. He made sure we were safe at all times. Jennifer had an excellent command of the history and art of Paris. Her lectures were well thought out, informative and educational. An added special touch was Jennifer's wonderful quick wit. This is an excellent trip for those traveling solo, with a friend or as a couple. Wear good shoes, because you will definitely walk a lot.

I just returned from the Independent Paris adventure, and I was very happy with the entire trip. I traveled solo and was a bit apprehensive about traveling to a country where I had minimal language sills and also did not know anyone on the trip, but my fellow participants were friendly and fun, and I really connected with some of them. Jennifer, our instructor, was terrific and I am home now wanting to learn even more about French history. She has so much knowledge about art that going to the museums with her was a joy. Her sense of humor makes me smile still. She gave us such wonderful information about the history of France and Paris that it made seeing the sites even more meaningful. Our Leader, Louis, was so knowledgeable, helpful, fun and just a great guy. He gave us great suggestions for places to eat that had good quality, delicious food at reasonable prices. He was so so helpful in providing directions for independent time and travel on the Metro and many tips for navigating the city. The location of the hotel made travel around the city via metro and bus so easy (with guidance from Louis) and by the end of the week, I was feeling very confident traveling around by myself.There are many cafes and brasseries in the area and also some wonderful bakeries.There are some grocery stores too so its easy to buy some water (or wine) and snacks if you want for the room. There is ALOT of walking, the activity level is accurate in the description, much of it on cobblestones, and lots of stairs every where, so my advice is pay attention to that description. I think most days I walked more than 5 miles ( including the time on my own) and one day I walked over 10. If you speak any French, don't be afraid to use it, people in Paris are polite, and no one laughed at me ( to my face anyway) for attempting to use my minimal French. Paris is an amazing city!

My trip (Independent France) opened up a new world of adventure for me. I look forward to taking another Road Scholar trip very soon.

Great program for giving an overview of highlights of Paris and Local Life.