Lunch with Private Guides ?

[scrapycruiser]

We will have private guides in June, Romecabs in Naples and Rome and

Revelation ,docking in Villefranche.

 

Do the guides/drivers eat with you and do you offer to pay for their lunch ?

 

What is a good restaurant in St Paul de Vence ?

[CruiserBruce]

It has been our experience they will decline your invitation. Usually they have a separate arrangement with the resturant.

[AnyPortinaStorm]

The best place for lunch in St Paul de vence is "Colombe D'Or ",,

make sure to make a reservation ASAP and ask for a table outside...

[bobalink]

Last summer we used Revelation Tours while we were in port at Cannes. We met folks on our roll call to share the excursion with; there were 7 of us all together.

 

Our driver met us at the port and we went to Monte Carlo, Nice, Eze, and Saint Paul de Vence. We ate lunch at a nice cafe in Saint Paul. I know we invited our guide to dine with us, but I think he declined. I checked my pictures and he is seated at the table, but I think he just sat down to be in the picture.

 

The cafe was nice, we sat at a table outside, and our tour guide was our "interpreter". The waitress was not happy that we all wanted separate checks. Our tour guide worked that out for us. The lunch took much longer than I wanted, but that is the pace in Europe.

 

Attached are some pictures of the cafe and the menu.

 

It was a perfect day, and our driver/guide was punctual, professional and knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone. They know their way around, and when we hit traffic, our driver took side streets and maneuvered the van down the winding streets to get us back to the ship in plenty of time.

 

Our day in Saint Paul and Eze was one of my favorites! The little villages are just like what you see in paintings of the Mediterranean. Crooked cobblestone streets, bouganvilla growing on the walls, lanterns, cafes, pottery shops, bakeries. I would go back in a heart beat!

 

 

Have a wonderful time!

[Comet2011]

We always invite our guide and/or driver to join us. They are usually outgoing enjoyable people, appreciate the invitation and usually continue to entertain us with stories of their city. We do pay the tab for them.

[Peteymil]

The best place for lunch in St Paul de vence is "Colombe D'Or ",,

make sure to make a reservation ASAP and ask for a table outside...

 

Just reading "US" magazine today, and they talk about this restaurant as Leo DiCaprio and Blake Lively were pictured eating lunch their.

 

Two years ago our guide Sylvie charmed her way into getting us a table, even though we did not have a reservation. It was one of the most memorable

and delicious lunches we have ever had. The setting outside was simply gorgeous. I agree that most guides will decline the invitation, but we really insisted she eat with us because she was so interesting. We will never forget that day.

[merprincess]

Just reading "US" magazine today, and they talk about this restaurant as Leo DiCaprio and Blake Lively were pictured eating lunch their.

 

Two years ago our guide Sylvie charmed her way into getting us a table, even though we did not have a reservation. It was one of the most memorable

and delicious lunches we have ever had. The setting outside was simply gorgeous. I agree that most guides will decline the invitation, but we really insisted she eat with us because she was so interesting. We will never forget that day.[/quote

 

It is amazing what Sylvie can accomplish with her charm. She managed to help charm our way into an event where there was no parking available, but the police agreed to let us park "for a few minutes", well an hour later we were still there. She is just great and very unique. We, as well, invited her to lunch and she was so very interesting and informative. What a delight!

[Peteymil]

Just reading "US" magazine today, and they talk about this restaurant as Leo DiCaprio and Blake Lively were pictured eating lunch their.

 

Two years ago our guide Sylvie charmed her way into getting us a table, even though we did not have a reservation. It was one of the most memorable

and delicious lunches we have ever had. The setting outside was simply gorgeous. I agree that most guides will decline the invitation, but we really insisted she eat with us because she was so interesting. We will never forget that day.[/quote

 

It is amazing what Sylvie can accomplish with her charm. She managed to help charm our way into an event where there was no parking available, but the police agreed to let us park "for a few minutes", well an hour later we were still there. She is just great and very unique. We, as well, invited her to lunch and she was so very interesting and informative. What a delight!

That's amazing, she got them to let us park right in front of the casino in Monte Carlo-same thing, we were amazed (merprincess,we're from Milwaukee!)

[merprincess]

That's amazing, she got them to let us park right in front of the casino in Monte Carlo-same thing, we were amazed (merprincess,we're from Milwaukee!)

 

Way to go Cheeseheads!

[winncruiser]

I had the wonderful experience of having Sylvie as a tour guide a few years ago on the French Rivera but my tour that day was booked through Princess. How did you all book her? privately or through your ship? If you booked her privately did you have a large group or just a couple? I would love to use her on my upcoming cruise in September but am worried that she is cost prohibitive.

Thank you for your responses!

Winncruiser

[kazu]

I had the wonderful experience of having Sylvie as a tour guide a few years ago on the French Rivera but my tour that day was booked through Princess. How did you all book her? privately or through your ship? If you booked her privately did you have a large group or just a couple? I would love to use her on my upcoming cruise in September but am worried that she is cost prohibitive.

Thank you for your responses!

Winncruiser

 

We used Sylvie last year and are happily using her again this year. She is fantastic. if you can get a small group together through your roll call, it is very helpful.

 

here is her full name, web page and email. Hurry before she is booked up.

 

Sylvie Di Cristo

Licensed National French Tour guide

Alpes Guides Interprètes

Port/Cell : (00.33) 06.09.88.83.83

NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: DiCristoSylvie@Gmail.com

NEW WEBSITE: www.FrenchRivieraGuides.net

[winncruiser]

thank you so much Jacqui,

 

e-mailing her now..

 

Anne

[kazu]

thank you so much Jacqui,

 

e-mailing her now..

 

Anne

 

you are very welcome. I don't rave about too many tour guides, but honestly, she was the best we have ever had anywhere. Everyone enjoyed her and she exudes such happiness and wants you to have a good time. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email if you want - it's in my signature.

[winncruiser]

Jacqui...I have Sylvie booked! So excited!

 

What were your favorite places and where are you planning to have her take you on your upcoming trip? I have been to Nice and Cannes, so want to do something different this trip. Thanks again for your reponse!

 

Anne

[kazu]

Jacqui...I have Sylvie booked! So excited!

 

What were your favorite places and where are you planning to have her take you on your upcoming trip? I have been to Nice and Cannes, so want to do something different this trip. Thanks again for your reponse!

 

Anne

 

Anne, that is wonderful. Our next trip we are going to St. Tropez so a bit further out. She is taking us to winery (free) co-operative, Grimaulz and some of the beautiful province. I kind of left it up to her to recommend as she is the expert. We are the tourists.;)

 

Are you docking at Monaco? Just let her know where you have been and she will make recommendations. she is quite creative and very flexible. she has a very good list of potential things to do.

 

I have to say, lunch in Eze was incredible last year. Reasonable and what a view - and yes, she did eat with us.

 

I think you will have a fantastic time with her. We certainly did:D If I can help in any other way, just post or email me.

 

Have fun:)

[doncarlos]

We almost always ask them to join us [ our account ] . The exception might be an on the spot hire common carrier driver [ taxi for exp. ]. A guide or guide-driver will generally accept and add a great deal to the enjoyment of lunch and the day . A driver may not accept unless he/she perceives you really do want his / her company . That relationship is generaly well established [ or not established ] long before lunch !!!!!!

[Keith1010]

It's really a personal decision. There is no right and wrong on this.

 

Keith

[minpin04]

...I have to say, lunch in Eze was incredible last year. Reasonable and what a view - and yes, she did eat with us....

 

Where did you eat in Eze?

 

Thanks,

Kim

[kazu]

Where did you eat in Eze?

 

Thanks,

Kim

 

I can't remember the name of the place - looking through the pictures - I don't see a name. Sylvie had recommended it to us. I'll see if I can find the name and will let you know. sorry:o

[renroc13]

We always invite our guide. The trips that we book through individuals who work primarily on their own usually join us and we have developed some wonderful long term relationships.

 

However the private guides that we have used that actually work for larger companies seem to decline.

 

They are both private guides but totally different experiences.

 

Karen

[renroc13]

We always invite our guide. The trips that we book through individuals who work primarily on their own usually join us and we have developed some wonderful long term relationships.

 

However the private guides that we have used that actually work for larger companies seem to decline.

 

They are both private guides but totally different experiences.

 

Karen

 

On second thought one is booked as a private guide and the other is booked as a private tour...

Karen