SM
Testimonials
"As someone who studied art history, I had always dreamed of visiting Paris and finally decided to book a small group tour with Paris Personally last Christmas. I'm glad I did because the trip exceeded all of my expectations. Gina, our host, went above and beyond for all of us throughout the trip to make sure we felt safe and comfortable exploring the city. Every detail of the morning itinerary was carefully planned out, and Gina always had additional suggestions for the afternoon. You can tell Gina is very knowledgeable and loves the city deeply. Hotel Opera is a lovely boutique hotel in a great location, and I was able to see more of Paris' neighborhoods with Gina than had I traveled alone. I have so many fond memories from the trip, although exploring Montmartre and having Christmas dinner with the group really stands out. I highly recommend Paris Personally and hope to book another one of Gina's tours in the future."
New York, NY
"I can’t stop thinking about my recent trip to Paris. I’d been there twice before but never had as wonderful an experience - all due to Gina Hunt. The first night we met for some wine and an opportunity to get to know the other group members. We instantly clicked and from then on it was like old friends sharing the wonders of Paris.
Had I gone by myself I never would have experienced learning how to cook a meal by a Cordon Bleu chef in her gorgeous Parisian apartment; or Cami’s great photography lesson and so many other highlights that it’s impossible to list.
Gina is knowledgeable and so very warm. I hope she knows that she gives so many people such impactful memories that will last a lifetime."
D. Lynn
New York, NY
"I recently returned from a great Paris Personally week in Paris and I agree with the other testimonials posted here.
I would like to add that our group leader's enthusiasm, knowledge of Paris, energy, and personality, as well as the warmth of our group, made this time very special. Our daily activities involved things that I hadn't known about and were fun and interesting making this trip unique.
I recommend that anyone considering a solo trip consider this."
Robert Frishman
"There just aren’t words to explain what a good time I had in Paris with you. You really made it seem like we were part of the city. All of the activities that you had planned, the detail that went into them, and how they suited our group so well really shows that you take a lot of pride and put thought into your trips. We felt like we really were living the life of a Parisian. It was great to have all of your restaurant suggestions, shopping suggestions, and tips to getting around on the metro. I don’t think I could’ve chosen a better person to do a tour with. The fact that you keep the groups so small makes it all the more enjoyable. I can’t wait for my next visit to Paris! Thank you for all you did and for making my dreams come true."
Sincerely,
Kimberly B.
Rocky Mount, NC
"A Delightful Week for the Senses!
Gina’s thoughtfully curated activities on the “A Week with the French” tour brought me firsthand experiences with French culture. Our week began with a photography lesson, which taught me to see my subjects and compose my photos so that they became little pieces of art. The luscious smells and artful instruction in the perfume workshop helped me create a perfume that I truly love. The deliciousness of the champagne tasting in an authentic wine cellar was fun and oh so chic. The tactile fabrics, clothing, jewelry and more at the flea market were a feast for the hands and the eyes. And, listening to Gina’s captivating knowledge of Paris neighborhoods, statues, architecture, and museums was better than what any guide book could offer. She really knows Paris. This was the first group tour I’ve ever taken and Gina’s warmth, caring and organizational skills made my trip to Paris fabulous! Thanks, Gina!"
M. Carter, Nashville, TN
"Wonderful! Inspiring! And So Personal!
The trip to Paris was so wonderful. All the pre-trip communication was so informative and helpful. Then Gina greeted me the first night with a glass of wine and welcome, but most importantly, a warm smile. This trip was truly unique. Personal photography course, cooking lesson in someone’s private home, champagne tasting, perfume-making class, and so much more. The schedule was great, free time in the morning or afternoon and a time to explore. Gina’s immense knowledge, insider tips, and patience, (I had a personal emergency), all contributed to making the trip magical and wonderful. On my first trip to Paris, Gina made it personal, heartfelt, and perfect!
Thank you Gina. Because of you, I will always remember Paris with happy memories and much fondness!"
R. McCarthy, Pasadena, CA
"Just returned from 'A Week with the French' - I couldn't have asked for a better tour guide than Gina, or for a better experience in such a short time. Gina accommodated everyone in our small group and made sure we all saw/got what we came to Paris for. Her love of Paris shows, and is infectious. I highly recommend Paris Personally for anyone thinking of visiting Paris as jumpstart at least on getting to know the city."
M. Petrus, Cleveland, OH
"Gina, thank you so much for such a great week. I was totally enthralled in the experience you created to see so many wonderful sites and places in such a short time. I fell in love with Paris and I credit you for that. I would refer you to anyone. You are generous, kind and had all the knowledge and experience I wanted to have a full-out experience. Happy New Year! I hope our paths cross again."
J. Lennon, Toronto CA
"Gina made my first trip to Paris a memorable experience. There was so much I wanted to see and experience - not knowing the layout of the city or the workings of public transportation, I wondered how much I'd be able to accomplish. Not to worry! Gina developed an itinerary that moved us throughout the city, ensuring that we were comfortable with independently using both the metro and trains when we were on our own exploring. The itinerary covered a number of the must-see locations as well as exploring neighborhoods, pointing out historical events, highlighting gardens, various viewing points, and stopping at small cafes for lunch and lattes....and the art...and the architecture...and the creative holiday windows at major Paris department stores, what fun! I appreciated her love and enthusiasm for her adopted city as well as her flexibility in ensuring we could personalize our visit. Paris Personally is aptly named! It was so much fun seeing some of the locations that she had discovered in her own exploration of the city. It was clear they have made her Paris experience so rich, which she in turn shared with us.
Christmas was a lovely time to visit, and I now know that I have to return in the spring or fall. I would, and have, recommended Paris Personally to friends and neighbors. It was a wonderful experience. Thank you Gina"
Maureen, Washington DC
"Gina's love of Paris and enthusiasm for its beauty and contradictions made our small group trip in December a complete delight. The beautiful small hotel, the thoughtfully-designed activities, and Gina's warmth created an unforgettable week full of sights and delights. I felt at home in a brand-new place, and am looking forward to my return in the fall. I have recommended Paris Personally to numerous friends, including those who have visited Paris before, because they will learn something new. The tours are the perfect combination of group and individual time--with a lot of walking (thanks in part to the Metro strike). Many thanks to Gina for this terrific week of exploration in the City of Light."
P. Maloney, Washington DC
"Gina is the complete package. She knew exactly how to organize our trip to maximize our time, visiting iconic sites, recommending a well-situated hotel, and teaching us how to navigate trains and buses, even during a metro strike! A real bonus is spending time with Gina herself, and hearing about her experience moving to, living in, and loving Paris. She is generous with her knowledge, and worked to make this the best experience it could be. I've recommended her to several friends since returning home to Texas."
P. Hall, Dallas, TX
"What a wonderful time we had with Gina at Paris Personally. We had a short time for sightseeing in Paris and wanted to make the most of it so we booked two half-days with Gina. She listened to what we wanted to see and do and then delivered - lots of great photo ops, fantastic food, and out-of-the-way sights of Paris. All with interesting background stories and historical insights. Thanks to Gina for ensuring that we had a fantastic trip!"
S. Rasmussen, FL
"Dear Gina,
I cannot thank you enough for all you did to make our trip to Paris SO wonderful! All of your careful planning with suggested itinerary, restaurants and museums was really spot on! We really appreciated your organizing all your suggestions by arrondissement as well as earmarking which places you felt were better for a drink or coffee as opposed to dinner!
We truly enjoyed all the days we spent with you! You had SO many interesting facts and knew alot of hidden unusual places that made our time in Paris really personal. Your business is aptly named as Paris Personally!!!
We had many unique and special experiences that would have been impossible without you! Our field trip to the flea market, our lovely time in Montmartre (highlighted by Denise Acabo at her chocolate shop), and the cooking class with Veronique (even asking her to tailor the menu to my desire to make a cheese souffle!!) are just a few examples of your truly personal service!!
We feel as if you are now an old friend! Your easy going lovely warm personality and your detailed knowledge are a rare combination. We were blessed to have you going many extra miles for us!!
We look forward to returning to Paris and to seeing you again!
MERCI! MERCI! MERCI!
All Best Wishes,
Jill and Howard Moye
P.S. we cant wait to try the wonderful seasonal cheese you told us was your favorite!!"
"Incredible experience from an excellent, friendly guide! Gina and Paris Personally helped me discover sides of Paris that I would have never seen had I relied on a tour book or popular suggestions. Like many people, I do want to see landmarks when I visit a city, but I also really want to see sides of the city that only a local will know.
Gina took the time to learn about my travel interests (war history, beautiful, unique scenery, good food and drink) and prepared an experience that showed me the best of what the city had to offer.
To this day, I count my experience in Paris-- led by Gina-- as one of the best vacations of my life. She made my experience feel like that of a true Parisian instead of just that of a visitor to the city. I have strongly recommended her to friends and will continue to do so. Thank you for making my stay so much fun, Gina!"
G. Pate, NC
"Gina, with you as our tour guide you made our Paris experience memorable, exciting and exactly what we were looking for. Your flexibility and suggestions for new sites and destinations as well as your concern, when I was not able to travel the second day, was very appreciated and just as much fun especially while having lunch at a “local’s” cafe and experiencing even more of non tourist Paris. Your personal attention to our wish list, knowledge of the city and language was evident and certainly enhanced our Paris experience.
You were timely, gracious, informed, prepared and a delight to have as our tour guide. You made us feel like we were visiting a friend in Paris and you were showing us around. My travel companion mentioned several times how fortunate we were to have hired you. I certainly agree and highly recommend you to anyone wishing to tour and experience the true Paris."
Sincerely and gratefully,
D. Grant, NC
"Gina, I’m still thinking about my week with you in Paris! I can’t wait to come back. You showed us so many beautiful and interesting things and helped me feel so comfortable in a city I’d never been to. I loved our mornings together as a group, and the help you gave us for our individual exploring in the afternoons made such a difference. I’ve told everyone I know that they should do a group trip with you. I’ve traveled on my own, so I’m comfortable doing it, but I got so much more out of being part of your group, and I still got to do the things I wanted to do. Thanks for a lovely week!"
A. Clark, FL
"Our tour was definitely "Paris Personally." Gina, our tour guide, was always there ahead of time, was very knowledgable about so many things, and very flexible. She was able to quickly think of other options for our tour when things needed to be changed for health reasons. Her attention to our wish list and the valuable information given to us before, during, and after our tours made our adventure so much more enjoyable (especially having lunch at a "locals" cafe). She even advised about our shopping trip after the tour.
Gina is originally from North Carolina and has now been living in Paris for many years. It helped us that she spoke fluent French as well as English. This made it so very easy to understand everything. It just felt as though we were visiting a dear friend who was showing us Paris. We plan to go back to Paris in the near future and will be calling Paris Personally and Gina for additional tours.
I would highly recommend Paris Personally and Gina to anyone wishing to tour Paris and to experience the true Paris.
Thank you so much for making our vacation a truly happy experience."
Jean S., NC
"My daughter and I had an amazing time touring Paris with Gina. We were only there for a week and wanted to cram in as much as possible. Gina was organized and had it all planned out. Her enthusiasm for Paris was so apparent that I could see why she fell in love with living there. She wants to share her knowledge of Paris with others. Gina knows so much about monuments and other buildings, so we learned more than we would have if we were on our own or with a large tour group.
She also took us to some of her favorite restaurants. My daughter and I didn't have a single bad meal while we were there. We came back to the states feeling like we really got a personal tour of Paris. Gina knew what our expectations were and nailed it perfectly!"
Ann S., Richmond, VA
"Gina is excellent! We were fortunate to spend two mornings with her in Paris. Her knowledge of Paris and France gave us a better experience for our first time. She helped us navigate in the city which felt overwhelming and she put us at ease. Our walking tour was excellent !! If you're going to Paris, Gina will guide you into a wonderful experience!! Bon Voyage!"
J. Santa Lucia, NC
"Gina with Paris Personally was amazing! She is so knowledgeable and really enthusiastic about Paris. We did a half day tour with her, covering Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Her insight about getting around the city, what sights are not to be missed, and just how an American tourist can feel comfortable in the city really made our trip more enjoyable and fun. We would definitely love to see Paris and Gina again, and learn and experience more of the magic of Paris!"
L. Laxton, NC
Discovering Paris with Gina as our guide was one of my all time favorite traveling experiences.
Prior to our arrival, she asked lots of questions about my interests and those of my two sons (ages 18 and 20). She gave us tips related to making our stay in Paris an all around great experience. She arrived promptly to start our day and had a full day already mapped out, but she could adjust the plan based on our pace and preferences. Her love of the city was obvious. She had vast knowledge of the history of the city from a variety of perspectives. She shared interesting highlights about various things from architects to artists to writers. It was more conversational and tailored to her audience. We could ask questions and spend as much time (or as little) wherever we were. When I wanted to pop in a shop that caught my eye, she was accommodating and gracious.
Another thing I appreciated was that she had knowledge about food and was able to recommend places to eat based on our sense of dining adventure. She did not disappoint. One of my sons was interested in learning about wine and she was able to incorporate some pointers throughout the day as we passed some wine shops.
Despite the temperature of the day climbing over 100 degrees, she smiled and laughed and was a delightful host and was resourceful in finding a place for us to cool off periodically as the day warmed up. My sons and I also enjoyed learning some key French phrases and tips about the culture and etiquette that helped us the remainder of our stay in Paris.
The day will be a treasured memory of time spent with my sons both of whom said it was their favorite day of our vacation.
L. Freeman, Raleigh, NC
In April, my daughter and I spent a week in Paris for her Spring Break. We could not have been happier to have Gina as our personal guide. She is very professional, detailed, and approachable. We were so impressed with her extensive knowledge of the history and architecture of Paris. She customized our tours and was very efficient at planning our site seeing which maximized her time spent with us. She took great efforts to explain all the finer nuances of the sites and was very conscious of our interests.
Besides the normal touristy spots, she took us to see many unique places where the average tourist would not visit. Her knowledge, passion, and stories gave us a special view of Paris.
Gina went above and beyond our expectations and we are truly grateful of her willingness and patience during our trip! We can’t wait to visit Paris again and experience another tour by Gina.
Julie H., NC
"This is the best group trip I’ve ever been on. One of the main reasons that I signed up for this trip was that there was no single supplement, but I found the entire Paris Personally approach to be superior. Gina had created a great itinerary for every morning together, and I saw and learned so much with her as our guide. She’s lived there for 10 years, and she really loves sharing all she knows about her city. Her passion for Paris is contagious. Having the afternoons free was great because I could do some other things that I wouldn’t have had time to do if we’d been together as a group all day. We used the metro and walked alot, which I loved. The group was small at 8 people, so I could hear everything that was said when we were out as a group, and it just felt much more personal than the large group trips I’ve been on. This is really the way to do a small group trip to Paris. I recommend Paris Personally without hesitation."
J. Grimes, FL
"Our first trip to Paris and what a great trip it was! We were referred to Gina by a friend and appreciated her friendliness and professionalism from our first phone conversation. When we got to Paris, she first oriented us to Paris and our neighborhood then spent the afternoon showing us around the center of Paris. Because of Gina, we saw things we never would have even known to look for on our own. Highly recommend Gina for private tours. We'll definitely hire her again on our next trip to Paris!"
J. and W. Edwards, FL
"Darling, knowledgeable, a true gem of a guide. Like having a personal friend show you around."
N. Dougherty, TX
"Gina is a charming and fabulously fun guide with great Parisian knowledge, both historical and current. It’s exciting and comforting to go around with a Parisian friend!"
Q. Nguyen, WA
I visited Paris with Gina in June 2023. I found Gina to be incredibly knowledgeable, not only about Parisian history, but about all the little things that come together to enhance a trip. She was very willing to offer advice or information about the best ways to get around the city, the best times to go, and things not to miss. She expertly balanced that guidance with providing the freedom to explore on our own; for example, the Metro is the easiest way to get around Paris, and rather than simply accompanying you everywhere, Gina guides you on how to use it and provides your own Metro pass to do so. Additionally, Gina was down to earth and very personable, and managed the group very well. The group size was perfect and provided a positive experience without feeling too restrictive. All in all, I feel like I saw Paris with a good friend. I would highly recommend Gina to anybody looking for a meaningful, engaging trip to a beautiful city.
J. Sullivan