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Until recently buying guide books was an
essential part of Paris
travel.
Crank up the PC/Apple
and start downloading, because audio tours in MP3 format are available on
the internet.
Now
you can download audio tours that can pass the time while flying 8 hours to
Paris and give yourself a jumpstart to your Paris sightseeing; especially if
you are in the habit of listening to an MP3/iPod while strolling,
The
audio guides may be fun to try as you cruise the city looking at the Paris
highlights: certain Paris monuments and museums.
For
those new to
the MP3 concept, remember that the name iPod is almost generic, much as
Kleenex means a tissue or when Xerox meant a photocopy. If the website refers to
iPod all of the time, you are not obliged to run out and buy one.
The inventory of
ZeVisite,
iAudioguide.com
Rick Steves, and
Paris eGuides, is limited and will
not completely replace the traditional guide book or the live tour guide.
Relatively new, this concept is intended to expand with some of these
companies.
The
four websites offer an opportunity to listen before you download or before
you buy their premium versions, if offered.
The
Paris Tourist Office is promoting
ZeVisite with
two free Paris tour downloads.
If you prefer to have the work done for you, you can buy an MP3 key from the
Paris Tourist Office's
on-line
boutique or at one of their tourist offices with the visits already
downloaded.
Go to
ZeVisite's website, sign up with a user name and password and download
the two Paris tours and other free audio tours within in France.
iAudioguide.com is a Belgium company that offers 6
Paris sightseeing tracks in free
downloads with printable maps.
An option to
purchase the 16 premium-track versions is available. Their maps are
downloadable to iPods and other MP3 players that have this download capability.
iAudioguide.com also provides download possibilities for
other European cities.
iAudioguide.com
states that they are constantly working on new guides. "Check back often
to see what has been added," they say. You can subscribe to the
iAudioguide.com newsletter or podcast for updates. They also offer the
option of buying specific "songs"/visits when you click on "Listen to all
samples".
Rick Steves offers
four Paris audio tours
and downloadable maps for printing. Mr. Steves offers two museums (Louvre
and d'Orsay),
Versailles and and a Paris historic walk. No other audio tours are available.
Mr. Steves'
maps are cute -- it is a .pdf (Acrobat Reader) format with arrows showing
the directions and numbers corresponding to the tour highlights and sometimes with little comments: "What a great view!" -- I can see
why his guide books are popular.
The French
company,
Paris
eGuides, includes an eBook, 4 maps and 18 MP3 audio files that
describe the tour (tours 1 and 2) when you purchase their downloads. They
are working on tours 3 and 4). No other cities are offered.
In
its package, one company does provide an eBook filled with practical
information (the only one of the websites to do so). Click either on the
pages to turn them or the arrows at the bottom of the eBook, has sound
effects and music.
As
with the other three website, the Paris eGuides tours provide basic
essential sightseeing. On their homepage, click on "MP3 audio tracks demo"
for a list of the monuments covered.
The eBook
also provides useful and practical information such as transportation and
phone numbers and history.
You need an MP3
audio player, iPod, iPhone or mobile phone. The audio files can be
transferred to your portable unit by dragging and dropping from the CD
version or directory when you purchase the downloadable version.
In
summary, each company offers some of the same sights, but each has an
individual presentation quality and each offers a visit that the other does
not.
Enjoy!
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May 2008
