I love to travel alone.  I get up when I want to.  I go where I want to go and spend as much time as I wish there.  I stay out as late as I wish.  It is a great feeling of freedom that I enjoy so much.  

However, I can understand why some people would like to travel with others, especially in a group.   There is that great opportunity to socialize with other travelers.  Also, group tours usually have a guide to arrange the details for you and to direct you around the city.

However, this is what I don’t like about organized tours:

• They can be expensive.  For instance, Rick Steves charges $1,995 for a 6-night Paris trip
• Those cattle-car bus trips where you travel on THEIR schedule and THEY tell you what to see and do
• In general, only corporate chain hotels will take group reservations in Paris.  By traveling with a group, you miss staying in charming hotels in charming neighborhoods
• The groups are too big for you to receive any personalized attention
• They try to “upsell” you on other tours or they steer you to markets or shops where the guides receive a commission
• Lots of tours are “canned” programs that are just “tourist” experiences.
• The most experience you get in mingling with the locals is speaking with your tour guide
• The tour company’s primary objective is to make money.    They want to make you happy too, but that is secondary to their primary objective

What I do like about organized tours:

• You have an instant social group
• You don’t have to think about anything
• Your guide should be able to answer  just about any question you might have
• It’s a good way to get familiar with Paris, especially on your first time there

It has always been my pleasure to take groups to Paris.   I have gone with a “group” as small as 2, and some as large as 20.   I have gone with tour companies, and I have arranged tours on my own.  I have found that what people like is:

• A clean, comfortable, and quiet hotel  in a good location.
• They like traveling as a group, but not with all of them at the same time.  In other words, I find if I am traveling with a group of 16, there might be 5 or 6 that are very independent travelers and always like to venture out on their own.   A few others like to stick with me all day.  And a few other s like me to plan their daily itineraries, and then I don’t see them until the next day.
• They like being able to consult with someone on itineraries, restaurants, attractions, and other details

I can tell you that people DON’T like being herded on tour buses or shepherded around the city like sheep.

All in all, I think going on a tour is positive, especially on your first trip to Paris.   The less structured it is, probably the less you will pay for it and the more you will enjoy it.