Dave

Does anyone have experience or suggestions regarding visiting Mont Saint Michel from Paris and returning the same day? We are thinking about taking the TGV to Rennes and then on to Mont Saint Michel by tour bus, local bus, local train or whatever. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Linda

I travelled from the Paris to Mont St. Michel in one day and had no problems. I travelled to Rennes and then took a bus waiting right outside the train station or actually train platform. There was nothing more there. It worked out perfectly. Just make sure to leave early so you will have plenty of time to see the monastery. You will absolutely be amazed at the sight of the island. It is a climb to the top to see the church but the view all the way up is amazing and the local shops and bistros will charm you. Take your walking shoes.

Louis Dameson

The TVG to Rennes is met be a bus to Mont St. Michel and it is a delightful trip to get there. It is about 3hr total duration. It is also possible to return the same day by the same method. This does leave limited time there with tourist crowds. We overnighted there, there are several hotels that are less then $100 per night. It is pure delight to be there when most of the tourists are gone. I strongly recommend that you plan to stay overnight. By the way if you are over 65 it is worthwhile to buy a senior train card, it will save money on just one trip like this. If you stop in at the tourist bureau at the Louvre, there is a counter there that will give you all the details on the train/bus trip including schedule. Take 2nd class on TVG, it is most comfortable. 1st class offers nothing of value on a trip this short.

B.

I second that suggestion to stay overnight in Mont St Michel. It *much* nicer that way! There is only one street on the island and it's packed with tacky shops and tourists (even off season) but about an hour before sunset 95%25 of them leave.....and it's so nice then. I got some great photos of the moon rising near the Mont from the causeway. The town is so quiet at night and in the early morning.

BILL

I almost didn't offer up my opinion on the Mt St Michel trip as everyone else seems to have really liked it.

But for my time and money, I wish I hadn't wasted either of those items on Mt St Michel. i did however, really appreciate Normandy especially since I'm a history buff. The view of the beaches were spectacular and the American cemetery is not to be missed. Also, there is a German cemetery relatively close to the American cemetery. The differenc is striking; it's very unkept, and is dark like a Batman movie. It's really eerie.

I felt like the time it took to go to Mt St Michel could better be used seeing the Bayeux Tapestry or just spending more time in Normandy. I'd also rather take a day trip to Bruges, the champagne country and Rheims cathedral, Chartres cathedral, or see a chateaux or two, etc.

I guess it depends on your interests and if you've already "been to Paris and other parts of France so many times that it doesn't make any difference."