Need Help: Paris/Normandy Itin.
Nov 22nd, 2008, 06:17 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Need Help: Paris/Normandy Itin.
My husband and I are currently planning our Spring Break trip (1st week in April). We will stay in Paris for 2-3 nights and then want to spend 1-2 nights in the Normandy region before heading back to Paris to fly home (DC). We usually do everything by train when in Europe, using DH's hotel points for free stays. I have been to Paris before, but he hasn't. We are both history buffs and want to make sure we see the Bayeux tapestry and Mt. St. Michel. Since DH is 6'7", renting a reasonably sized, automatic car might be difficult.
I need help with the best way (by train/bus) to get from Paris to the villages/towns of Normandy. Also, we've heard conflicting advice about where to base while in the region. We can get a free hotel stay in Caen, but others have recommended that we base out of Honfleur or Bayeaux. HELP!
I need help with the best way (by train/bus) to get from Paris to the villages/towns of Normandy. Also, we've heard conflicting advice about where to base while in the region. We can get a free hotel stay in Caen, but others have recommended that we base out of Honfleur or Bayeaux. HELP!
Nov 22nd, 2008, 06:48 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is frequent train service from Paris to Caen and Bayeux.
There is no train service to Honfleur. You would need to take a train from Paris to either Deauville, Lisieux, or Pont-l'Eveque and then take a Bus Vert du Calvados (either line 20 or line 50) from there to Honfleur. See here: http://tinyurl.com/6fl6du.
Your fastest way from either Caen or Bayeux to Mont-St-Michel is to take a train to Pontorson and a local bus from there to Mont-St-Michel.
For detailed timetables go to www.bahn.de and click on the drop-own menu in the upper right-and corner. After you get summary timetables for your route(s), click on "Details for all" to see the connecting points.
There is no train service to Honfleur. You would need to take a train from Paris to either Deauville, Lisieux, or Pont-l'Eveque and then take a Bus Vert du Calvados (either line 20 or line 50) from there to Honfleur. See here: http://tinyurl.com/6fl6du.
Your fastest way from either Caen or Bayeux to Mont-St-Michel is to take a train to Pontorson and a local bus from there to Mont-St-Michel.
For detailed timetables go to www.bahn.de and click on the drop-own menu in the upper right-and corner. After you get summary timetables for your route(s), click on "Details for all" to see the connecting points.
Nov 22nd, 2008, 06:50 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you planning on visiting the WW II beaches, etc? I would recommend a day-long tour for that, such as www.battlebus.com. They present so much information that I can't imagine doing all that research myself, but you say you are history buffs, so perhaps you would do your homework!
Most people base in Bayeux, but the free hotel in Caen would figure into my equation. The very interesting Peace Memorial Museum is in Caen, too-- otherwise not a very interesting city but not that far from Bayeux, either.
Maybe other very tall people will report about their experiences with rental cars; I think you would be happier with a car b/c of the flexibility you would have.
Have a wonderful time; we loved our sejour in Normandy.
Most people base in Bayeux, but the free hotel in Caen would figure into my equation. The very interesting Peace Memorial Museum is in Caen, too-- otherwise not a very interesting city but not that far from Bayeux, either.
Maybe other very tall people will report about their experiences with rental cars; I think you would be happier with a car b/c of the flexibility you would have.
Have a wonderful time; we loved our sejour in Normandy.
Nov 22nd, 2008, 06:54 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nov 22nd, 2008, 12:48 PM
#6
Dear Mentor,
We did this trip over the summer. We had 1 day in Paris, 3 in Normandy and 1 in Paris and then headed home to Zurich.
I like to train so we took the train from Paris to Caen and it was about 2 hours. We spent the day at the Peace Museum (yes, a full day if you are into history) and then took the train to Bayeux where we spent all 3 nights. We had a private half day tour of the beaches and they met us at our hotel with a car. I hear Battlebus is good about having convenient locations for pickup in their vans. You can also do a tour through the Peace Museum. Others disagree, but I highly recommend a tour esp. since you don't have a lot of time.
Caen actually seemed like an interesting little city to me. You can always take the train (20 minutes or so) to Bayeux for the day which would be plenty of time there for the tapestry, the cathedral, and a stroll. Really it is a pretty small city and a day is plenty. I would probably do the free lodgings there.
Mte Ste Michel is more problematic. Again we took the train. I think under 2 hours... Then we took a bus. The problem is, once you are at Mte Ste Michel, there is no way to get out of there until later in the afternoon. 2 hours was plenty for us esp. given the crowds and the crazy touristy feeling of the "town" below the monastery. My daughter and I actually "hitched" a ride back to the train station. Too bad we had to wait over 2 hours for the next train. We did have a really great lunch in town but it was a lot of wasted hours on a short trip. I had heard the drive is not so short either.
MSM is a spectacular and spiritual place (if you overlook all the other people there) but sort of an outlier to the beaches and WWII things. I am hopeful that April is a better time to go and you can enjoy it with less people.
If it is of interest, I wrote an encyclopedia on our trip but you can scroll down to the Normandy part. Search under gruezi and WWII and Holocaust Journey.
Have a great trip.
gruezi
We did this trip over the summer. We had 1 day in Paris, 3 in Normandy and 1 in Paris and then headed home to Zurich.
I like to train so we took the train from Paris to Caen and it was about 2 hours. We spent the day at the Peace Museum (yes, a full day if you are into history) and then took the train to Bayeux where we spent all 3 nights. We had a private half day tour of the beaches and they met us at our hotel with a car. I hear Battlebus is good about having convenient locations for pickup in their vans. You can also do a tour through the Peace Museum. Others disagree, but I highly recommend a tour esp. since you don't have a lot of time.
Caen actually seemed like an interesting little city to me. You can always take the train (20 minutes or so) to Bayeux for the day which would be plenty of time there for the tapestry, the cathedral, and a stroll. Really it is a pretty small city and a day is plenty. I would probably do the free lodgings there.
Mte Ste Michel is more problematic. Again we took the train. I think under 2 hours... Then we took a bus. The problem is, once you are at Mte Ste Michel, there is no way to get out of there until later in the afternoon. 2 hours was plenty for us esp. given the crowds and the crazy touristy feeling of the "town" below the monastery. My daughter and I actually "hitched" a ride back to the train station. Too bad we had to wait over 2 hours for the next train. We did have a really great lunch in town but it was a lot of wasted hours on a short trip. I had heard the drive is not so short either.
MSM is a spectacular and spiritual place (if you overlook all the other people there) but sort of an outlier to the beaches and WWII things. I am hopeful that April is a better time to go and you can enjoy it with less people.
If it is of interest, I wrote an encyclopedia on our trip but you can scroll down to the Normandy part. Search under gruezi and WWII and Holocaust Journey.
Have a great trip.
gruezi
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jannyklm
Europe
17
Oct 8th, 2011 07:26 PM
