One night: Rouen, or seaside town like Trouville, Etretat?
Jan 23rd, 2016, 12:44 PM
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One night: Rouen, or seaside town like Trouville, Etretat?
Hi,
Leaving Paris in mid-April, we want to spend a night in Normandy before catching Eurostar back to London. Would probably be taking public transport, though rental car is an option.
It seems to make sense to catch Eurostar at Calais, rather than travel back to Paris, but the train times seem to be only in mornings.
Any idea of realistic travel logistics? Someplace like Étretat, Dieppe or Trouville would be great. Or stay in Rouen, then find a bus to the sea?
Leaving Paris in mid-April, we want to spend a night in Normandy before catching Eurostar back to London. Would probably be taking public transport, though rental car is an option.
It seems to make sense to catch Eurostar at Calais, rather than travel back to Paris, but the train times seem to be only in mornings.
Any idea of realistic travel logistics? Someplace like Étretat, Dieppe or Trouville would be great. Or stay in Rouen, then find a bus to the sea?
Jan 23rd, 2016, 12:53 PM
#3
Trouville is a great place to stay and has much more economical options along the boardwalk than Deauville. However, the Ibis in Deauville is one of the nicest Ibis hotels in the country.
Etretat is wonderful but is rather complicated to get to without a car.
Etretat is wonderful but is rather complicated to get to without a car.
Jan 23rd, 2016, 01:16 PM
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the quickest way by train is via Paris or the odd direct Rouen to Lille Flandres train, taking just over 2 hours - many Eurostars stop at Lille Europe - just a short stroll on a dedicated walkway from Lille Flandres station. It takes about 2 hours longer by train to Calais-Frethun, the Eurostar station some miles out of Calais proper.
Trains go frequently from Rouen to Trouville - 11:17 most days there is a direct Rouen to Lille Flandres train - making that the quickest connection, about an hour or so faster than going back to London first (according to www.bahn.de/en).
Now thinking outside the box why not go to Bayeux for the day - perhaps do a D-day tour by mini-bus and see the famous cathedral and stay the night in the very pleasant town. Then next day pop over by train to Caen and shuttle bus to nearby Oustreham for Brittany Ferries frequent fast services to Portsmouth which has frequent trains to London - from Normandy this may well be the quickest and cheapest link.
For lots on trains check www.voyages-sncf.com - French Railways official site and www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. www.eurostar.comfor Eurostar fares and booking easily your own ducat.
the boats are modern with lots of distractions on board and it is neat IME to reach merry ole England by boat as folks did for years and years. Fares can be very cheap if you book way in advance.
Trains go frequently from Rouen to Trouville - 11:17 most days there is a direct Rouen to Lille Flandres train - making that the quickest connection, about an hour or so faster than going back to London first (according to www.bahn.de/en).
Now thinking outside the box why not go to Bayeux for the day - perhaps do a D-day tour by mini-bus and see the famous cathedral and stay the night in the very pleasant town. Then next day pop over by train to Caen and shuttle bus to nearby Oustreham for Brittany Ferries frequent fast services to Portsmouth which has frequent trains to London - from Normandy this may well be the quickest and cheapest link.
For lots on trains check www.voyages-sncf.com - French Railways official site and www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. www.eurostar.comfor Eurostar fares and booking easily your own ducat.
the boats are modern with lots of distractions on board and it is neat IME to reach merry ole England by boat as folks did for years and years. Fares can be very cheap if you book way in advance.
Jan 23rd, 2016, 01:17 PM
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Check this one, we've been several times. Fabulous.
And the money they make go for a charitative association.
https://www.facebook.com/HaecOtia
And the money they make go for a charitative association.
https://www.facebook.com/HaecOtia
Jan 23rd, 2016, 03:42 PM
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April really isn't beach weather--Bayeux is a great suggestion and check out Honfleur, pretty little harbor village.
Taking a ferry is a good suggestion rather than doubling back to Paris or over to Calais. Brittany Ferries' service is great, in our experience. In April there should be options out of Caen (Oustreham), Cherbourg and Le Harve.
Portsmouth and Poole have excellent train service to London-Waterloo, Portsmouth being quicker.
Taking a ferry is a good suggestion rather than doubling back to Paris or over to Calais. Brittany Ferries' service is great, in our experience. In April there should be options out of Caen (Oustreham), Cherbourg and Le Harve.
Portsmouth and Poole have excellent train service to London-Waterloo, Portsmouth being quicker.
Jan 24th, 2016, 06:06 AM
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>>Landlocked by 1000 miles or so, we want to be near the sea. <<
The sea is very different in Normandy. In Deauville/Trouville, you have a wide sandy beach with a dense row of hotels behind it. It is good for long walks along the waterline.
Honfleur is one of the most picturesque towns in France. It is a harbour town, but a short walk north of town you find the open sea with dunes and a natural sandy beach.
Northeast of Le Havre, there is the dramatic coast of steep chalk cliffs. There are few small towns in coves. Etretat is probably the most interesting town because of the bizarre cliffs there. Fecamp and Dieppe are a little wider with longer pebble beaches.
So much for the landscape. I have not checked public transport.
The sea is very different in Normandy. In Deauville/Trouville, you have a wide sandy beach with a dense row of hotels behind it. It is good for long walks along the waterline.
Honfleur is one of the most picturesque towns in France. It is a harbour town, but a short walk north of town you find the open sea with dunes and a natural sandy beach.
Northeast of Le Havre, there is the dramatic coast of steep chalk cliffs. There are few small towns in coves. Etretat is probably the most interesting town because of the bizarre cliffs there. Fecamp and Dieppe are a little wider with longer pebble beaches.
So much for the landscape. I have not checked public transport.
Jan 24th, 2016, 07:10 AM
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You can go to a sand - or pebble - beach pretty much anytime, but Etretat is a completely different experience and is worth visiting.
If you can get to Etretat and wander up along the cliffs there, then go down on the pebble beach, you'd get a good dose of iodine, some history lessons and some wonderful photos - especially if the sky is blue. Not much in the way of food here, so it might be a better idea to pick up lunch somewhere else and bring it along. Make sure to bundle up, and wear a gale-proof hat.
Otherwise, the train stops in Deauville - which is only 10 mins' walk across a little bridge to Trouville - so you could get your fill of half-timbered buildings and sand without any trouble. Trouville is more interesting, IMHO.
If you can get to Etretat and wander up along the cliffs there, then go down on the pebble beach, you'd get a good dose of iodine, some history lessons and some wonderful photos - especially if the sky is blue. Not much in the way of food here, so it might be a better idea to pick up lunch somewhere else and bring it along. Make sure to bundle up, and wear a gale-proof hat.
Otherwise, the train stops in Deauville - which is only 10 mins' walk across a little bridge to Trouville - so you could get your fill of half-timbered buildings and sand without any trouble. Trouville is more interesting, IMHO.
Jan 24th, 2016, 08:14 AM
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Étretat is best seen in good weather. Don't know if I'd want to climb up there in rain and wind -- which weather is all too common along the Normandy coast in April. Trouville/Deauville, Honfleur, and Bayeux would be better options for that time of year.
