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Two nights with kids in Normandy/Brittany

Two nights with kids in Normandy/Brittany

Old Jun 26th, 2016, 09:59 AM
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Two nights with kids in Normandy/Brittany

So, we're trying to quickly revise a couple of days of our trip. I am reading the forums, so I'm aware of the most common recommendations for places to go in Normandy or Brittany. If anyone has anything they'd like to offer, please let me know. If you feel this topic has been addressed elsewhere and doesn't need your attention, you may just move on to another post! ;-)

We will be leaving Amsterdam on a Sunday morning, and plan to rent a car to drive to Paris, via Antwerp Sunday night and then two nights in Normandy and/or Brittany. We need to return the car near Paris on Wednesday, to stay in Paris Wednesday night.

I'd welcome any tips about the car rental (where to return, who to rent from, etc.), best places to stay and what to see in Normandy, given the time we have and that we are traveling with a 12 year old girl and 16 year old boy.

If we leave Antwerp Monday morning, we'd have part of Monday, Monday night, and all of Tuesday to spend in Normandy. The obvious/most popular suggestions seem to be Bayeux, D-Day beaches and museums, Mont Saint-Michel.

We've read of St. Malo and Dinan and Honfleur, so we know there are many options available. Since this is our first trip to the area, I figure we will hit some of the popular destinations I listed above. I know that many people will suggest more time at the D-Day sites, but I think a half-day will be enough for my family. If we can visit one or two other places and find a place to stay Monday and Tuesday night, it will be nice addition to our family vacation.

Any suggestions on how best to plan these couple days?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!
mlmidwest is offline  
Old Jun 26th, 2016, 10:31 AM
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The further you go toward Brittany then the longer it's going to take you to get BACK to Paris on Wednesday. If it were me (even though I HATE one night stays), I would leave Antwerp Monday morning and spend the afternoon and evening in Honfleur. Leave Honfleur on Tuesday morning and do your driving to and around the D-day sites before ending the day in Bayeux (seeing the cathedral and tapestry). Whatever you decide, check ViaMichelin to get driving times and try to minimize your time in the car.
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Old Jun 26th, 2016, 11:25 AM
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I like what Melody had to say. However Id stay in Bayeux, somewhere in town so your kids can have the Tapestry Museum and Cathedral closeby then drive and see the sites when everybody is ready.

I highly rec Hotel Tardif Noble Guesthouse in Bayeux
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Old Jun 26th, 2016, 11:39 AM
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I highly rec Hotel Tardif Noble Guesthouse in Bayeux
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Old Jun 26th, 2016, 01:17 PM
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Thanks so much for the input so far. I agree that Brittany is just adding additional time in the car, and we will stay in or just outside Bayeux. I think we'll drive straight to the Bayeux area and stay for both nights. Maybe the afternoon and evening in Bayeux and then all of Tuesday devoted to D-Day sites. It doesn't sound like we'll make it to MSM this trip, so if there's anything else besides the D-Day sites and things in Bayeux to add to our must-see list, let me know. After the drive, and since we'll be in big cities before and after this leg, we may just enjoy relaxing for a bit. Thanks again for your input!
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Old Jun 26th, 2016, 01:22 PM
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You do realize, I hope, that if you rent a car in the Netherlands and return it to Paris, you will pay a huge one-way dropoff fee? Perhaps as much or more than the cost of the rental itself.

I think staying both nights in Bayeaux sounds like a good plan, but even then I can't see much room for relaxing.
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