ccarlson

We are traveling (family of 4) in April of 2015. We will be going to Paris for a few days and then want to go to visit Versaille (for the day) and then 1 overnight in Normandy and the on to the pick up the Eurostar train from France to London for 3 nights. Can someone recommend the best way to do this on our own? We don't like group tours. We will hire a private guide in Normandy. Train to Normandy? Car to Normandy? From there - not sure where to catch the train to get to London. I can't get a hold of Eurorail.

I know France is famous for transportation strikes. How often (if ever) does this happen on on the Eurostar?

StCirq

You don't want Eurail, not even sure what that is. You definitely don't want Rail Europe. You want the official French national railway, SNCF. If you don't read French, use www.capitainetrain.com to look up prices and schedules.

I can't see driving to Normandy just to meet a private guide. Take the train to Caen. The cheapest tickets are available 3 months out from your date of travel. To catch the Eurostar, you'll need to take the train back to Paris, switch to the Gare du Nord and take the Eurostar from there. Buy tickets from the Eurostar website, again ahead of time for the best prices.

ccarlson

Maybe it is better if we go to Normandy upon arrival in France so we don't have to double back?

HappyTrvlr

That would be a good idea but stay more than one night as there is so much to see.

ccarlson

If I do that I need to shorten London from 3 nights to 2 nights. OR I shorten Paris. I currently have 5 nights in Paris. We need to have 1 night at an airport hotel in Paris to get back for the AM flight home. Wasn't able to fly home from London because we are on FF miles.

ccarlson

FYI...train schedules from CDG to Caen are horrific. They are saying we would need to go from CDG to Lille back to Paris to get to Caen. The only other option is to pick up a car and drive upon arrival to Caen.

maxima

Are you interested in seeing the WWII beaches, American cemetery and other related sites in Normandy?

Caen is a good place to go to for that. From Paris you want the tvg .. leaving from Gare Saint Lazare to Caen. the trip is about 2 hours, and you do not change trains. You can have a private guide meet you in Caen. the site is voyages-sncf.com check the calendar for bargain fares. you may not be able to book this early for april 2015, generally its about 6 months in advance.. and if you book then you will get the cheapest fares..some are non-refundable..

if you are thinking of taking the Eurostar from Paris to London and back to Paris, you cannot do this from Caen. although there are ferries from Caen to Portsmith, its a slow way to go. For a fast train return to Paris and get the train to go to London. Perhaps instead of an overnight in Normandy, make this a long day trip, return to Paris overnight, and then go to London.

Versailles is also a day trip from Paris. It takes about 20 minutes to get there by train.

Fodorite018

We have done similar trips where we fit in a few things and had to juggle a bit. Versaille is easy since it is a short trip from Paris itself. With only 1 night in Normandy (we have done this too), I would take the earliest train from Paris to Bayeux and stay there for the night. That day I would do the museum in Caen (it is a must, IMO) and the tapestry and cathedral in Bayeux plus just wander the town. Then arrange for the private tour the next morning. The tours leave around 8 or 9 from right near the Churchill Hotel (great place to stay BTW). You get back in the late afternoon, and then you could take an evening train back to Paris. We have done this few times in order to pack as much in as possible and it worked well for us. Then I would leave for London from Paris.

I know you say you want a private guide, but most of the tours are very small, 8 people or so. We have done that as well as had a private driver ad we got so much more out of it with the guide. Even with 8 people, it did not feel like a group tour, if that makes any sense. It was so worth it!!!

StCirq

You don't take the train from CDG to Caen. You go into Paris first and take the train from the Gare St-Lazare.

PalenQ

Best way is like StCirq says take the train to Caen but keep going to Bayeux - a nice old town that is closer to the most famous D-Day beaches than Caen and a much prettier town with some top sights of its own - great cathedral and Queen Matilhda's Tapestry on show - woven after the 1066 Norman Conquest of England to document the preparation for Channel crossing and subsequent battles.

Numerous mini-bus tours available from Bayeux to the beaches or of course do the private driver if you can afford it.

There are boats from Caen (actually from Oustreham, Caen's port several miles out of town (buses available) - to southern England and even an overnight service. I've seen fares for day boats (also from nearby Cherbourg) for 29 euros or so - so if just wanting to get to London why backtrack to Paris, change stations to catch the perhaps more expensive Eurostar.

Forget Eurail - only a marketing name. For lots of great stuff on French trains, etc I always spotlight these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com (good info on Eurostar trains); www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - all will give you a god fix on what to expect on trains - the train to Bayeux via Caen (may have to change in CAen) is pretty much a flat-fare system so there is relatively little savings by booking discounted tickets - just show up and buy as the full price on this non-TGV line is fairly cheap.

Gretchen

Go to Normandy by renting a car at CDG. Stay 2 days. Do your own touring using the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy (study ahead and decide).
Turn the car in at Orly. Go into Paris. Skip Versailles.
Go to London.

ccarlson

Everybody's advice (in a whole) has been amazing. In the end to simplify we are flying into Paris and straight onto London and do London first. Then take the Eurostar from London to Paris, do the 5 nights in Paris and then pickup the car and go to Normandy for 2 full days (1 night) and then stay at the CDG airport before our flight the next AM. I love hearing all the advice of what to do in Normandy. We are staying in Bayeux.

PalenQ

Have you checked into flying into London and out of Paris - the open jaw ticket?

It would save you time and money going two ways on Eurostar to London and often such a ticket does not cost much more if any (though London's higher airport and landing fees make tickets there a bit higher many say).

Percy

I agree with PalenQ, keep going on to the Bayeux.

and like already mentioned, see the Tapestry, no use missing that if you are here.

The distance to all the beach places are really short distances and with a tour guide you can see very thing from Omaha Beach (American Cemetery)...to Arromanches to Juno Beach (Canadian Cemetery about 3 miles out of the town of Courseuelles - sur-Mer.)

it all depends what you want to see in the Normandy area.

I had a tour guide and toured the whole area last September including Honfleurs, La Havre, Normandy Bridge, Tancarville Bridge, Pegasus Bridge etc.

decide what you want to see in Normandy so you can tell your tour guide

JBass1

Just returned from Paris and Normandy in May 2014

NORMANDY:
Hotel Churchill in Bayeux (or any hotel in the area): ask for a room on the FIRST FLOOR -- unless you like dragging your luggage up stairs. Exhausting.

Rental car: Ask for GPS and have the rental agent give you a quick lesson unless you are familiar with using it. Saved our relationship!

If you like Copper -- the town of Villedieu-les-Poeles in Normandy makes Mauviel (William Sonoma carries it) -- I bought some really sweet butter warmers & a copper spoon.

PARIS:
The Musee Rodin is exquisite.
A fabulous neighborhood restaurant and not $$: Auberge St. Roch.
Don't miss Bon Marche Grand Epicerie (it does make Dean & Deluca look like an after thought).
Deyrolle (upstairs) -- there's nothing like it.

Have a great trip.

PalenQ

Bayeux is not only located in close proximity to many D-Day (J-Jour in French) sites but was about the only city in the Cotentin Peninsula which took the brunt of D-Day invasion and Allied bombings to dislodge the Germans - thus it is one of the few Cotentin towns not blitzed to bits - like neighboring Caen - and rebuilt like a Phoenix from ashes in a not so romantic (but nice) form IMO.

ccarlson

Actually - we wanted to take the Eurostar. The kids will love it and we want to say we did it. In regards to the open jaw ticket - we are using FF miles and it wasn't possible - thus - the "let's get creative" on this agenda around. So the list to see in Normandy:

* Cathedral in Bayeux
* Tapestry
* Omaha Beach (American Cemetery
* Museum in Caen

Is there anything else that is a must? Haven't decided if we do a private tour or the small tour. Will cross that bridge later.

PalenQ

Well I think those are the 'musts' especially for a quick trip and yes to experience the Eurostar train going up to about 180 mph or more in France at least is a thrill as will be going under the Channel Tunnel - after a few minutes you think you'll be under water forever!

PalenQ

I know France is famous for transportation strikes. How often (if ever) does this happen on on the Eurostar>

Strikes by certain French train unions can affect Eurostar trains too but often not as much IME but there have been disruptions to Eurostar services due to technical problems, accidents in the Chunnel, etc. but that would be a rare thing I believe.

Gretchen

I would not miss Arromanches in Normandy for the amazement of what the planning was for that beachhead. Have a lunch at a place on the water.