10 day itinerary Brittany and Normandy, help needed
Apr 5th, 2019, 11:59 PM
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by StCirq
What is San-Juan-de-Luz? Do you mean St-Jean-de-Luz, just over the Spanish border? If so, I's certainly spend more than 1 night there.
Yes, I meant St-Jean-de-Luz, sorry about that, it’s that all those basque towns around the border have names in Euskera and Spanish too and the names came naturally in Spanish, didn’t even notice.
We have been there many times, family lives in the Spanish Basque Country and also Grandma lived in Biarritz. We were just planning a one day stopover so that the kids don’t get too tired of the road basically, but agree, this region is beautiful and deserves a long visit.
You're not visiting Vannes in Brittany? That's too bad.
Yes, I was so sad to drop it off, and now that you say that, do you think we should drop one night off Dinan and use it for Vannes?
Maybe we can sleep two nights at Rochefort-en-Terre and the second day there make a day trip to Vannes, what do you think? Do you think that visiting Carnac after Vannes on the same day would be rushing through Vannes and not enjoying properly any of both places?
I'd do two nights in Dinan and two in Rouen (if that's what you mean by Ruan).
Sorry about Ruan, again the Spanish way to spell it. I only have that number of nights, I know we have to come back soon and stay longer, but I only have 4 nights to spend in Normandy (five if we don’t visit Vannes, you suggestion) I planned one at Mont Saint Michel to visit late at evening and early morning, one at Bayeaux and two at Honfleur... but open to any suggestions. Do you think we should change Honfleur nights for Rouen?
Bayeux deserves more than one night. You're not going to Caen to the Mémorial?
This trip we are not planning to visit all the WWII sites. We are saving them for a future trip and be able to enjoy at a slower pace. My husband and I are plantto come back without the little girls.
Yes, indeed, Bordeaux deserves more time, and it's not exactly a hop, skip, and a jump from Bordeaux to Ile de Ré, which by the way will be jammed with tourists in July.
St-Emilion is an overpriced zoo in July. Good luck finding parking. Why are you even bothering to go inland from Bordeaux and the Bassin d'Arcachon? Just to see St-Emilion? That is SO not worth it. Just keep going down the coast and stop at actually pleasant places like Bayonne.
Yes, I meant St-Jean-de-Luz, sorry about that, it’s that all those basque towns around the border have names in Euskera and Spanish too and the names came naturally in Spanish, didn’t even notice.
We have been there many times, family lives in the Spanish Basque Country and also Grandma lived in Biarritz. We were just planning a one day stopover so that the kids don’t get too tired of the road basically, but agree, this region is beautiful and deserves a long visit.
You're not visiting Vannes in Brittany? That's too bad.
Yes, I was so sad to drop it off, and now that you say that, do you think we should drop one night off Dinan and use it for Vannes?
Maybe we can sleep two nights at Rochefort-en-Terre and the second day there make a day trip to Vannes, what do you think? Do you think that visiting Carnac after Vannes on the same day would be rushing through Vannes and not enjoying properly any of both places?
I'd do two nights in Dinan and two in Rouen (if that's what you mean by Ruan).
Sorry about Ruan, again the Spanish way to spell it. I only have that number of nights, I know we have to come back soon and stay longer, but I only have 4 nights to spend in Normandy (five if we don’t visit Vannes, you suggestion) I planned one at Mont Saint Michel to visit late at evening and early morning, one at Bayeaux and two at Honfleur... but open to any suggestions. Do you think we should change Honfleur nights for Rouen?
Bayeux deserves more than one night. You're not going to Caen to the Mémorial?
This trip we are not planning to visit all the WWII sites. We are saving them for a future trip and be able to enjoy at a slower pace. My husband and I are plantto come back without the little girls.
Yes, indeed, Bordeaux deserves more time, and it's not exactly a hop, skip, and a jump from Bordeaux to Ile de Ré, which by the way will be jammed with tourists in July.
St-Emilion is an overpriced zoo in July. Good luck finding parking. Why are you even bothering to go inland from Bordeaux and the Bassin d'Arcachon? Just to see St-Emilion? That is SO not worth it. Just keep going down the coast and stop at actually pleasant places like Bayonne.
So, do you think Just one day visiting Bourdeaux would just not be worth it?
Do you know of an alternative town or area we could make a stopover for the night on our way back?
Originally Posted by PalenQ
Maybe it was because we arrived in St-Emilion's Camping Municpale around 5pm when walking around the town it seemed surreal -literally surrounded by vineyards = with a setting sun ethereal. Now St-Cirq has seen many more Dordogne wine towns but I was thoroughly delighted with St-Emillion. Michelin Green rates St-Emilion the lauded 3-stars, calling it one o France's best medieval towns. Of course with mobs of tourists it may not have seemed no neat. Jogging thru its deserted streets in early morning also seemed great - but mobs of tourists can indeed ruin such a town - much like I found the most famous Dordogne towns were in August.
https://travelguide.michelin.com/eur.../saint-emilion
https://www.google.com/search?q=st-e...w=1280&bih=625
So, if traveling outside of high season I'd highly recommend St-Emilion.
https://travelguide.michelin.com/eur.../saint-emilion
https://www.google.com/search?q=st-e...w=1280&bih=625
So, if traveling outside of high season I'd highly recommend St-Emilion.
Thank you all very much for your helpful advice!
Apr 6th, 2019, 12:04 AM
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
StCirq, I messed up the reply a bit, trying to comment to each of your parragraphs, so my and my comments and questions are in the middle of the quoting of your message, in the grey box with cursive letters, don’t know if you will see them properly.
Thanks to all!
Thanks to all!
Apr 6th, 2019, 01:28 AM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 48,540
OK....first of all Pal hasn't set foot in this territory for probably decades, so you might take his comments with a grain of salt.
So, onward...I cannot imagine what traveling in a campervan is like, but I do think Bordeaux (not Bourdeaux, in case you're googling) is worth more than one night. How that works from a campground I cannot even begin to imagine, but Bordeaux is full of treasures.
You don't need to go inland to St-Emilion to get back to the Donostia area - stay along the coast. It's beautiful. If you think Bordeaux to Bayonne is too long a drive, stop somewhere in between. St-Emilion is NOT worth a detour. If you want a unique experience, stop in Dax, the spa universe of France, and soak in the waters for a day. It's not the prettiest scenery in France, but there are amazing spas and shepherds on stilts and salt wine and things you'd never see elsewhere in France. Or much of anywhere.
Yes, I'd take a day off Dinan and allocate it to Vannes.
So, onward...I cannot imagine what traveling in a campervan is like, but I do think Bordeaux (not Bourdeaux, in case you're googling) is worth more than one night. How that works from a campground I cannot even begin to imagine, but Bordeaux is full of treasures.
You don't need to go inland to St-Emilion to get back to the Donostia area - stay along the coast. It's beautiful. If you think Bordeaux to Bayonne is too long a drive, stop somewhere in between. St-Emilion is NOT worth a detour. If you want a unique experience, stop in Dax, the spa universe of France, and soak in the waters for a day. It's not the prettiest scenery in France, but there are amazing spas and shepherds on stilts and salt wine and things you'd never see elsewhere in France. Or much of anywhere.
Yes, I'd take a day off Dinan and allocate it to Vannes.
Apr 6th, 2019, 01:45 AM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by StCirq
OK....first of all Pal hasn't set foot in this territory for probably decades, so you might take his comments with a grain of salt.
So, onward...I cannot imagine what traveling in a campervan is like, but I do think Bordeaux (not Bourdeaux, in case you're googling) is worth more than one night. How that works from a campground I cannot even begin to imagine, but Bordeaux is full of treasures.
You don't need to go inland to St-Emilion to get back to the Donostia area - stay along the coast. It's beautiful. If you think Bordeaux to Bayonne is too long a drive, stop somewhere in between. St-Emilion is NOT worth a detour. If you want a unique experience, stop in Dax, the spa universe of France, and soak in the waters for a day. It's not the prettiest scenery in France, but there are amazing spas and shepherds on stilts and salt wine and things you'd never see elsewhere in France. Or much of anywhere.
Yes, I'd take a day off Dinan and allocate it to Vannes.
So, onward...I cannot imagine what traveling in a campervan is like, but I do think Bordeaux (not Bourdeaux, in case you're googling) is worth more than one night. How that works from a campground I cannot even begin to imagine, but Bordeaux is full of treasures.
You don't need to go inland to St-Emilion to get back to the Donostia area - stay along the coast. It's beautiful. If you think Bordeaux to Bayonne is too long a drive, stop somewhere in between. St-Emilion is NOT worth a detour. If you want a unique experience, stop in Dax, the spa universe of France, and soak in the waters for a day. It's not the prettiest scenery in France, but there are amazing spas and shepherds on stilts and salt wine and things you'd never see elsewhere in France. Or much of anywhere.
Yes, I'd take a day off Dinan and allocate it to Vannes.
Great, I’ll do as you say with Vannes.
Our stop at Bordeaux is on our way to the north, first part of our route, coming from Arcachon and going to Île de Ré.
On our way back, ending part of our trip, we are coming from Amboise towards San Sebastián, and on our way stop somewhere for the night because it would be a 6 hour drive. From Bordeaux to San Sebastián is just 2h40’ which would be great, but we are already doing that.
I am probably missing something, how can we stay along the coastline from Amboise to San Sebastián? stopover on our way north.
Thank you very much
Apr 6th, 2019, 05:06 AM
#26
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 48,540
Oh, sorry, it's I who am missing something. I see now why you were heading for St-Emilion on your way south. From Amboise I would head through Poitiers (which presumably you were going to do ), but DO stop there for at least a couple of hours. Wonderful town! After that, I'd divert a little and go through Cognac or Saintes and make your stop around there before heading on south to Bordeaux. You could even divert east even sooner and head for St-Jean d'Angely, a nice town, and then meander on the small roads on to Bordeaux. OR continue on the N10 and divert east even more south to Jonzac. All of these will take you through endless fields of pineau (cognac) vines, which are very pretty but almost relentlessly uniform. Just try not to get involved in the mind-bending highways that circle Angoulème -they're like a circus ride you can't get off, and the scenery is dreadful.
Apr 6th, 2019, 07:08 AM
#27
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 15,264
We enjoyed Cognac quite a bit - but did not see any reason to spend time in Saints after about 20 mins there. The only thing worthwhile, IMO, is a Roman Ruin. The town is not nearly as nice as some other towns you will be visiting. Be careful about WHEN you visit some of the towns - like Vannes & Dinan. Shops are closed in Vannes on a Sunday & the town is somewhat dead. Same with Cognac, I assume - but we were not there on a Sunday.
We spent 2 weeks on the Ile de Re a few years ago. A friend is doing likewise in Sept, and I wrote an itinerary for her. It includes the area around Poitiers - which is a gem!! E-mail me if you would like this personal itinerary.
Stu Dudley
We spent 2 weeks on the Ile de Re a few years ago. A friend is doing likewise in Sept, and I wrote an itinerary for her. It includes the area around Poitiers - which is a gem!! E-mail me if you would like this personal itinerary.
Stu Dudley
Apr 6th, 2019, 07:55 AM
#28
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 15,264
>> Yes, I'd take a day off Dinan and allocate it to Vannes. <<
You are starting to "creep" back into the "too little" time in each location, and every day you are on the road driving a camper for large portions of your trip
Vannes vs Dinan.
I prefer the town of Vannes over the town of Dinan. But I prefer the area around Dinan (Rance Estuary, St Malo, Dinan, Dinard, Emerald coast) over the area immediately around Vannes. We have no interest in ancient man-made rock formations - so Carnac near Vannes did not give the Vannes area any "points" from us - but you may have an interest in these things.
For Vannes vs Dinan - I would visit Rochefort en Terre on the way to Vannes (it can easily be a 1 hr visit), and spend 2 nights in Vannes. See the itinerary I sent you about what to do in/near Vannes. Also, I don't know if you are spending any time in Paris - or just time at Disneyland. If the latter (no time in Paris) you might consider adding a day to the stay near Disneyland and visit some of the fabulous chateaux near Disneyland - and skip the Loire chateaux. This would give you more time in Brittany also.
Stu Dudley
You are starting to "creep" back into the "too little" time in each location, and every day you are on the road driving a camper for large portions of your trip
Vannes vs Dinan.
I prefer the town of Vannes over the town of Dinan. But I prefer the area around Dinan (Rance Estuary, St Malo, Dinan, Dinard, Emerald coast) over the area immediately around Vannes. We have no interest in ancient man-made rock formations - so Carnac near Vannes did not give the Vannes area any "points" from us - but you may have an interest in these things.
For Vannes vs Dinan - I would visit Rochefort en Terre on the way to Vannes (it can easily be a 1 hr visit), and spend 2 nights in Vannes. See the itinerary I sent you about what to do in/near Vannes. Also, I don't know if you are spending any time in Paris - or just time at Disneyland. If the latter (no time in Paris) you might consider adding a day to the stay near Disneyland and visit some of the fabulous chateaux near Disneyland - and skip the Loire chateaux. This would give you more time in Brittany also.
Stu Dudley
Apr 6th, 2019, 08:14 AM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by StCirq
Oh, sorry, it's I who am missing something. I see now why you were heading for St-Emilion on your way south. From Amboise I would head through Poitiers (which presumably you were going to do ), but DO stop there for at least a couple of hours. Wonderful town! After that, I'd divert a little and go through Cognac or Saintes and make your stop around there before heading on south to Bordeaux. You could even divert east even sooner and head for St-Jean d'Angely, a nice town, and then meander on the small roads on to Bordeaux. OR continue on the N10 and divert east even more south to Jonzac. All of these will take you through endless fields of pineau (cognac) vines, which are very pretty but almost relentlessly uniform. Just try not to get involved in the mind-bending highways that circle Angoulème -they're like a circus ride you can't get off, and the scenery is dreadful.
I love also your other suggestions too, I think we are definitely stopping at Cognac, but I also marked the other towns, they are so conviniently located for our route. It’s great to have nice towns on the way and be able to know where to stop, although we always have the feeling that anywhere you stop in France, turns out to be some super charming place.
Originally Posted by StuDudley
We enjoyed Cognac quite a bit - but did not see any reason to spend time in Saints after about 20 mins there. The only thing worthwhile, IMO, is a Roman Ruin. The town is not nearly as nice as some other towns you will be visiting. Be careful about WHEN you visit some of the towns - like Vannes & Dinan. Shops are closed in Vannes on a Sunday & the town is somewhat dead. Same with Cognac, I assume - but we were not there on a Sunday.
We spent 2 weeks on the Ile de Re a few years ago. A friend is doing likewise in Sept, and I wrote an itinerary for her. It includes the area around Poitiers - which is a gem!! E-mail me if you would like this personal itinerary.
Stu Dudley
We spent 2 weeks on the Ile de Re a few years ago. A friend is doing likewise in Sept, and I wrote an itinerary for her. It includes the area around Poitiers - which is a gem!! E-mail me if you would like this personal itinerary.
Stu Dudley
I’d love to have your itineraries, Stu. In fact, I have already sent you two emails asking for the Brittany and Normandy ones! Hahaha. I didn’t want to insist more because I imagened that you are receiving so many emails asking for them that you might be a bit fed up. But since you ask, I’d love to have them! Haha. Maybe I got your email wrong?
Thank you very much!!
Apr 6th, 2019, 08:24 AM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Stu, we crossed messages. Ok, I need to control my impulse of wanting to do too many things in too little time, thank you for keeping me on track.
Good tip about Rochefort-en-Terre and Vannes, it sounds good, I think that is going to be our choice.
The thing about Disneyland (yes, unfortunately no Paris this time) is that we have already booked hotel and tickets because we found a good price, so we can’t move forward the days to fit more time at Brittany.
Can’t wait to open the email.
Thank you all so much!
Good tip about Rochefort-en-Terre and Vannes, it sounds good, I think that is going to be our choice.
The thing about Disneyland (yes, unfortunately no Paris this time) is that we have already booked hotel and tickets because we found a good price, so we can’t move forward the days to fit more time at Brittany.
Can’t wait to open the email.
Thank you all so much!
Apr 9th, 2019, 12:06 AM
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by StuDudley
Al I did was to click "reply" & attach them to the e-mail you sent me.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Originally Posted by StCirq
Well, in Cognac, Le Coq d'Or and La Courtine are both open for lunch and dinner on Sundays, so at least you can eat well.
Originally Posted by StuDudley
I'm guessing lunch & dinners will be in the camper van - especially with 3 daughters aged 3, 6, & 9.. Is that correct??
Make sure you are not in Rouen on a Sunday or Monday morning.
Stu Dudley
Make sure you are not in Rouen on a Sunday or Monday morning.
Stu Dudley
So we appreciate your restaurant recommendations too, but of course we can’t go to the fanciest places with the little ones. One difference that we have noticed between France and Spain is that sometimes we have felt some surprised looks when sitting at a restaurant terrace to have dinner with the kids, whilst in Spain it is considered perfectly normal.
Thank you all again, I’ll be back after the trip with some thoughts and maybe I can do a trip report.
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