Hi,

Everyone on Fodors has been so helpful - I really need advice on this. We are coming to France for 10 days. We've rented an apartment and are planning on staying in Paris for 7 nights. While in Paris, we'll do day trips to Chartres and Versailles. We have another three full days before we fly back out of CDG and would like to something a little different. I looked into train fare to Avignon, but it's really expensive, and beyond our budget for a family of three - we'd like to keep round trip train fare to about $100 or 75E person. After 7 days in Paris, we'll prbably have our fill of museums. Any ideas? We loved Amsterdam, so we're thinking of Brugges (which we've never seen). What are some recommendations for three days outside Paris in this price range? Normandy? Brugges? We are two adults, one child (age 13) - the pre-teen likes to wander the streets and shop, but we all like historical sightseeing. Also, we don't want to drive, so that takes out the Loire.

What think you?

I would do the D Day beaches in Normandy. You can stay in Bayeux (charming town) and take a guided tour from there (suggest full day tour) to the beaches one day, another day in Mont-St-Michel on a tour and the last day stop in Rouen on your way back to Paris to see the tapestries and cathedral and wander around this charming town. There is only 1 problem with seeing Rouen enroute - no baggage consignment at the train station. I don't really have a solution for that. Although you wouldn't need to bring all your luggage for the 3 day trip; most of it can be left at your Paris hotel.

I will always remember standing on top of the beach head thinking of the insurmountable task those boys faced. I think this is a better trip for a 13 year old than Brugge which looks similar to Amsterdam with the canals and narrow houses (similar architecture).

I think with 2 day trips you could probably even stay in Paris for the entire time. Do another day trip to Giverny, But going to Normandy would be nice. Rent a car and drive, and then drive back directly to CDG to depart. Stay in Bayeux and see the tapestry and the beaches.
I say rent a car because there is no direct train to CDG from Normandy. You will just add to your overall expense if you come back to Paris. Hopefully you aren't keeping your hotel in Paris while you aren't there.

Great insight - it would be really educational. Sounds like there's more to see in Normandy than I thought. What's the best train stop to view Normandy?

adrienne...
I will always remember standing on top of the beach head thinking of the insurmountable task those boys faced. I think this is a better trip for a 13 year old than Brugge which looks similar to Amsterdam with the canals and narrow houses (similar architecture).

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WOW = Words of Wisdom

Is driving absolutely ruled out? It would open lots of possibilities in Normandy. Our favorite venue there is Honfleur. Absolutely beautiful basin surrounded by ancient slate buildings 6 stories tall but very narrow, all reflected in the basin. A painter's dream and you often see them working at easel's set up around the basin. The place has a nice vibe and lots of activity to keep your pre-teen interested and it's a short distance to Deauville and Trouville, beach resort communities mentioned in Gigi. The Honfluer market on Saturday is fantastic, and the fish market in Trouville is very interesting. If you don't drive, I think you'd need to train to Le Havre and take a taxi or bus from there to Honfleur over the Pont de Normandy bridge, doable, I'm sure but more effort than renting a car IMO.

Hi Amie; What time is your flight home? After Paris, you could rent a car for three days at CDG. Brugge is about three hours drive, but you could stop in Gent on the way, an easy drive. So two nights in Brugge and then one night in Senlis, an interesting city, close to CDG [half hour]. iris1745/dick

Our flight leaves at 10:30 in the morning from CDG, so we had planned on being in Paris for the last night - but I never thougt of renting a car from the airport. We just hate to drive - too stressful.

I agree with iris1745, but if you feel uncomfortable driving, taking the train/bus to Chantilly (to see the horse show and museum) and Senlis is a fun side trip. One day, there is a market in Senlis, which would be fun for your 13 year old. I think it is on Fridays, but check.

Normandy, but I'd stay in Bayeux instead of Honfleur because it's closer to Omaha Beach and the cemetery there. Honfleur is a bit of a drive to the landing sites.

And from Bayeux, it's only a little over an hour to Mt. St. Michel, which is outstanding.

If not Normandy, go to Amboise in the Loire Valley and see the chateaux -- the huge castles.

For either three-day journey, you need a car.

jetsetj - I still get teary thinking about the D Day beaches. Photos and movies don't really show the height of the cliff and the bunkers that protected the German army and what an advantage they had. And that blustery wind in June (when I visited). I was amazed at how cold it was on the beach. This was a deeply moving experience for me.

Brugge is a randomly nice European city. But you'll be in Paris, which is one of the great cities of the world, for a week before your 3-day excursion. Do something special: Normandy for the D-Day sites or Loire Valley for the chateaux.

Thanks - anyone have any idea how the cost of the train to Bayeaux would compare to the Loire (train to Amboise for example)?

For three days I would definitely do Normandy. In fact that's what we did our last time in France. Best place to stay without a car is Bayeux. Tapestry and cathedral are highlights. Excellent restaurants. One day in Bayeux and one to the landing beaches and you've already filled two days.

If your brave enough, try the rental car. Driving in Normandy is very easy, just autoroutes and country roads. Rent the car in Paris (out by the periphery is better if your hesitant to drive. because it is slow driving out from Paris and traffic can be heavy). Adds tremendous flexibility (Giverny, Honfleur Mont St Michel, Route de Cidre) and probably will cost less than a train and incidentals. Plus, no luggage worries.

Also with a rental car you can return the rental car at CDG and spend your last night out at the airport. That's what we do when we go anywhere in Europe and rent a car- spend the last night out by the airport.

We loved Normandy - we stayed in Honfleur. I realize that it would involve driving, but I think your 13yo would enjoy wandering around the harbor.

As a day trip, we visited Etretat. Google it and you will see the magnificent cliffs. We enjoyed hiking the cliff area. While it can be touristy, it is not "American touristy" which makes it fun, too. It would be a great day outside for a family to enjoy.

We stayed at a B&B in Honfleur that I recommend without reservation. They have larger rooms that could handle 3 people easily.
www.giaglis.com

Take the train to somewhere outside Paris and then rent a car - driving is very easy. I second the opinion of returning the car to CDG.

From Paris to Bayeux, the train is only 2 hours. Some trains you need to transfer in Caen, which would add a few minutes to the trip, but we took one that we did not have to change trains at all.

On our last trip we had 10 days total, so we did Paris for part of it, then headed to Bayeux for a couple days, then went back to Paris. We enjoyed breaking it up. We stayed at the Churchill Hotel in Bayeux and it was perfect for us. The hotel was very comfortable, in a great location (walkable to everything in town) and the staff were so nice.

The day we arrived, we went to Caen to the museum. Then the next day we did a full day tour with Battlebus. They were excellent and I would highly recommend them! The next morning we went to the tapestry and then had the rest of the day to wander before we took the train back to Paris. It was all very easy.

HI am,

>I looked into train fare to Avignon, but it's really expensive, and beyond our budget for a family of three - we'd like to keep round trip train fare to about $100 or 75E person.<

www.voyages-sncf.com shows PREMS fares as low as
Paris/Avignon 35E
Paris/Dijon 17E
Paris/Strasbourg 22E
Paris/Bruges 59E

Ira,

Thanks so much. I am doing something wrong on searching train fares, as I end up with wildly high fares. I'm going to try this site right now!