My wife and I are planning a trip to France in September and plan to spend 5 days home based in Bayeaux. We want to stay in a small hotel or B&B and liked the looks of Le Château de Cottun. Has anyone ever stayed there or have other recommendations?

Stayed at Hotel d'Argouges with M/Mme. Ropartz in Bayeux. Right downtown but away from the street so it was quiet. Would stay again.
For more info,
[email protected]

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Château de la Bellefontaine a couple of years ago.

I second Hotel d'Argouges. It is a lovely place in a lovely town. There are lots of nice restaurants and cafes and Bayeux is a great place to use as a home base.

We based ourself at Chateau du Sully, which was about 1K outside of town. It was very very nice and had the best breakfast and dinner.

Another Chateau neaarby is Ch. d'Audrieu...very nice place

Have you considered Chateau de Sully? I have been looking at it as a choice for the trip my husband and I are planning for September.

We are presently booked for 2 nights at the Château de Cottun next September. The owner speaks English fluently and so far has been extremely helpful in responding to inquiries, even taking 10% off the room rate because it will probably be too cold then to use the pool. The rooms look very comfortable, and the price (around 100&euro is certainly right.

I third the Hotel d'Argouges, especially the "Old Style Suite." The suite may be too large for two people, but the spacious master room (with large windows overlooking the garden), and huge bathroom are worth considering. The small second bedroom could easily be used as an ante room for luggage, etc. The suite is on the first floor. The breakfast room is delightful; the staff are very friendly.

I agree with those who have mentioned the Hotel d'Argouges. It is a very nice place to stay in the center of town. Go to Google and type it in. They have a nice website.

Colonel Chilcott is a British WWII vet and runs a wonderful and warm B&B just outside Bayeaux. Site is: http://www.vrbo.com/vrbo/352.htm

If you are so inclined, the Colonel also gives personal tours of the landing beaches. The B&B is an old farmhouse with animals, modern facilities and a great, hearty breakfast.

My second for Col. Chilcott, if the D-Day landing beaches are part of your itinerary. His tours are lengthy (8-10 hours), and the group is small and personal, usually limited to about six people.

Another vote for D'Argouges... How many is that?

I visited Bayeaux in April 2003 and stayed at Hotel D'Argouges. Highly recommend it. We had a room on the second floor...triple...even though reserved a double. Large bathroom too. Breakfast was good. They have parking too if you have a car.

Gail

d'Argouges. Great location, on-site free and secure parking, lovely little garden in back. Across the street from the weekly market (Wednesday if memory serves) and right on the main pedestrian and shopping street but quite inside. Easy access in and out of town as you are pretty much at the top end of that main street.

The owner was wonderful to deal with by e-mail and very gracious in person. The breakfast (optional for a fee) is worth getting at least once. She recommended two restaurants in town that were spot-on as far as quality and price, one of them across the market square from the hotel.

Thanks for the inputs. We've made reservations at d'Argouges and look forward to 3-4 days using it as a base of in Bayeux.

Another question. Current plans are to fly to CDG and stay one night in Paris. The next day we'll take the Metro to Versailles where we'll sightsee, rent a can and be off to Bayeux. Does this make sense? Should we also take the train to Caen or Bayeux and rent the car there? (After Bayeux we are continuing to Brugge and Amsterdam where we will return the car.)

If you haven't booked your hotel in Bruges check out the Adornes. Natalie the desk clerk there is a wonderful ambassador for Bruges and Belgium. The hotel is charming, well located and had an excellent breakfast...

Beechtree I followed a plan similar to yours. We flew into CDG an spent the night in Paris before taking the RER to Versailles to pick up our rental car. If you're renting from europcar it is closer to the Versailles CH train station. We stopped in Giverney on our way to Rouen for two nights before heading to Bayeaux. Enjoy your stay at Hotel d"Argouges a good choice.

Thank you cmcfong and jackonsonjr. We haven't yet booked in Brugge so will take your advise. With respect to renting a car in Versailles, do you recommend eurocar? and should we pick it up as soon as we get there and then go to the Chateau?

I would recommend renting from AutoEurope. EuropCar (I don't think there is any outfit named Eurocar) is one of their vendors. You can reach them at 1-800-223-5555. They will match any price you get from another vendor. I've used them for more than 75 rentals and leases and they are the best.