We booked a brief fill-in-the-blanks trip to Normandy after I saw that the Bayeux tapestry will be closed for 2 years for restoration. We never had made it to Normandy and my husband hadn't seen Versailles, so this gave us the push to tack the area onto another scheduled trip. We had to maneuver around May 1 and 8 holidays, rail construction, and strikes, but we made it.

Advice given to others on this board was spot on.

We had planned a leisurely start to the trip but rail worker strike threats encouraged us to move up our plans with a train from St Lazare to Caen booked (eligible for change) for about 5 hours after scheduled landing at CDG. Roissybus to Opera went smoothly for us, but we left many people at the next terminal to wait for a later bus. Train to Caen was a zoo of people pushing to get on and stow their bags. Ticket machine and Online ticket purchase and scanning tickets was easy.

Driving was ok. Lots of smaller roads than my husband expected. More aggressive drivers than expected. We parked when we found a lot even if costly rather than cruise looking for closer or free spots to reduce stress. Only place we failed was in Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny where we wanted to visit the Cornille Havard bell foundry--lots overflowing and street parking packed with shoppers, others cruising the tiny streets looking for spaces. We gave up.

Glad we had a car to visit D-Day sites. We spent 1.5 days but easily could have spent 2-3.

Crowd at tapestry ebbed and followed. We entered behind a tour group but when we exited the tapestry room around noon there was no one in line. I wonder if after they checked our tickets and we then entered and saw the line, waiting for audioguides if we could have asked to exit and re-enter to see the tapestry later when groups at lunch. Of course, we didn't know if line would increase or decrease.

Stayed overnight in complex near Mont Saint Michel to see in evening and early morning. We didn't tour the monastery--too crowded for us even late afternoon. Booked dinner in hotel by early afternoon to get slot earlier than last seating at 8:30pm. Put hotel name in GPS. Did not follow parking signs. When got to bar where buses entering, entered code given by hotel to access the area.

Booked first entry to Versailles and it didn't feel too crowded. Toilets just after entry but those get too busy by late morning. Downloaded audioguides fine, but I couldn't figure out what order we would tour and probably missed sections. We found it easy to go out in the courtyard and re-enter or go up/down a staircase and go to another section. It wasn't as regimented, go through a one way route, then out of the palace as I expected. I would skip the history rooms and follow the signs to the state apartments at the beginning, then if one has time and is interested, restart and go through those crowded rooms.
It was a garden musical day but I don't think that added to the experience. Few fountains running. Signs say no picnicking, but that just means on the grass. Bring and eat/drink on the many benches.
As warned, don't underestimate the walking if doing the palace, gardens and trianon. We are avid walkers, but after the walk from the train station, palace marble floors, the gardens, walk to trianon and both buildings there, we didn't make it to the hamlet and called an Uber back to Rive Droite. Should have considered the little train ride to trianon to save energy.

Thanks again for all the helpful tips I gleaned from various posts.

thank you,. this is very helpful

Planning our trip for June -

We will be driving and spending some time in Normandy area. When you say spend 2-3 days, how would you have spent your time? We will be staying on the coast instead of in the city (bayuex) -does that seem like a wise decision? I thought it would be nice to enjoy June by the beach, in addition to the area. Is it worth visiting the tapestry museum / bayuex?

Our plans for MSM sound similar to yours - i've been wondering if entering the abbey was critical. Also, did you manage to walk in and out to MSM, or took shuttles?

Thanks!

For MSM, the shuttles take you to the stopping point and you walk across the footbridge to access the Mont. Bear in mind that the Abbey is a functioning monastery and there are times that areas are closed off for worship. Personally I was expecting more artifacts to be displayed and more information shown about the history.

We visited Normandy/Bayeaux last spring and we were so glad we were able to see the tapestry! My DH found it amazing.
We are visiting Paris in the fall and plan to get early morning tickets to Versailles. We plan to take RER C to the castle from Paris but I have difficulty with stairs and it seems like the stop at Versailles does not have escalators- do you have any recollection if this was the case? I know when a person does not have those restrictions you don’t necessarily pay attention to those details but any input would be greatly appreciated.
You also stated you called an uber back to River droite. Did you take the RER to the castle in the am or an uber then also? I know it is “10” minute walk from the RER but have also found info that says the Uber drop off site for the castle is actually at the train station so can’t get away from that actual walk from the station. Was this your experience when you called for Uber to get back to Paris? Where did they pick you up?Did you preschedule your Uber ride back to Paris? What time of the day did you return to Paris, how long did it take to return to Paris and how much was the Uber ride back?
Any input you can give to all of my questions are appreciated as the answered to the specific details to the questions are difficult to find unless someone has actually experienced the situation. Thank you!

@andreayager6998
We stayed in an AirBnB on the edge of Port en Bessin and were happy with our choice. It put us on D514 to drive in both directions along the coast. The drive to Sainte Mere Eglise was about 1 hour and then we worked our way back to Utah Beach, Point du Hoc, and Omaha Beach in a long day. These and many other locations have a small or large museum. My husband cannot quickly skim a museum--he has to stop and read every sign and watch every movie so we spent hours in the Airborne Museum alone. Then there are the sites to the east, including the guns at Longues Sur Mere and the British and Canadian beaches.

We both thought the tapestry museum very interesting. The visit is organized as walk past the tapestry while listening to audioguide, then visit the museum that tells you about the tapestry, life/villages, etc. and a movie. I would prefer the reverse, but it is not possible, so best to read up before you go in or even go through twice if you are a history nerd. We did see a couple of women who had not left the tapestry room and had retuned to stand at one spot talking about the tapestry and blocking the flow but that seemed rude to me.
We stopped at the free parking on the edge/ring road of Bayeux but it was all full, so we parked in the pay lot in the park--worth it to avoid the hassle of finding a free or limited time space. We found traffic on the ring road very busy in Bayeux.

At MSM we stayed in the area called La Caserne, the hotels and restaurants within the gated area. We were given a code by the hotel on day of arrival to get past the barrier and park. From there we could walk or ride the shuttle to the abbey. We walked both ways--very windy. It seemed easy to jump on a shuttle to go to the abbey but waits to return in the afternoon. I found the wooden boardwalk a hard walking surface and was happy when we finished the walk and took the dirt paths around La Caserne to enjoy the views and the nice weather. The narrow "main street" on the island was packed with tourists. We walked up the "back way" to the left and down the main street while others walked around on the walls to avoid the main street. There were lots of school groups.

@katk
We traveled to Versailles on the RER L arriving at Rive Droite and walked 20-30 minutes from there. If you are using C, you will arrive at Chateau Rive Gauche, so I can't help with escalator or lift in that station. It is possible that the train platforms are all on the main level so no need to go down/up to access the lobby, but then not sure what is situation from lobby to street--there may be a flight of stairs. The walk from there to the palace is about 15 minutes.
We called an uber from the Trianon area, not from the Palace. Vehicles can drive to that location. The uber we got was dropping off people at Trianon. We took the uber just to the Versailles Rive Droite station for $10-15 and caught the RER L back to Paris from there.
The entrance to the palace is from a large forecourt where people line up based on their timed entry, so I expect the uber drop off would be a long way from the entrance. No stairs outside, but long distances. Once inside there are two levels. I did see one lift. I would find out the plan for its use before arrival by contacting the palace directly. I think I remember one person carrying a folding seat--there are very few places to sit for a break inside the palace.

With a car, I think it's wise to avoid staying in cities and large towns. Stay in places you otherwise couldn't without a car. Take advantage of your situation. Stay in a chambre d'hôte or better yet a table d'hôte in a smaller village. The first is like a bed and breakfast, the second is where you can also have dinner.. That is a much more special experience.

I purchased this booklet in the Bayeax Tapestry gift shop. I wish I had bought and read it before I saw the tapestry to help identify key parts to look for while following the audio guide. You can probably find online else visit the gift shop first.