Brittany Area Questions
 

The dollar is almost a Euro and now I got an email from Air France offering $1000 round trips NYC to Paris for mid-May through early September. My Trip-to-France reflex was triggered, but the fares are only good through Tuesday and then only if they don't sell out. We've been to Paris and environs almost enough times, the south of France, Provence and the Riviera, Alsace, the Loire, Burgundy, Lyon, but not to the Brittany area, which would for us include Le Mont St Michel and a look at the Bayeux tapestry. I figure a flight into Paris, spend a few days there, then get to the countryside (train then car or just a car).

When during the May-Sept window would be the best time(s) to go? Considerations are weather, since it will mostly be outdoor touring (with a big nod to Stu Dudley's suggestions), and any competition for hotel rooms (sorry, we're not the gite type). In the past we have enjoyed meandering along a flexible shoulder season schedule, often calling ahead for a room for the next day, or even just going to the local tourist office to find a same day room.

Is this prctical for the time window of the Air France sale? Or is this air price not so exceptional as to force a quick decision?

Or should we buy tickets on spec and plan later, despite my obsessive planning personality trait?

i visited the area in May and thought it gorgeous. I personally prefer May to September because of (a) the flowers and (b) longer days. YMMV.

I booked all my lodging ahead, but that's my preference. I don't know if it would have been necessary.

And I can't speak to whether the price is worth making a quick decision.

My thoughts are that either June or September would be the best time to go to Brittany if you want to avoid high tourist season and not have to book accommodation in advance. If you'll book ahead of time then I'd recommend July or August. You should know that both Bayeux and MSM are actually in Normandy although MSM is right on the border of Brittany. Also, there are no guarantees with weather and the best you can do is google "average temperature/rainfall (enter your destination and month)" and then realize that it may be be warmer/cooler or wetter/drier than average. I also can't help with accommodation other than to say check the tourist office websites in the area and have some other resources planned ahead of time but if you go in June or September you should be able to find something without booking, but again, that depends on how well prepared you are.

If all you want to do is see the Bayeux tapestry then I would suggest taking a train from Paris to Bayeux or Caen and rent a car there. After you've seen the tapestry you can head towards MSM and then into Brittany. I have no idea how many days you'll have to explore Brittany but very close to MSM are some lovely parts of Brittany worth visiting. If you want you can have a look at a photo report I wrote about visiting near Dinan/Dinard and environs and that might give you some ideas of things to do in that area: http://tinyurl.com/86s4v8f

Thanks. I also have no idea of how long I might go for, or even if I will go. I have to entice Mrs. P with good reasons to go besides the exchange rate.

We visited Brittany in late August/early September a few years ago and found it beyond wonderful. Trip report - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-movements.cfm

As FMT says, maybe even early July though watch out for school kids coming at the start of July and August. The weather is maritime so you get days of wind and the occasional soaking but the area is worth it.

Don't go. The value of the dollar may increase by a cent over the next 3 years. Your plane tickets may drop in price a fraction after you've booked. You'll never be able to enjoy all that fabulous seafood, the turquoise bays, antique markets, cobbled medieval villages, standing stones, Breton cider and buckwheat crepes for fretting about how you could have saved a couple of bucks if only you'd waited till 2023.

RM67: LOL! I'm allergic to apples, so I'll need to go for beer and wine.

Gardyloo: Your trip report gives me ammunition in the persuasion war.

FMT: Your help is always appreciated.

Removing tongue from cheek: Mrs. P and I have been talking about possible trips, the two top foreign contenders being Scotland or Brittany/Normandy with emphasis on Brittany. So, when I got the email from Air France, I decided we might want to pull the trigger and go. Still deciding.

If you click on my id AJ, you will find trip reports for both Brittany and Scotland ( with photos) that may help you make up your mind. Whereever you go, enjoy :-)

We were in Brittany from mid-September to beginning of October, 2014. Maybe we were lucky but the weather was beautiful. I love, love Brittany (thanks to Stu Dudley and his itinerary advice). Especially enjoyed walks along various rocky coasts and touring the calvaries. Frankly, I enjoy choosing in advance what I think will be perfect B&B's and hotels. I'd be happy to give you recommendations.

If you would like a copy of my Brittany & Normandy itinerary, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail. It doesn't cost a cent - so you can spend the saved cent in Brittany.

Stu Dudley