Driving to Normandy from Augsburg
 

Hi! I am planning a trip to Germany to see friends (living near Augsburg) in November with my husband and 2 sons (12 and 14). My husband would love to visit Normandy (museums, memorials, etc.) while we are over there so I'm trying to map out an itinerary from Augsburg to Normandy that would be doable.

Am I misguided in thinking we can drive from Augsburg to Paris in a day with no problem? (www.mappy.com says 7 1/2 hours - 788 km) Thinking we would drive to Paris first day; spend a couple of nights there; then head to Bayeux for another couple of nights; then head back to Augsburg, maybe staying in Strasbourg on the way back. Thoughts? Suggestions? So much to do and see...so little time...

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Why will you need to make the complete round trip back to Augsburg?

While it is true that you would face a hefty drop charge to return a German car in France (or vice versa), I would try to arrange an open jaw in or out of Strasbourg. And the shorter leg of this trip is Strasbourg-Augsburg - - so that is the one I would drive twice.

Fly into Strasbourg, rent a French car, drive the 3 hours to Augsburg. When you are ready drive Augsburg to Paris. Whether you turn in the car upon arriving in Paris depends on how many nights from car pick-up to return to Paris, and how many nights Paris.

Then, when you are ready for the Normandy loop, (ideally give that three full nights/days), then either re-rent, or resume use of the car you brought with you from Strasbourg->Augsburg->Paris. Return to Paris and fly home from there.

Or maybe I am missing one (or more?) of your objectives.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks for the quick reply Rex! Sorry to be so confusing. The main reason for the round trip is that we hope our friends from Augsburg will travel with us. I was thinking we'd spend a night or two in their home before we make the trip to Normandy; return to spend a couple more days with them. But if we didn't travel together; maybe the best bet would be to fly into Paris (meeting them there) and flying out of Stuttgart? I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the idea.

<< fly into Paris (meeting them there) and flying out of Stuttgart? >>

As I understand your revised plan, it still leaves you with the problem of returning your rental car in a different country.

TRUE! :-) Rex, I think we've decided we for sure want to do the round trip with our friends from Augsburg. We think part of the fun of doing this will be the travelling with friends; this is a country neither family has seen before. I guess my big question is whether or not this schedule is doable in 6 days (Driving from Augsburg to Paris in 1 day; staying in Paris 2 nights; Bayeux 2 nights; Strasbourg (or maybe another city halfway between Augsburg and Bayeux 1 night); and if driving a car in Paris will be a nightmare. :-) Paris isn't even our primary destination (Normandy is); I just hate being so close and not even SEEING the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, etc. But if driving into Paris presents too many problems; we could forego that part of the trip. I don't know! I'm early in the planning stages and just getting to know what's in that part of France.

Well, personally, I don't think that driving in/through Paris is that much a problem. True, parking is expensive - - but no worse than other major world capitals. You can park within a few hundred yards of l'Arc de Triomphe (without actually getting ON l'Etoile) - - aim for Porte Maillot and come up Avenue de la Grande Armee.

Search here also for "walkie-talkies" (buy them in Europe, not in the US to get Europe-legal frequencies) - - they can be a big plus for two vehicles traveling together.

Good idea on the walkie talkies! We used walkie talkies on a trip to Arizona and yes, they were a huge help! Thanks for your input Rex.

You're welcome.