happytotravel

You won't regret the cost of getting a tour guide. Roel with Victory tours is only 40 Euros per person he will cover most sights in the half day tour, and he could tell you where to go on your own after. My husband, who is very hard to please, marks his time on the tour as a definite highlight.

normal1983

I haven't finalized any of my hotels yet. Hopefully I am not waiting too long for this but I've been researching the itinerary for a couple of weeks now. I only have 3 days in Normandy so I can't spend too much time on the tours. I hope to visit Honfleur and Mont St Michel in this time if possible. Wondering if we can just check into a hotel as a walk in and not pay premium prices?

surfmom

We stayed in Honfleur at Cour Ste. Catherine - a B&B.

www.giaglis.com

I got the recommendation from another Fodorite. We had to leave early our last day and she put some croissants, a baguette in a bag for us. We just stayed in a room in the B&B, but I believe they also have apartments. We appreciated the fridge in the room to store drinks.

I don't know when you are going to recommend whether or not to get a hotel, but personally, I prefer to know where I'm staying. I believe also at Madame Giaglis' B&B there are rooms with a daybed in them - if you are sharing a room with all 3 adults, the extra bed is 20 E... a great deal!

Gretchen

I don't recall when you are going but to try to walk in and not pay top dollar would be a recipe for disaster to me. If you just do a search of hotel possibilities in the various places you are considering--and the wide range of prices--think about driving from hotel to hotel (finding them!!), going in to inquire, etc. etc. And, just so you know, I have done this scenario personally!!
The price of the guide quoted is really quite good, and if we had known about that probably would have done that. And a half day.
I think I have already commented that MSM may not be "possible" in your time frame, but of course, anything can be made the priority destination.
If you want a BIG recommendation of a VERY economical accomodation in Bayeux, then look at Hotel Bayeux. It is VERY inexpensive, very clean, on the edge of town (easy to drive in and out), near the cathedral and the tapestry. The rooms are quite large also--all on ground floor. Car park next door.
In Bayeux we had probably our best meal of that trip at the Petite Bistrot. Make a reservation. Excellent.

normal1983

I am starting to get a better sense of what we would like to do. Fly into CDG, pick up a rental and drive to Honfleur. There we would check out the sites and spend the night. The next day we would leave Honfleur and drive towards Bayeux stopping at Deauville on the way. After checking into a room in Bayeux we would do the half day D-day tour and check out the tapestry. The next day on the road again to Mont St-Michel where we will spend one night. The next day onward to Caen to check out the sites. We are not sure if we will then leave the car here and take the train into Paris or keep the car a day longer, go to Chartres and then drive into Paris where we will spend the remainder of our time 5 or 6 days. Does this sound reasonable to y'all or are we overdoing it?

Gretchen

Going to Honfleur is good. Deauville?
I would just go on to Bayeux and get started on your itinerary there.
The distance from MSM back to Paris or even Caen is considerable. (The Caen museum, if you are going, needs a considerable amount of time.)But I guess if you drive the motorroutes you can make time, but you won't see Normandy--or anything but toll booths.
MSM is a true sight but in my opinion your itinerary is too spread out. You will have been to your sites/places, but that is about all.