I doubt that "finding" cars with automatic transmission at a particular location 10 months in advance is reliable for planning purposes. I think the only way you are sure to get a car with auto trans is to rent at the airport, but we've been given cars with auto trans (without asking) in other locations (most recently Avis at Reims).

Underhill is right about the Abbey Road. Get the michelin Green Guide to Normandy and plan a LOT of byways to enjoy.

We used Rouen as an overnight stop and had a dreadful time getting around the city the following day. At one point we went over and back, over and back on the various bridges (seven, I think) trying to return to our hotel. Next time we'd stay outside the city if making day trips.

Bookmarking for an area of France we have yet to explore.

Good to know Underhill. A similar situation frustrated us in another city some years ago. Since we are planning far in advance we may look at other options and perhaps even other locations.

Enjoy Scootoir. :) BTW, I'm in Normandy on the Cotentin peninsula right now and I could really make things more difficult for you if I told you about all the wonderful stuff to see and do in this little visited part of Normandy. ;)

Scootoir, we stayed at:

LA COUR SAINTE CATHERINE
74, rue du Puits
14600 HONFLEUR
02.31.89.42.40
www.coursaintecatherine.com

We learned of it when reading a thread on this forum a year of so ago re Honfleur v. Deauville. And, parking in Rouen was not a problem for us as it was a Sunday and we used the parking at (or under) the Musée Beaux Arts.

Deauville, Trouville and Etretat worth a stop; you will recognize the cliffs that Monet painted there; driving that route north from Paris is quite easy. We stayed in three different www.bienvenueauchateau.com; privately owned chateaux B&B, each was exquisite in its own way. More convenient as we travelled east to west ending in Mont St. M/Chartres en route back to Paris.

I stayed at La Cour Sainte Catherine, too, and was very pleased with it.

Bookmarking so I can review all that scrummy info later