na6469

Let me first start off by saying any help would be greatly appreciated! My friend and I just booked a ticket to Paris and we have nothing booked. Since we only have 5 days (and have already been to Paris) we were thinking of eitehr renting a car and driving around the Loire Valley or Normandy. Any recommendations on which on we should do or if we should try to do both? Also if we were to take the train there what cities do you recommend us visiting. Are the cities easy to get around and site see without a car? And finally are there any hotels you would recommend us staying at? We are looking for spend about $100-$150 dollars a night. Please help I am in desperate need to figure this out soon!! Thank you!!

Padraig

Let's start with a basic point. The main deal in Normandy is WW2 history; the deal in the Loire Valley is French history from late medieval times up to the revolution. Of course, neither generalisation tells the full story. But does that help you lean one way or the other?

StuDudley

You may get "chateaued out" with 5 days in the Loire. Personally, I don't think the countryside there is as interesting as other areas in France.

I also think the WWII stuff may occupy only 1 1/2 days - unless you're a real WWII buff. Like the Loire, I don't think Normandy is as interesting as other areas - specifically it's neighbor just to the west - Brittany.

For Normandy, I would rent a car at CGD, stay in Honfleur 2 nights & explore that area, then off to Bayeux & do the WWII stuff for 2 nights, then off to Mt St Michel (get there very early to avoid huge crowds and before they bring the postcard stands out), then the last night in Rennes before taking the TGV back to Paris for your flight home. Rennes is a charming city, and there are several magnificent medieval Chateaux in the area.

Alsace would also be a possibility, with the TGV line just opened from Paris to Strasbourg.

Provence is 3 hrs away with frequent departured from CDG - so that's a possibility also.

Check www.viamichelin.com for hotels

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

Finding a hotel at the busiest time of year in France may be your biggest problem. Nail down an itinerary & find a hotel ASAP - Honfleur & Bayeux may be fully booked up. Same with Loire hotels. Call the hotels - don't wait for a 1-2 day e-mail turnaround. I suspect staff in most hotels in Normandy & the Loire speak some English.

Stu Dudley

Stu Dudley

Viajero2

Do the highlights on both. Grab a Fodor's Guidebook; one of their staple features is 1-2-3-4-5 days itinerary suggestions for areas like Normandy and Loire Valley. That is a good starting point.

na6469

Thank you so much for your help! We really appreciate the feedback. I think we are going to take your advice and drive up to Deauville and then head over to see WW2 history and back for Paris for a night. Are there trains that go from Paris to either of these cities or should we travel by car?