o.k. I'm new to the Fodorites board , but it's great how much info and opinions are out there. We are still working on our trip plans for May and you (and research) have convinced me I shouldn't do Paris, London, and Edinburgh.We have 12 days and are going to do London and Paris with a side trip into the Cotswolds and Normandy. Current plans! I've seen advice on getting from Paris to Bateaux, how can I best get from there to cross back over to London. We are flying in and out of London. Thanks!

Six nights in each (assuming it will be half and half) is not an huge amount of time. I'd forget Normandy, and the Cotswolds. There's more than enough in both cities to fill a couple of weeks.

What's the attraction with Edinburgh? You want to do Scotland? If you really must do that then I'd say 5 in London, 5 in Paris, 1 in Scotland. But you've lost three days (at least) in travelling. You're really much better just to focus on London and Paris.

As much as you want to go to new places I don't think you have the time. You've got to strike a balance between the number of places and the time you can spend in each of them. There's no point going somewhere only to have a brief walk around then move on to the next place.

Six nights in each (assuming it will be half and half) is not an huge amount of time. I'd forget Normandy, and the Cotswolds. There's more than enough in both cities to fill a couple of weeks.

What's the attraction with Edinburgh? You want to do Scotland? If you really must do that then I'd say 5 in London, 5 in Paris, 1 in Scotland. But you've lost three days (at least) in travelling. You're really much better just to focus on London and Paris. And I think you've realised this already.

As much as you want to go to new places I don't think you have the time. You've got to strike a balance between the number of places and the time you can spend in each of them. There's no point going somewhere only to have a brief walk around then move on to the next place. Why Normandy? Why Cotswolds? You've lost half a day with each already....you must be efficient.

i'm sure I could do the whole trip in Paris and still leave with things to see. That is really not the question. I have been to both before and am taking my family back. I know we are hitting hignlights and as much as seeing the 2 capitals I want to expose them at least to some time in the countryside surrounding them.
The attraction with Edinburgh,which I said I've cut out of our plans, is ancestral roots in Scotland and that I loved it when I went there. I do not want to spend so much time traveling vs. seeing sights.
So we are planning to do 2 cities with 1 overnight excursion from both. My question for this thread was--how would you get from Bayeux ,after the 1 night, back to London. It seems a waste of time to travel back to Paris .

I'm not trying to see the Cotswolds or Normandy just going into those areas and spending 1 night to save travel time to and from the city. I understand for those of you that can go yearly why you wouldn't do this. But you know, if I had a 2 day layover chance to see Paris would you say just skip it then?

letsgomom: Welcome to Fodors. First a heads up (as nicely as I can) about advice from m_kingdom2. His expertise is mainly about posh shops and restaurants in London and he loathes the countryside. Just one of the loveable "characters" on here.

Now about your question: Is the 12 days your actual time "in country" or the total length of the trip including travel to/from London?

If your trip is 14 days leaving 12 days on the ground, here is what I'd do. Fly into London and immediately fly on to Paris for 5 or 6 days. During those 6 days I'd take one of the organized day trips from Paris to Normandy. An overnight would be better but you really have limited time.

If you definitely want an overnight in Normandy, you can fly to London from one of several places. Dinard to Stansted on RyanAir as one example.


<b>***</b> However - if your total trip is 12 days including transatlantic travel, then you only have 10 days (9 actually when you factor in jet lag and having the last day eaten up packing and getting to the airport). So you really don't have time for overnights in Normandy or the Cotswolds <b>***</b>

You can fly from Caen to London. We did it (going the oppposite direction) a few years ago and, apart from the long train ride between London's Stansted airport and downtown, it was pretty easy.

Thanks for the flight advice from both of you. I'll check that out. My time is acually 12 days there -not including flying days....and I think I like small towns and the quaintness of the atmosphere better than large cities. I know you get the most out of your time staying in one location longer and there are sights I want my family not to miss---but I really do want them to see at least some of the beautiful landscape and the village houses while we're over there. I am already thinking about my second trip!!!