PalenQ

Smaller boat are more affected by rough seas.>

Yes I errored in that and should have known so after taking so many - but I kind of meant it is only a few-hour trip - better than being seasick all night. but huge car ferries I was told have big stabilizers because of all the weight they carry and they have room to have them - not so on small catamarans.

Thanks for the correction janis!

Cheers!

PalenQ

then train or Oui bus to Rouen where we might overnight or spend a couple of days. Does this make sense?">

Rouen just itself makes no sense for two days - if you get there fairly early you can see everything you want in a half day IME.

Trains to Rouen take about an hour or so and those to Caen just about two hours - if you want to drive from Rouen then why not drive from Calais-Frethun - first Eurostar stop in France? And go along the coast filled with really nice towns, arguably nicer than Rouen though that is fairly nice for a large city.

Or drive yourself to Rouen from Calais-Frethun. Transferring train stations in Paris will take you about an hour too.

LeslieC

Planfrance - I find it interesting that after every poster suggested various ways to land on the coast of France and then to make you way to Normandy, you somehow concluded this:

"In terms of getting to Normandy from London, the most cost effective route seems to be Eurostar from London to Paris, then train or Oui bus to Rouen where we might overnight or spend a couple of days. Does this make sense?"

I didn't see anyone recommend this. No, this doesn't make sense if you want to see Normandy, the Loire Valley and Paris and you only have two weeks. Now you have added Rouen to the mix with two nights there being taken away from your stated areas of interest. Going all the way to Paris and back tracking to Normandy seems very inefficient to me. Always consider any transportation route that adds days to your trip also adds the cost of more hotel nights and meals. Also, you never mentioned if you live in London and plan to return to London or your France plan is an add-on to your London visit. I mention this because if you are not from the UK and need to return home, then consider flying open jaw into London and ending your trip in Paris and flying home from there. Avoidance of backtracking in general is a good idea.

KodakMoment

I'm sorry Leslie but you go this one wrong. Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris and then the train from Paris to Bayeux IS the most efficient way to get there.

Yes, he could take the ferry to Le Havre or fly to Deauville but the train is less of a hassle. Nothing beats arriving right in the city center.

KodakMoment

You got*

mjs

I do not agree that there is just one best option on how to get from London to Normandy. Eurostar from London to Paris is about 2 1/2 hours than you have to transfer stations in Paris than take a 2 hour train if direct to Bayeux so that will be about 5 1/2 hours+. Eurostar to Calais is about an hour than a 3 1/2 hour drive if direct to Bayeux so this is 4 1/2 hours total.

LeslieC

Also the OP proposed going from Paris to Bayeux via Rouen which is way off course. Even KodakMoments endorsement of this with "Yes, I was going to suggest that. It makes more sense logistically to start your trip in Paris" makes no mention of going directly to Bayeux from Paris.

Gretchen

Nothing beats arriving right in the city center.

That is true IF you want to arrive in the city center of Paris. I think the OP wanted to go to Normandy, and I am pretty impressed by the number of options he got to do so.

And the Eurostar really doesn't seem to be the most time efficient way at all, let alone hassle with trains and stations.

AND actually, if you are IN Paris going to Rouen is not a really terrible idea--we did from CDG. It's a pleasant stop on the way if they want to.

Gretchen

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=chunnel

Doesn't seem to be "too" much wrong with "chunnel" usage.LOL

KodakMoment

So what is more efficient in your book? Arriving in the ugly city of Calais, renting a car and driving to Bayeux? Or taking a long ferry ride?

PalenQ

Yes, he could take the ferry to Le Havre>

well better take the ferries to Oustreham - very close to Caen and Bayeux - Le Havre is way out of the way.

Calais - is much much nicer looking now than just a few years ago and if you could rent a car at the Calais-Frethun Eurostar station you are well out of Calais and on the way to Normandy.

For Eurostar and train info check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Booking tickets early can save a lot of money on Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) over just showing up.

PalenQ

All in all flying from Paris to Caen, if possible, or Le Havre and any airport near Bayeux would be the fastest and perhaps the cheapest way to go as quick as possible London - Caen/Bayeux.

All boats take several hours (I thought there were some quicker) overnight ferries can have really nice private cabins or you can sleep without extra charge in regular chairs that tilt a bit. again you save on a night in a hotel and these ships have lots of amenities aboard as well as cafeterias, etc.

Could be a unique experience all in all (even in rough seas!)

flpab

<Take the ferries to Oustreham - very close to Caen and Bayeux>


We did that but was about a five hour though very pleasant ferry ride.

PalenQ

Boats are not for everyone and yes that is a fairly long ride - I said several hours but forgot to take into account the hour difference in time between England and France. I'd rather do the night boat and sleep most of the way (and they take a little longer too).