March Trip Ideas
Dec 1st, 2017, 04:48 AM
#1
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March Trip Ideas
My wife and I got an airfare deal round trip from Tampa to Brussels arriving March 11 and leaving March 23. We would like to stay at least one night in Brussels.
I know this is very vague, and I am just in the initial planning stages right now, and would welcome ideas.
We have been to Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne (drove to Munich and then to Lucerne stopping along the way). Last year we drove around the UK.
We enjoyed the freedom of having the car, but not in big cities.
We also like to tour castles, old Churches and small historic towns.
We also like to try local beers.
During our Germany drive we stayed at Ehrenberg Castle and really enjoyed that and would like to have that type of experience again.
During this trip we would like to tour the D-Day beaches and see Mont Saint-Michel.
I have looked for other castles to stay at in France and found Tennessus Castle near Amaillou.
Any other castle suggestions to tour or stay at would be appreciated.
We could take a train to Bayeux stay one night there and arrange a tour of the D-Day beaches, train to Mont Saint-Michel area stay one night, rent a car in that area drive to Tennessus Castle near Amaillou stay one night there.
Or just rent a car in Brussels and drive, maybe do a self-guided tour of the D-Day area.
Once I figure out this part, I can go on to planning the next part of our trip.
I know this is very vague, and I am just in the initial planning stages right now, and would welcome ideas.
We have been to Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne (drove to Munich and then to Lucerne stopping along the way). Last year we drove around the UK.
We enjoyed the freedom of having the car, but not in big cities.
We also like to tour castles, old Churches and small historic towns.
We also like to try local beers.
During our Germany drive we stayed at Ehrenberg Castle and really enjoyed that and would like to have that type of experience again.
During this trip we would like to tour the D-Day beaches and see Mont Saint-Michel.
I have looked for other castles to stay at in France and found Tennessus Castle near Amaillou.
Any other castle suggestions to tour or stay at would be appreciated.
We could take a train to Bayeux stay one night there and arrange a tour of the D-Day beaches, train to Mont Saint-Michel area stay one night, rent a car in that area drive to Tennessus Castle near Amaillou stay one night there.
Or just rent a car in Brussels and drive, maybe do a self-guided tour of the D-Day area.
Once I figure out this part, I can go on to planning the next part of our trip.
Dec 1st, 2017, 06:38 AM
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We could take a train to Bayeux stay one night there and arrange a tour of the D-Day beaches, train to Mont Saint-Michel area stay one night, rent a car in that area drive to Tennessus Castle near Amaillou stay one night there.>
From Brussels that means taking train to Paris - changing stations and train to Bayeux -long day -I'd rent car in Brussels and head for the coast and go over that way to D-day and MSM and back. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
For car try to arrange drop-off back in Belgium to avoid steep drop-off charges for doing so in another country - drive via Bruges and Gent to Brussels - those two towns many find more romantic than Brussels -an interesting if fairly modern city.
From Brussels that means taking train to Paris - changing stations and train to Bayeux -long day -I'd rent car in Brussels and head for the coast and go over that way to D-day and MSM and back. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
For car try to arrange drop-off back in Belgium to avoid steep drop-off charges for doing so in another country - drive via Bruges and Gent to Brussels - those two towns many find more romantic than Brussels -an interesting if fairly modern city.
Dec 1st, 2017, 07:39 AM
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We could take a train to Bayeux stay one night there and arrange a tour of the D-Day beaches, train to Mont Saint-Michel area stay one night, rent a car in that area drive to Tennessus Castle near Amaillou stay one night there.>
Better to rent car in Caen near Bayeux and do your own tour and drive to MSM - trains only take you to Pontorson, six miles away.
Better to rent car in Caen near Bayeux and do your own tour and drive to MSM - trains only take you to Pontorson, six miles away.
Dec 1st, 2017, 09:18 AM
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Maybe considering the dropoff charges in another country we would be best to rent a car when leaving Brussels and return it when we are flying home. We arrive in Brussels 8:45am, maybe get the car then and stay somewhere in Bruges and Gent the first day instead of Brussels.
Dec 1st, 2017, 09:30 AM
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Have you been to Bruges or Ghent? They are both interesting and certainly worth a day each. You do not need a car for either, both easy and quick by train, if you wanted to wait to pick up the car.
Dec 1st, 2017, 10:13 AM
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Never have been in Bruges or Ghent. Either may be more to our taste than Brussels. Is it horrible taking a car to either one? From Brussels airport it might be easier to get the car there and drop it off there when we go back home.
Dec 1st, 2017, 10:30 AM
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Trains are great from Brussels Airport right to Bruges or Gent with one simple change in Brussels usually. Collect your rental car IMO when ready to leave Bruges or Gent, two congested cities where cars are worthless. Drop car at airport - usually no problem as long as picked up in Belgium.
Dec 1st, 2017, 11:10 AM
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Roll the dice:
http://www.travelingtotaste.com/2016...ges-and-ghent/
Just about every city has their own beers - for really neat tours check out some abbeys that still crank out beer as does for ages.
http://www.travelingtotaste.com/2016...ges-and-ghent/
Just about every city has their own beers - for really neat tours check out some abbeys that still crank out beer as does for ages.
Dec 2nd, 2017, 07:43 AM
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Just wrote long reply and website ate it/crashed/etc.
So in a nutshell--We just spent a week in Germany and Belgium, with 3 nights in Ghent. I'm working on a TR but it's not ready yet.
We loved it a lot, even in cold and mostly damp. Highly recommend Ghent as a base. (We stayed in the Marriott for a splurge; highly recommended but don't know your budget.)
We went to Brugges as a day trip this way: we drove less than an hour on great highway, parked at the not-in-center-of-town train station multi-story garage, walked a little way to bus station, got free tickets for bus into city center, spent 4 or so hours (it was raining for a lot of it), took bus back, drove to Ghent. In March you'd have more daylight, plus we had reservations for Thanksgiving Day dinner in Ghent, so we had a short day in Brugges.
I think there might be more non-tourist stuff in Ghent's city center than Brugges', but either would be charming for a few days.
From Ghent we also drove to near-Dunkirk beaches and American Cemetery in Flanders Field one half day, so it was nice to have a car.
Driving INTO old towns, like Antwerp and Ghent, is a nightmare, plus there's expensive parking to consider. But having a car gives freedom, and travel between the cities was quite nice. Great highways like in Germany.
I highly recommend more than one day in the Bayeux area, one for Bayeux itself and another at least for the Normandy beaches. We had a car and were glad we did; my husband liked driving even the smaller lanes in Normandy, and having a car to get to different D-Day sites was good, too.
Much for you to consider; when you look at car travel, multiply the times on map apps by at LEAST 50%; and whether going by train or car, you have to factor in finding parking and checking in and out of hotels and transport to and from train stations, etc. Travel in Europe is not like jumping in your car in your driveway and driving to the mall where you are put out if you have to park a few feet away (ha, I'm exaggerating). There are lots of time-consuming steps to the travel to factor in.
So in a nutshell--We just spent a week in Germany and Belgium, with 3 nights in Ghent. I'm working on a TR but it's not ready yet.
We loved it a lot, even in cold and mostly damp. Highly recommend Ghent as a base. (We stayed in the Marriott for a splurge; highly recommended but don't know your budget.)
We went to Brugges as a day trip this way: we drove less than an hour on great highway, parked at the not-in-center-of-town train station multi-story garage, walked a little way to bus station, got free tickets for bus into city center, spent 4 or so hours (it was raining for a lot of it), took bus back, drove to Ghent. In March you'd have more daylight, plus we had reservations for Thanksgiving Day dinner in Ghent, so we had a short day in Brugges.
I think there might be more non-tourist stuff in Ghent's city center than Brugges', but either would be charming for a few days.
From Ghent we also drove to near-Dunkirk beaches and American Cemetery in Flanders Field one half day, so it was nice to have a car.
Driving INTO old towns, like Antwerp and Ghent, is a nightmare, plus there's expensive parking to consider. But having a car gives freedom, and travel between the cities was quite nice. Great highways like in Germany.
I highly recommend more than one day in the Bayeux area, one for Bayeux itself and another at least for the Normandy beaches. We had a car and were glad we did; my husband liked driving even the smaller lanes in Normandy, and having a car to get to different D-Day sites was good, too.
Much for you to consider; when you look at car travel, multiply the times on map apps by at LEAST 50%; and whether going by train or car, you have to factor in finding parking and checking in and out of hotels and transport to and from train stations, etc. Travel in Europe is not like jumping in your car in your driveway and driving to the mall where you are put out if you have to park a few feet away (ha, I'm exaggerating). There are lots of time-consuming steps to the travel to factor in.
Dec 2nd, 2017, 10:12 AM
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Rather than staying around Mont St. Michel, I suggest you stay 2 nights in Dinan as home base (we did flight into Rennes and rented car, Dinan is < 1 HR away; and only about 45 min. By highway to see Mont St. Michel). Dinan is lovely walled town, very walkable and nice restaurants. We stayed in an apartment in the old town: Le Medieval: hotel Le Challonge. They also own a hotel for the B&B experience too.
Dec 3rd, 2017, 04:39 AM
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Thank you to everyone who has replied. I have driven in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, England and Scotland so I have done the narrow roads and parking in cities. Bath in England was the worst.
I'm not sure if I will do a DIY tour of the D-Day areas or get a half day guided tour and do some on our own.
I had not considered the American Cemetery in Flanders Field, I would like to see that.
I believe I will rent the car in Brussels airport and return it there when we are done.
I still have to plan the second half or our trip, thinking of driving across France and into Germany to see some the the things we didnt see when we were there last.
I'm not sure if I will do a DIY tour of the D-Day areas or get a half day guided tour and do some on our own.
I had not considered the American Cemetery in Flanders Field, I would like to see that.
I believe I will rent the car in Brussels airport and return it there when we are done.
I still have to plan the second half or our trip, thinking of driving across France and into Germany to see some the the things we didnt see when we were there last.
Dec 3rd, 2017, 08:14 AM
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I'm not sure if I will do a DIY tour of the D-Day areas or get a half day guided tour and do some on our own.>
If renting car anyway just do your own - Michelin Green Guides have tons of info for that. Plus pondering those sobering sights like deadly beaches is best IMO without a tour group - take a couple of days.
If renting car anyway just do your own - Michelin Green Guides have tons of info for that. Plus pondering those sobering sights like deadly beaches is best IMO without a tour group - take a couple of days.
Jan 21st, 2018, 04:54 PM
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Bayeux
Staying in Bayeux is an excellent idea for touring Normandy. We stayed two nights at the Hotel Particular Poppa and it was a lovely B&B! Bayeux is the most walkable small town and so charming! I highly recommend!
Mar 7th, 2018, 02:50 PM
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If driving you could stay right on the D-Day beaches - Oustreham is one with lots of places to stay right on the water - very evocative to me. There is a camnping site and some bungalows right near the Colville/sur/Mer D-Day highllight area for Americans. I camped there and again very provacative and nice once daytripping hoards gone.
Mar 8th, 2018, 09:52 AM
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Where are these Fodor's unwritten rules for us plebes to find, other than stumbling on them and getting questioned?
Mar 8th, 2018, 12:18 PM
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Ah those bent on trying to control and intimidate what others do - just brush them off like an elephant does a pesky fly!
I consider posts timeless because bringing them up sometimes allows others to discover them and the wealth of info on a subject they may be interested in. And often several weeks later they are still in planning stages.
I post a lot right now because I have suffered debiltating injuries that makes me housebound for months now - that is I guess the answer to kja's - helps pass the time and I think anything I add is of value -others may disagree.
Cheers!
I consider posts timeless because bringing them up sometimes allows others to discover them and the wealth of info on a subject they may be interested in. And often several weeks later they are still in planning stages.
I post a lot right now because I have suffered debiltating injuries that makes me housebound for months now - that is I guess the answer to kja's - helps pass the time and I think anything I add is of value -others may disagree.
Cheers!
