Mont St. Michele?
 

My family and I are heading to Europe for a little over a week. Mont St. Michele is a place we've always wanted to see but a little out of the way. If you've been there, do you feel like it is worth the effort for such a short trip?

Yes. If you always wanted to see it, then go for it. Been there three times and loved each time.

>>but a little out of the way<<

from <i>where</i>?

Where exactly are you going during this 'week in Europe'? Just Paris, someplace else in France, some other country?

A little out of the way based on what itinerary?

Mont Saint Michel is worth it. It is the second most visited site in France after Paris.

I had never spent a night there, but I made a point of doing so on my last visit, not on the Mont itself but in the hotel zone directly across from it: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...t-michel-night

Yeh where are you coming from - Mont-Saint-Michel is a doable if long day trip from Paris by train or car (TGV train to Rennes then bus meets train to take you right to the Mont.

I haave stayed in the gaggle of hotels on the mainland opposite the Mont itself (see kerouac's post above).

8th marvel/wonder of the world they say - speaks enough about whether most will enjoy it or not and in spring it will be much more enjoyable than in July or August when the main gauntlet on the island from the entry is often literally sardine city the whole way up to the old basilica/abbey itself - the crowning glory of the island - well never much an island now.

Going by train or car.

imo- I thinks MSM is overrated
In summer, it gets so crowded its not worth spending a day of a short trip. However, in April it might be worth it if you dont have to give up too many other things you could see

I think it's worthwhile, if you have the time, to stay in the tiny town. You'll have the evening and the morning, after and before the coach tours and daytrippers and I think, for me, that made all the difference.

The plan right now is to do paris and brugge by car adding in Mont st. michele if possible.

This brings me to my next question . . . right now I currently have two hotels reserved . . . one on the island for $200 a night and one in ducey for $100 a night. the one in ducey looks really nice, the one on the island is rather old and worn from what I've read. Again, would you suggest spending an extra $100 for one night in a lesser hotel but with a great location - IF you were on a limited budget?

If it's just 1 night, as someone also always on a budget, I suggest the spluge. The one I and a friend stayed in was worn and wonderful anyway. In some places "worn" matters, but I found in this case, clean mattered and worn was fine. Figure the extra $100 is for the rest of the experience.

I loved strolling around Mont St. Michele after the day-trippers left. For my interests, paying more than I otherwise would -- and paying that price for a room that wouldn't garner anything like that price if not so well-located -- was definitely worth it. YMMV.

The real problem isn't the hotels, though they are sort of dingy and overpriced, it's the food. Strongly suggest you bring a picnic dinner.

Since the new shuttle bus runs until 1 a.m. to and from the island and takes only 5 minutes, I absolutely do not find it necessary to stay on the Mont. On of the best things of being at Mont Saint Michel at night is being to admire it in all of its illuminated glory from a distance -- that is the one thing that you cannot do if you are on the Mont itself.

Then maybe the shuttle will be good for a ride to admire the view, then return for the night. Staying on the Mont is certainly not necessary, but we can stay not on the Mont any time, anywhere. But only on it for the pleasure of going to sleep and waking up on it.

When I stayed there, one could -- after access was otherwise closed -- walk some distance from the Mont for some awesome views, Maybe that is no longer an option?

six of one half-dozenof the other - staying on Mont unique experience at night or admiring from the mainland - do both if stayingon the Mont and if staying on the mainland take the shuttle over to wander the eerily empty streets of the island at midnight and perhaps have that famous Mere Poulard (?) restaurant experience after tourist hoards have gone.

I've stayed on the Mont twice at the Auberge Saint-Pierre and loved it. I also always travel on a budget but for me this was worth the splurge.

I'm going to disagree with kerouac now. ;)

You can walk out the back door of the Auberge and right onto the ramparts and if you want to do so after 1AM (which I did) you don't need to worry about a shuttle. You can also have a lovely view over the bay. I also got up before 7AM (before shuttles start running) so I could catch sunrise alone prior to other guests waking up and tourists arriving. Why fuss with waiting for a shuttle when you can walk out your door and be right there? If you want to see it in its a glory from a distance then walk about a hundred meters down the causeway and see it full scale in great detail and not as a blip on the horizon. While the food on the Mont can only be described as average it is not horrible (I ate dinner there). And actually, the buffet breakfast at Auberge Saint-Pierre was quite copious.

Here are some photos of one of my overnight stays if you want to see what it looks like in the evening, at night and in the morning when no one is around:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=d8a4bffa87

A agree re staying on the Mont if you can afford it.

My concern is you apparently are only in Europe a little over a week and are already fitting in Brugge and Paris <i>by car</i>.

Not sure if 1) using a car is practical. Trains are easier/faster and what do you plan to do w/ the car in either Brugge or Paris? And 2) it isn't clear if you have enough time for all three.

What is your actual plan/itinerary?

FMT, Love the pics . . . especially the one of your cat! Definitely inspiring.
Janisj, I plan on parking the car in Brugge, Paris and Mont St. Michel. While I am sure that trains may be slightly faster . . . I doubt they would be much faster than the car since you are most assuredly would have to include transfer times in as well. And that is not even to speak of the cost. Three people in a car for one week would be $150 before gas and tolls. One way train from Paris to Brugge alone would probably cost $150 for three, not to speak of Mont St. Michel and back to Paris.

When I walked along the ramparts at night, I often had floodlights in my eyes. ;-)