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. ;-)

^^ Be cool and wear your sunglases at night. ;)

"I plan on parking the car in Brugge, Paris and Mont St. Michel."

Banff, have you considered/do you know the cost of parking? I think you underestimate the costs and time wasted driving on such a trip, and also underestimate the convenience of trains & buses.

Generally people come to these forums to find out what they don't know. A few disregard good advice while they argue they're right. The itinerary you describe suggests some of both.

Yes a week for Paris, Bruges and MSM is a lot of driving and spending very little time except moving between them as they are not logically grouped. Consider trains as janis and MmeLost suggest - possibly even day tripping to MSM from Paris and spending 3-4 days in Paris.

Personally I'd leave Bruges for a later trip and spend time in Paris - take the train to Caen, Normandy rent a car there - drive by the famous D-Day sites if that perks your interest and over to MSM and then to Rennes - return the car and blast into Paris - for lots on French trains check: www.seat61.com (good info on discounted tickets on TGVs like Rennes to Paris-Montparnasse; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

MmePerdu,
I've used this forum for loads of advice over the years but unsolicited advice is really just criticism in disguise. Imagine your in-laws coming to visit. If you ask them for advice on "how-to" do something you are very grateful when they help you but now imagine if your in-laws come visit and say, "hey, you shouldn't do that, instead you should do this." There's a big difference between advice and criticism.
I've been to Europe numerous times . . . honestly, I don't need much time in Paris.
I really don't think my itinerary is all that horrible. CDG is on the NE side of Paris making it easy to land and drive straight up to Brugge (2-3 hrs). Landing at 7am should put me in Brugge by 11am with two nights there. Then we plan on driving to MSM (7 1/2 hrs)- this is the one long day. Leave Brugge early and arrive in MSM by late afternoon. Stay in MSM for 2 nights. Drive on to Chartres for one night (2 hrs) and then on to Paris for 2 nights.

Oh, and I forgot to say, with the exception of MSM, I have reserved hotels that offer "free parking".

When I was in Paris last it cost $20 pp to take the train from CDG to Paris . . . . meaning that it would cost us $60 for 3 to simply take the train from the airport to the city - that doesn't include the return portion or transport around for the week.

I guess he doesn't like my tone, oh dear. But I'll accept the wrap for all of us who think this is fuzzy thinking. I'm not quite sure what to make of the convoluted in-laws statement. And it'd be vaguely interesting to know the locations of the hotels with free parking, I'm guessing more wasted time for this self-described experienced traveler.

a chacun son Gout as they say in French - he/she knows what they are getting into and they are comfy with it so why rain on their parade - some Americans just cannot get cars out of their system - a car in Paris is useless and a liability - hotels typically charge parking so he/she has gotten a good deal with free parking - but if they are just staying in Paris one night then going to MSM or Bruges that's fine but in that case I'd tend to get a hotel on the periphery of Paris in the direction they are going - like one of the many accor hotels - www.accorhotels.com around the Peripherique - use it as a base with easy access in and out and metro links into the city.

Many Americans only think cars and that is fine - that is what they feel comfy with so that's what they should do!

Correction, make that "...accept the rap..."

>>I've used this forum for loads of advice over the years but unsolicited advice is really just criticism in disguise<<

I was trying to help you and merely asked a question and offered a reasonable alternative . . . I was not criticizing you at all. But your plan definitely does open you up to criticism. A car is a total liability in both Brugge and Paris.

And if you plan on driving to Belgium after an overnight flight ---

Perhaps my tone was lost in cyber space. My intention was not to create a conflict.
PalenQ, I'm definitely not opposed to taking trains, in fact I prefer that mode of transportation . . . far less stressful. But in calculating the costs (about $500 for 3 people vs. $150 for car + petrol) I just felt that it was financially a better deal.
On top of that, the train schedules all appear to be the exact same time expenditure as driving due to connections. I did find a cost effective hotel in Paris with free parking. Obviously I have no intention of driving around Brugge, Paris or MSM but I figured that the free parking would allow me to hang onto the car so I could avoid the $60 train fee from Paris to CDG.
Let me know if there are better train options I am not familiar with b/c if we are comparing apples to apples financially, obviously I'd opt for the train. Took trains and buses all over Italy when it was cost effective.

Have you figured the <B>$9</B> per gallon petrol? And what sites are you using to find your fares? That seems very high.

Just so you know, taking the RER B between CDG and anywhere in Paris only costs 10€.

I haven't done any fuel/toll cost estimates but if you haven't found this site already then use www.viamichelin.com to get directions, times estimates, toll and fuel costs and suggested routes. The times don't include stops or bad weather/traffic but are reliable otherwise. Don't use google maps for driving info as they always underestimate drive times.

Viamichelin estimates about 200€ for fuel and tolls in a direct route from CDG to Brugge to MSM to Paris.

Janisj, I did know that gas was much more expensive in Europe but not aware that it was that high. Tried several sites including the one Palenq offered. I was unable to find an actual train from Brugge to MSM but could find one to Rennes and figured I'd probably have to take a bus from there. Each leg of the trip (CDG to Brugge, Brugge to MSM, MSM to Chartres) was about $125ish for 3, give or take. and then I would also need to include the train from Chartres to Paris and Paris to CDG.
Again, I am not overly familiar with the prices and schedules but if someone knows a way for me to take the trains/buses and cut my cost by one third I'm all in.

Thanks for the site FMT, that's very helpful!

I suspect for your itinerary for 3 people that trains will be more expensive than a car. You're not going to find any direct trains from CDG to Brugge, from Brugge to MSM or from MSM to Chartres. All will require one or more transfers. If you're just driving the car into Paris to park and not using it to explore the city then I don't see a problem with that. However, I would suggest that once you arrive in Paris (if that's your end destination) that you drop the car off altogether since there'll be no need for it. If you can manage your luggage on public transport then use the RER B to get to CDG. Otherwise a taxi from Paris to CDG will likely cost 55€ to 70€ for three of you.

I will definitely look into the RER B . . . I thought I remembered it being $20 pp but it might have been that I was thinking RT. $10 one way is not too bad. I do have free parking at the hotel in Paris but it would be an added relief to drop it off.

It's 10€ one way, not $10.00. ;)

>>It's 10€ one way, not $10.00.<<

Which are currently nearly the same thing >)

To learn how to get around Paris (and between Paris and the airports) by métro/bus/RER use www.ratp.fr. Here is a link to a route planner:

http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee

Here is an interactive map of the system:

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Since parts of this website are only in French you can also use www.transilien.com or www.vianavigo.com. Via Navigo probably has the most complete English website. Keep in mind that all these sites are time and date sensitive and they will use Paris time, not your local time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that they all default to the next available departure. So you may get one route that looks very complicated (multiple métro/bus connections) but scroll forward through the next few departures and you'll often find the simplest connections for your journey.

To learn about the various types of transport passes look here:

http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-fares/

A good website to learn how to use public transport in Paris is www.parisbytrain.com. It will likely answer any of your questions about what is the métro, what is the RER, what kinds of tickets you need, how to buy tickets, what kinds of passes are available etc.

Buy a good detailed map of Paris of around the scale 1:12,000 and it will show all streets and street names, museums, monuments, gardens, parks, sites, attractions and the location of all RER and métro stops. A handy booklet to buy is called ''Plan de Paris par Arrondissement, L'Indispensable''. It is available in the Relay bookstores you'll find in the main line train stations and RER stations. It can be bought in many other places as well, such as bookstores, magazine/news stands, many touristy souvenir stores, larger supermarkets, tabac stores etc.

In any métro or RER station with an information booth you can get free maps of the Paris transport system and use those in conjunction with your street maps to figure out how to get around and determine where you are.

For taxi cost estimates see here:
www.taxisg7.com/estimation-tarif-duree-course