"Honfleur is sort of a French Disneyland...."

That's a good description, to a point. But there also is a difference: Honfleur is real!

Don't be alarmed, Dave. I have also seen comparisons of Venice to Disneyland!

Dave, we are only spending one night in Honfleur and arriving on a Sunday (July 24). Will Honfleur be packed with people vacationing at that time? Will it be cooler on the coast than in Paris? What will the traffic be like? Thanks.

grandmere,

we went via the route des abbayes, which proved to be a very scenic and interesting trip. i can't remember where we stopped for lunch but will look it up and post it for you.

we had a terrific lunch in beuzeville at the auberge du cochon d'or.

I think you should expect a crowd. May start to thin out a bit by Sunday evening, however. (The Old Harbor is lovely after dark.) Honfleur is very heavily visited in the summertime. But even then, for me at least, the charm comes through. Traffic driving in to Honfleur on Sunday? Not real bad. I've never seen a traffic jam. Many of the visitors come by tour boat on the Seine, rather than by car. Parking in Honfleur? Problematical. Does your hotel have parking?

Thank you, Underhill!

We dined at an over-rated fancy place but had more fun by the water with the many cafés where everyone from all over the world dined and chatted with us.

Thanks for the info Dave. Actually I checked our schedule and we are arriving on a Saturday from Giverny. Plan to stop in Rouen on the way.

Our Hotel (Les Maisons de Lea on Place St. Catherine) does not have parking and I know it may be a problem. I am studying up on parking lots and rates.

I did check into the B&B you recommended and it looked very nice but since I am going with my sisters and it is one of my sister's birthday, I got out voted. I plan to go another time.

From Honfleur we are going to Mont. St. Michel.

Another high-season strategy if you happen to be earlier risers is to skip the hotel breakfast and have it instead at one of the many restaurants with tables along the hillside quay of the Old Harbor. Early on, it's quite peaceful. You probably will find parking in the large city lot to the left of the Old Harbor, as you enter town on Ave. de la Republic to be the most convenient after you unload bags at the hotel. Wish I could remember the rate. It's not not too costly.

Sorry, the large public lot is to the RIGHT of the Old Harbor as you approach the harbor on Ave. de la Republic.

We just returned last evening from Normandy/Paris trip, and I want to add my hearty recommendation for Giaglis' B and B in Honfleur. Thank you, Dave in Paris, for suggesting it! I probably can't add anything more about it than Dave has already said in this thread, but it is a super little place; the owners are very helpful and hospitable, and it certainly is reasonable at ~71 euro, inc. breakfast! We were fortunate in finding street parking, practically in front of the B and B. Even though this is early in the season, the "Complet" sign was out, so book early if you want to stay there.

Au P'tit Mayereur (sp?) was closed on the night we were there, so Mme G. recommended Le Bouillon Normand, and we loved the homey ambiance and excellent regional food. It's a small restaurant, so once again, make reservations. We saw people being turned away,on a Tues. night.

Loved Honfleur and can understand how people keep returning; we should have allowed for more than one night. A la prochaine!

Welcome back, Glad you loved a favorite place of mine!
Hope to read more about your trip?

Thank you, Mimi! I will write more about the trip but not tonight; I am so jet-lagged that I turned oven on and didn't realize I hadn't put food in until I returned to kitchen an hour later! :-)
Two nights ago, dinner at Le Coupe-Chou in Paris (wonderful); last night, "dinner" at Le Petit Bistro (it and McDonald's were the choices, a lose-lose situation!) at PHL between flights, and back to reality and cooking tonight.

So glad you loved Honfleur and that the tips you gleaned on Fodors contributed to your trip. I've noted some of them too for my return visit one day!

Can't wait to read the full report about the whole trip!

Hi Grandmere,

So glad you enjoyed your stay in Honfleur with Liliane and Antoine Giaglis. Beware, that town is seductive! A French compositor at the International Herald Tribune in Paris suggested 19 years ago that my wife and I might want to go there -- and we've been going ever since.

Welcome back, grandmere!

I'm DYING to hear your complete travel report about Normandy and Paris!

In one week, we will be going to a few of the same places you covered. Here's our plan:

1) Arrive in Paris.

2) After a few days in Paris, driving thorugh forests and Abbey Road (off of Rouen) to ETRETAT, where we'll hike and possibly lunch at L'Huitiere on the beach; then on to HONFLEUR; after dinner at Honfleur, drive back to Paris (late).

3) A few more days of Paris (Eat...Shop...Be Happy), then second daytrip to CHENONCEAU; after Chenonceau, possibly a VOUVRAY wine cave tour (or AMBOISE, depending on the weather); dinner in BLOIS; drive back to Paris late.

We would love to hear your thoughts on driving routes in Normandy, on ETRETAT and Honfleur. Any special places?

Thanks a million,
--Betty

P.S. gradyghost: Mussels in cream...yum!

P.S.S. The weather in Normany I'm guessing is atleast 10 degrees colder than Paris, right?

Sorry, I meant "Normandy."