3 of us (2 adults, and an 8 yr old), are visiting Normandy in early July for 4 days. We really want to tour the D-Day beaches, and would like to visit Honfleur as well. Our last night will be spent in Les Andelys, before driving back to CDG to make a 1:00pm flight home (1 hr drive, I'm told). Here are my questions: Where to stay? I am trying to decide whether to stay in Bayeux or Honfleur- the ambiance of Honfleur is appealing, but is the drive too far for visits to the D-Day beaches and museums? We want to base ourselves in 1 place for 3 nights, moving to Les Andelys on the last night to be closer to the airport.We plan to travel to Normandy from Paris. I really don't want to drive in Paris -- I made the mistake of picking up a rental car once in Paris - what a nightmare. Should we take the train to a town in Normandy and rent a car there, then return it at CDG? If so which is the best place to rent? Or is there a spot on the outskirts of Paris that might be better to rent the car? Will I pay a big fee for renting from one place and returning it to another?

Depends on the company, but likely no fee at all, to pick up anywhere in France and return in France. <BR> <BR>Vernon is a reasonably decent place to "base" your last night (about 15-20 miles from Les Andelys, and less than 5 minutes from Giverny). I know (at least one of) the Avis location(s) there and it is NOT particularly close to any hotel, nor to the train station (more than 5 minutes walk, allow for taxi time, perhaps) - - but maybe there is some car rental at or near the train station. Vernon is not THAT much a tourist-oriented town - - better if you can speak a little French, at least. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

We stayed in Bayeux last May and thought it a lovely town. Picked it over Honfleur because it is closer to the D-Day beaches. I researched the same question and some folks thought the drive from Honfleur to the beaches do-able, but in the end I decided I didn't want to spend the extra hour (I think). By this time, you might find your choices for hotels for July limited so that might influence your choice of towns.

I agree with Ruth. It is about an hour to the beaches from Honfleur. I would stay in Bayeaux - it is a lovely, easy-to-navigate small town. You should also know that the Caen Memorial WWII museum has a "babysitting" room. I thought the pictures and movies too graphic for my 8-year old, so she stayed in this room. She loved the break from all the "adult" activities. Although most of the kids were younger, she found activities she could do. She loved the castle at Les Andelys, too. <BR>We rented our car at CDG, but ended up returning it in Versailles. I don't think we paid an exorbitant fee to drop it off there, rather than at CDG.

Last year we took the train from Paris to Caen, the Hertz rental car agency was directly across the street from the train station. Easy drive to Bayeaux and Normany area. We stayed in Arromanches right on the bay- and loved it, but it is very small.

Marsha- <BR>We are planning to pickup a car at CDG and drive to Normandy as you did. Did that work out okay for you? Our plan is to return it to CDG only because we didn't have a better idea. Any suggestions?

CJ <BR> <BR>We picked up our rental car from Hertz at CDG and that was no problem. It was about 4 hours from there to Bayeux and we were pretty exhausted when we got there, but had no problem other than that. As for returning the car, it depends upon where you're going. We drove into Paris and had pre-arranged with Hertz to pick the car up at our hotel.

<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>it is less expensive if you book your car from the states. We always pick it up at the airpot and return at the airport-mor convenient but we are allowed to drop it off at other cities if we wanted. Les andelys is near Monet's garden,so, if you have time.....

Message to CJ: <BR> <BR>Renting our car at CDG was not a problem, but have your most aggressive driver do the driving to get out of Paris. You need to get on the Peripherique (Paris' ring road), heading west (Ouest) and exit at Porte St. Cloud, following signs to the A13 (the autoroute that heads to Rouen). These were the directions that I got on this forum and were basically the same ones I got at the car rental booth at CDG. But I would confirm the directions at CDG - ask for the rental agency's map.