Need help with Normandy Itinery!
 

Hi everyone,
I am thinking of spending some time in Paris and Normandy late-April/early May. I would spend about 3 days in Paris and then I want to travel into Normandy. I would like see Fecamp (my ancestors are from here), Mount St. Michel, and then I'm open to suggestions. I was thinking Etratat, Rouen and maybe a D-Day beach. Problem is that I must rely on public transportation, as I am only 18 and can't rent a car. I am flexible with time for my trip (up to 16 days), but have a very tight budget. If anyone could give me any advice on transportation, where I should stay and any other tips, I would greatly appreciate it!

anyone??? I have done a search on Normandy, with some success, but almost everyone who has done a similar trip has had a car. I could really use some help!

First, a little patience - You posted only two hours ago and it is Thanksgiving in the states. You also have 6 months before your trip.

As for Normandy - I took a train from Paris out for the day. As we got close to Normandy - school kids go on and off as they were going to school. I would assume that you can get between some bigger towns via train. I would also assume that there a bus transit system between some towns as well.

I visited Normandy this Spring. I would like to return and bicycle the region. That might be a good option for you.

Keith

We hired a cab, but it was hardly inexpensive. I think if you know just where you want to go, you should be able to find public transportation at very reasonable prices. In Caen, we wanted to see the peace memorial, and just took a bus.

I need time to look back in my journals to give you specifics.

However, in the meantime you could start researching which cities/sites interest you most. Also, do a "search" here putting in cities' names or interests: D-day beaches, Mont St. Michel, etc.

Keith's suggestion of biking is very doable if you are the athletic type. Trains will get you to the larger cities like Rouen, and smaller towns are serviced by bus service, often titled "Les Cars...(name of owner or locale)", les Cars AberWrach, for example. The local tourist agency can provide you with schedules and fees if you write them. I would recommend getting a youth hostel membership...most towns have a hostel, many in very nice surroundings; safer/easier than camping, cheap and a great way to meet youth from all over the world. Some provide meals at low cost. Be sure you have a student ID...everything has a student discount but you must ask for it and produce the ID.

You might want to look into Bayeux as a base for D-day beaches, St. Malo, Dinan or Honfleur. Etretat, like Fecamp, is on the Alabaster Coast area, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to get to.

Good Luck!

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to get information on the web about public transportation in France. There's no single source of information. So I would begin by writing or e-mailing to some of the tourist offices in the places you're interested in visiting and asking them specific questions about public transportation. You can devise your route accordingly.

For what this is worth: You can get to Caen by train easily from Paris (probably from Rouen, too). The Mémorial museum in Caen arranges daytrips to the D-Day beaches that I've heard are very good (we did it by car so I have no personal experience).

Michelyns, there's a really nice hostel in Bayeux, which would be a good base for your Normandy travels. Our son stayed there as his first Europe hostel experience and it was his favorite. They don't seem to have email, but you could phone or fax. Once you connect with a group of like-minded 18 year olds you shouldn't have any problems figuring out transportation. Be sure to post a trip report on your return.

Here's the hostel website:
http://www.fuaj.org/eng/hostels/aj_fiche.asp?id=1

I haven't used the site, but I understand Lonely Planet caters to students. Try Google for the web address.

Bon voyage!

Your Normandy itinerary is entirely feasible via train. As the others have said, you can take a train out of Paris and into Normandy.

My recommendation would be to make Bayeux your base. It is very central to Mont St. Michel and the D-Day beaches. While in Bayeux, you can check out its famous Tapestry and also the Notre Dame cathedral there. A good local tour guide group that specializes in small (6-8 persons) tours of the area is called 'Bus Fly' (local Tel. 02 31 22 00 08 / Fax. 02 31 92 35 10) - they are located in the heart of Bayeux.

Once you find out exactly where Fecamp is located, you can take a train into Rouen (or whichever city is closest to it) and then take a taxi out there if no train service is available. If you wish to stay longer in Fecamp, then you could split your time up between Bayeux and Rouen.

Huitres: I was going to recommend Bus Fly, but I'm pretty sure I heard they were out of business as of a year or so ago. That's why I recommended the tours from the Mémorial in Caen.

Hi St. Cirq-I used 'Bus Fly' tours 1 year ago and they send me regular emails of their tours and highlights. I don't know if they are operating as individuals now, but do know they are still conducting tours. If "michelyns10" is interested, he/she can try contacting them at that number to find out more information; and hopefully, they can help out!

Here's a thread where I was trying to gather as much information as possible about taking trips in France without a car. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34424767 I wasn't asking specifically about Normandy, but there may be some posts about traveling withing Normandy by public transportation.

If you haven't already, you might try writing to the municipal ofices in Fecamp, explaining your connection to the town, and asking how to get there and whatever else you might want to know. I've done that with some small Italian towns and have received wonderfully friendly helpful responses.

Well, thanks, Huitres, for the update. I don't know where I got my info, but apparently yours is more current, and more useful.

Hi. Though it's in Brittany, Dinan is just a bit from the mount. We spent several days there some time ago traveling by train. Dinan is an interesting little town. J.