My husband and I are meeting our college-age daughter, who is finishing a semester in Spain, in Paris at the end of May. From there we will drive to Normandy. We want to see Giverny, the D Day beaches, and Mt. St. Michel. Should we stay in Bayeaux, near to the beaches, or try a seaside town, like Honfleur, and then spend an overnight near Mt. St. Michel? Can we take in Giverny by arriving late in the afternoon and staying there overnight on the way back to CDG? If not, where might we stay within an hour's drive of the airport?

Maureen, <BR> <BR>I think you are underestimating the distances and the "you-can't-get-there-from-here" factor. <BR> <BR>I recommend the interactive map here: <BR> <BR>http://www.normandy-tourism.org/gb/02ville/indexm.html <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

You don't mention how long your trip will be, but this is roughly minimums: <BR>Giverny will take 4-5 hours, and it is best seen early in the day, so start your drive there. It's a good 5+ hours of driving from Giverny to Bayeux, so have reservations and arrive around 8pm. Spend the next day at the D-Day beaches and museums (if you have time, go see the famous Bayeux tapestry, you know, with William the Conqueror et al), then drive to Mont St Michel (about 2 hours, maybe a little more) for early evening arrival (the Mont is beautiful in the evening, viewed from the causeway. There are couple of motels at the end of the causeway, there are small hotels in Pontorson, or you can stay on the Mont). Start exploring the Mont early in the morning before the tours arrive and spend about six hours. You've got about a 4 1/2-5 hr drive to CDG. If your plane leaves the next morning, you can stay at one of several hotels either in or around the airport, or in Reuil-Malmaison or St Germaine en Laye. If your plane is a late afternoon flight, you could stay in Rouen (under two hours to CDG) and see a little of the city before driving to the airport.

Two friends and I just returned from doing the Normandy thing in Mar . . . it's a great area to travel in. We stayed two nights in Honfleur (Le Chat) and could have stayed another, we liked it that much. <BR> <BR>We took a daytrip to Caen and visited the D-day museum (great movies), then on to Bayeux for 3 days, staying at the Churchill right downtown. <BR> <BR>It took us about 2 hrs to drive to St. Michel and I hope I don't get bashed too badly for this, but it was a waste of time/money to go inside. First we had to run the gauntlet of (seemed like) hundreds of cheesy souvenir stands, had to walk up steep, slick streets (bad knees), only to find big empty rooms in the abbey! We did take the free 1-hr tour and it was interesting but we three all agreed that we would have been just as happy to drive up, take the photo, and leave. It's much more impressive from the outside than inside. I could have used those hours to spend more time at the Normandy beaches, in some of the small towns around Bayeux, or doing most anything. <BR> <BR>So, just a thought it you find yourself pressed for time . . . <BR> <BR>You'll love the Normany area, the food is good, the people VERY friendly, and the scenery beautiful. <BR> <BR>Happy travels, <BR>Sandy

I agree with Elvia on Mont St. Michel. It is beautiful at night. I knew I wanted the picture of the Mont at night so we stayed overnight at the Mont. I walked to the end of the causeway and took floodlit pictures of the Mont at 11pm using a portable tripod, with no inteferrence from the cars parked on the causeway; there were hardly any left at this time. With faint sunset outlining the Mont from the behind, it made all the hassle of getting there worthwhile. <BR> <BR>In summer there are two ways to see the Abbey; during the day with the masses, or at sunset to see the Abbey with light and sound effect. Like someone else said, the day visit was ho hum. I also went there at night. Having done both, I would save energy next time by visiting the Abbey only at night with light and sound effect -- less people, get to visit nearly all the same places, but in different order, and eerie sound and light effects. I do not think the lighting meets OSHA type of standard so if you have difficulty seeing dimly lit uneven staircases, night is not a good time to go or take a flashlight.

Absolutely agree with Sandy. Honfleur is charming and delicious and you can easily see the Normandy beaches from there. Bayeux is a must see. Mt. St. Michel is pretty from the outside, but I wouldn't make it a place to stay for a couple days.

I agree with above on Mt St Michael. We enjoyed the visit and had dinner there, but did not need more than the afternoon and evening to see what we wanted to see. <BR> <BR>We stayed in a great B and B outside of Caen that was convenient to all the Normandy spots. Old mansion, four nice rooms with bath and breakfast, about $60 dollars per room, American owner with French wife that was very nice and gave us a lot of good info. Town was Troon on the Dives River. Email if you want me to look up the address and email for the owner.