I am going Sept/Oct. I have decided to stay in Paris 2 nights then train to Rouen, make the route around to Honfluer, D/ville, T'ville, Caen, Bay., Mont S/M and surround, then return car to Rennes and train back to Paris for a week. I will only do a small 1/2 day tour of D Day beaches. I just feel too overwhelmed and sad to stay much longer. I have been briefly once, only to an American cem. My main focus is just wandering the area.

My question, does this sound like a good route. Suggestions appreciated for cheap accomodations and which towns to stay.

Specifically, where will parking be a problem? Should I visit Rouen and then pick up the car and head out or get it for use in Rouen.

I do not want to P/U car at CDG. I feel it would be too stressful to go straight from the airport.

I have read many posts regarding this, but appreciate your specific info.

Thanks.

gg

Sounds good to me. I dont think you need the car in Rouen itself as you can just walk about the historic center. It isnt terribly large.

Sounds like a good route to me. You might want to check the Michelin Green Guide as there are some nice things to see between Rouen and Honfleur along the Seine. We followed the Green Guide drive and took half a day to go from Rouen to Honfleur and enjoyed a picnic on the Seine.

If you are looking for really really cheap, I have stayed in the B and B at Honfleur. It is very basic but clean and quite. It is about a 5 min drive out of the historic center and has an open field behind it so you have birdsong in the morning. http://www.hotel-bb.com/ The rooms for 3-4 people have vaulted ceilings with a mezzanie so they feel much more spacious.

I personally enjoyed staying in Honfleur. When you go from Honfleur to Deauville, take the small road that hugs the coast. Its a very pretty drive with nice views of the coast and small villages.

Thank you Morgan. I looked at the B and B website and see that they have one in Rouen also. I appreciate that tip. I really do not mind basic, especially traveling solo. I would rather spend money on shopping, food etc. I had been leaning toward not getting the car until leaving Rouen.
I may leave Paris early afternoon and spend 2 nights in Rouen as the hotel will be cheaper than in Paris.

I also appreciate the hug the coast info.

Lastly, I just confirmed my Delta business elite ticket using my frequent flyer miles. YES!! It will be my first trip not in coach. I am so excited.

Still looking for any other great Fodorite tips/suggestions.

I'm very partial to Honfleur. Over the top charm. We've been visiting the town repeatedly since 1986. There are a multitude of restaurants and hotels. If you like b&b's, there's a relatively new one there, in the historic district, three minutes by foot from the Old Harbor, run by Liliane Giaglis (giaglis.com), that's very nice for about 80 euros per night. (See Rick Steves.)

Normandy is worth a decade! But one night is better than none. Another vote for Bayeux rather than Caen, but if you stay overnight, there's no reason why you can't make it to the Memorial Museum in Caen, too. Arromanches is a very pleasant little town, but may be of more interest to British visitors than American, since this was a "British" beach.

You may have this covered already in the detail of your itinerary, but consider taking a drive along the banks of the Seine to the ruins of the abbaye de Jumièges. You could do this on your way to Honfleur, or as a day trip from Rouen. Also have a look at Fougères if you get the chance, for a pleasant town with impressive chateau ruins and not too busy. As an aside, taking the car from CDG would not be too difficult - you just have to follow the signs. As a rule picking up your car and getting out of airports is a lot easier than finding where to drop it off on the way back.

Morgan, one more question, if you see this. Is there parking at the Hotel B&B in Honfleur? I am looking at booking them in Honfleur and Rouen.

I could not tell from the website, however, it said most hotels have parking.

thanks.

Morgan,

How did you get from the Hotel B&B to the historic district of Honfleur? Did you hike it, or did you you drive? If the latter, where did you park?

ggna, Congrats on the business class tickets! Its really a treat over coach. Yes there is parking at the B and B in Honfleur. If you stay in the B and B in Rouen you would probably need a car for your time in Rouen as well so you could get into the city center.

Dave in Paris: I drove. There is a city parking lot right at the entrance to the historic center next to the port and I would park there. I cant remember if it was close enough to walk.

I wonder about consolidating your time by renting a car at CDG, doing your Normandy and Britanny trip, adding Chartres at the end of that and turning your car in there and training into Paris--or turn in the car at Orly (easy return) and taxi to town.
I would also say that while the DDay beaches and especially the cemetery evoke a sadness, it was also complete awe for us to see these. I would recommend Omaha and Arromanches and Pointe du Hoc for examples of just incredible odds, bravery, and ingenuity.
We rented at CDG and went to Rouen by way of the road on the north side of the Seine--very scenic. Then from Rouen we took the Abbaye Road toward Honfleur.
You could even spend your first night in Vernon and visit Giverney.
Driving outside of Paris is not at all difficult. Driving IN Paris is just not worth the stress, and I HAVE done it!

ggnga: I'm making a similar solo swing into Normandy in April/May. You have mentioned D/ville and T'ville which I am not that familiar with and would like to know. You seem much more 'progressed' with your plans than I am, and you are leaving later. Would you share your itinerary, I am starting to panic, so many decisions to make.

Hello adamspark,

This is my final plan after several changes. I have hotels booked so I am planning for this to be it.

arrv Paris Wed AM
2 nights in Paris

train to Rouen Fri. early AM
sightsee Rouen Friday and Sat. AM, P/U rental car in Rouen before noon and drive Route of the Abbeys to Honfleur.
Overnight in Honfluer 2 nights Sat. & Sun.
Sightsee Honfleur and daytrip to Deauville and Trouville, seaside resorts, Deauville made famous by Coco Chanel.

Monday AM drive Leisurely to Bayeux.
Sightsee Bayeux. On Tuesday I plan to do a D day tour of some sort. 2 nights in Bayeux.

Wed early AM drive to St. Malo and Dinan if time permits, and head on over to Mont St. Michel late afternoon, Overnight MSM.

Thurs. sightsee MSM, then in afternoon drive and return the car to Rennes. Take the TGV back to Paris and spend another week there.

I am glad that I managed to have two 2 night hotel stays. I looked at distances on mappy and got advice in guidebooks etc. I think this is pretty good. I like to be on the go and do not mind driving in France.

Here is a very pleasant drive, going west from Honfleur and looping back around.

Leave the town on the D580, following the signs to the A13 and the Pont de Normandie. Continue past the bridge, turning left on to the D312 along the Siene estuary and through the village of Berville-sur-Mer.

Keep on the D312 and then left in Toutainville on the N175 to Pont-Audener. Then return on the N175, past Toutainville and then Beuzeville to Pont-l-Eveque.

The next destination is Lisieux, but do not take the D579. Wait and turn left onto the D48, opposite the police station. This is a pretty counry lane following the River Touque.

Head west out of Lisieux on the N13 [direction Caen]. After passing the Chateau de Crevecouer-en-Ague, keep your eyes peeled for Carrefour-St-Jean, and turn right on to the D16 and then left on the D49 to Beuvron-en-Auge. Get the camera ready, because this town is so picturesque it looks like a movie set.

Follow the D49 to the N175, turn left and then immediately right on the D400 to Dives-sur-Mer. From here it’s east on the D513 past Houlgate, Deauville and Trouville on the way back to Honfleur.

Before you reach town, there will be a sign and a right turn to the Manoir du Butin. We stopped to check it out, and enamored with the lovely dining room, we returned that evening for one of the best dinners of our trip.

ggnga: Thank you! Actually it was reading your first message and the responses about Honfluer etc that got me re-thinking my trip. I am going to France (specifically to go the D-Day beaches where my father was at the landing of. . .) with my son who is studying at Oxford. I was trying to take the trip as you have it planned--somewhat--but was getting into a mess because by the time we got down to Bayeux my son had to head back to Oxford--and even at that we were rushing. So I am thinking of inverting your trip and take the TGV down to Rennes and go up. We'll see Dinan, St.M the D-Day Beaches and then I'll pop my son on a train back to Paris in Caen and I'll keep going at a more leisurely pace.

Right now we will be getting into Rennes late afternoon, staying in Dinan on Thursday. A.M. Friday looking around at Dinan, then driving up to St. M. (mid-day unfortuneately) then driving up to St. Marie du Mont Friday evening (found a very nice b&b there with a man who does tours of the beaches--a bit off the beaten path but a nice aside I think).Saturday will be the beaches. Sunday--Bayeux. I'll put my son on the train in Caen but think I'll overnight at Bayeux. Monday I'll head to Honfleur. Tuesday--Rouen. Leave the car in Rouen, and train in early Wensday a.m. Then I am looking at 2-3 days in Paris.

Question--Should I spend 2 more days in Normandy and just forget Paris---this time? I have never been to France. I am starting this 3 week trip off in Oxford, spending some time there seeing my son's environs and some of the surrounding area. I'd like to get back to London and Oxford for a few days after France(I have been to England before) to see a couple of places I didn't get to see the last time. So do you think 5 days in Normandy with 2-3 days in Paris or 7 days in Normandy and leave Paris for another trip?

Paris is my favorite place in the world. I would never leave off Paris. I would definitely put in at least the 3 days in Paris. It will be a taste only but well worth it in my opinion. If I had to choose, I would even leave off Honfleur and Rouen and go back to Paris when your son goes. Especially since you have never been to France. Paris is so special. I think 5 days in Normandy and three full days in Paris would work. Your plan looks okay to me.

RonZ, thank you so much for that detailed route. I will make sure to follow it.

I'm curious--is the loop that RonZ talking about the same as Route of the Abbeys?

Adamsparks,

When we were in Brittany, we discovered that there were quite a few air connections with England, a sort of Celtic reconnection. You might want to consider going from Calais to Normandy, drop off the car in Brittany and go back to England, assuming that your trans-Atlantic connection is via London.

No, it is not the route of the Abbeys, that is from Rouen to Honfleur. Beginning at Rouen, the Seine winds through black forests and lush green countryside as you make your way past the ruins of monastaries and chateaux. One of the most memorable routes in France. (According to my guidebook)

The one RonZ is giving us is from Honfleur to Deauville and Trouville and returning back to Honfluer. Making a senic loop around I beleive. I really appreciate this tip as I, at first, was going to leave Honfleur and see D/vile, T/ville on the way to Bayeux. I wanted two nights Honfleur and decided to go out and return for the night. Nice to know it is very scenic and not wasted backtracking.