Normandy: No reservations!

Old Feb 26th, 2012, 11:47 AM
  #21  
 
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-you'll pay more and not have the choice of the place you really might enjoy more.

Not necessarily true. In fact, I think that the B&B system in France is cheaper than the hotel and generally more pleasant. Tourist offices in large towns still offer at least a listing of what is available, and in Vannes--the only town where I tried the system--there was an interactive computer screen outside the office for after hours usage. In Scotland we found B&B rooms through the tourist office about half the time. I don't wing it in large cities because of the logistics of hauling baggage from one place to the other if one establishment happens to be full. Of course, one can have bad experiences while winging it, but then one can have bad experiences with reserved rooms.

We are reluctant to go without reservations in Italy because of a couple too close for comfort experiences in Siena and Urbino, plus an uncomfortable first night in Tarquinia; but as I think of it, we had no problems in Orvieto, near Viterbo (the tourist office sent us to Bagnaia), Gubbio, Perugia, Spoleto. This was in October 1994, and things may have change since. More recently we winged it in Sicily except for our stay in Palermo. The price was probably more than my wife and I would have paid, but our travel companions made these decisions.

Our Italian experience might be more relevant for the OP in that we do not speak Italian (or Turkish or Romanian to list other places where we went without reservations) whereas I do speak French.
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Old Feb 26th, 2012, 11:48 AM
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For your day in Normandy, I suggest that you stay in Bayeux rather than Caen. Bayeux is a much more charming town and is as convenient to the WWII sights. And the Bayeux tapestry is a "must see" in my opinion.
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Old Feb 26th, 2012, 03:08 PM
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Ooh, this thread makes be want to grab the gites guide and Sawdays and head to France. We used both very successfully in several areas of France a few years ago. Had never heard of Sawdays until I picked up one of his guides that someone had left in a B&B in France.

Bon voyage!
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Old Feb 26th, 2012, 05:58 PM
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StCirq : Maybe a better choice would have been 'tourism'. I hate places that are so full of tourists that I can scream. I'm thinking the centers of Dresden or Prague, Fisherman's Warf in SF, Alexander Platz in Berlin, etc. Not being familiar with Paris, I can only go on comments I've seen, so input from people who have visited Paris more than we have is important.

Gretchen: Out trip is actually about 3 months. Including 3 weeks in France and 3 in Italy. I never expected to go to Normandy, my DH planned that, I really haven't even looked at it because I've been busy with other places and he's kind of taken over. We'll have the car the entire time and are picking up/dropping off at Frankfurt airport. In Paris there are places you can leave your car for a week for about 65EUR or so. Not too worried about it.

Without any argument, I've gotten him to agree to book ahead, and will certainly look at staying in Bayeux rather than Caen. He was glad you guys recommended that and also the tapestry.

Having now planned on 9 nights in Paris, we are still working on finding an apartment. Unfortunately, we have had to wait for people to get back to us, but will no doubt decide on one tonight. He has selected a few more in the area of Marias and the 3rd...just as I was kind of getting used to the idea of the other two in the 7th and 15th

We already have a villa in Florence booked, and will work on Sorrento & Rome after we finish France, which hopefully will be in the next day or two.

Not sure we can extend our stay in Normandy as we still have to drive through the S on our way to Italy.

I'll be back...
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Old Feb 26th, 2012, 09:26 PM
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Any of the highlights in Paris will be full of tourists: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, la Sainte-Chapelle, a good part of the 5th, 6th and 7th arrondissement. Face it, you are adding to the numbers.
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Old Feb 26th, 2012, 11:37 PM
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Michael: Try understanding this: I don't want to STAY in a heavily touristed area.
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