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Originally Posted by StCirq
(Post 16685297)
I second the idea that two nights on le MSM will probably end up making you wonder what the heck you're going to do with all that time, and you will realize that you'd have been better off using it to see something ese (and there is plenty to see in that neck of the woods). BUT, if it's always been your dream and you think you'll just want to hunker down there for a couple of days, then do that. I have to agree, though, that I can't think of a single café on that island I'd have any desire to relax in or any restaurant I'd want to dine in. There are, however, plenty of nearby towns where I'd be content to park at a café or resto and plenty of nearby places I'd be happy to walk for miles.
One thing that strikes me in all your posts, though, is that you don't seem to have a grasp of distances or the size of places, which I can only attribute to not having looked carefully at maps. I realize people have different approaches to planning their trips, but I can't even begin to get going without buying at least one good map (yes, the paper kind), laying it out on a big table, and plotting. If I don't do that I feel as though I'm just guessing at things that will become important when I'm actually on the ground. It's very important for me to know how far it is from A to B and what my options are for navigating between them. There is absolutely no reason, for example, not to know what bridges lie between Paris and your destination - it's all right there in front of you on a map, and you can see clearly how long or short they are and how you can get around them if you need to. You can also plot an uncomplicated route out of Paris (it really isn't that difficult to drive out of the city, but that's for you to decide). Once you have a bare bones itinerary plotted out and understand distances and timing, you can supplement your understanding with internet research. It may be useful to know that every village, town, and city in France has an official website, and they are often comprehensive and detailed. If you go to the MSM website, e.g., you can easily see how big (small) a place it is. You can do that with every other destination you're thinking of visiting. And you can use sites like www.viamichelin.com to give you details on mileage and tolls and scenic routes and timing. In sum, there is no reason to be in the dark or confused about any of these details. There is a world of information out there. Help yourself to it and you won't be so overwhelmed. |
You've gotten lots of good options. Reading them all, what I'm hearing back from you is some definite hesitancy about driving and especially bridges and those that you don't know.Is there possibly a way to minimize the driving you do? I kind of like the ferry to St. Malo idea because then you would be driving only one way.
There are lots of car rental agencies showing in St. Malo and in Rouen. Pick one that's further outside of town (not going over the bridge mentioned above). Spend your time in Honfleur and Mont St Michel. When done, drive to Rouen. And drop the car, take an uber or taxi to the train station and then train to Giverny. Plan B: If you really want to take the Eurostar, couldn't you take the train to Giverny and then the train to Rouen? You'd likely need to sleep in Rouen one night. That's not a bad thing. I have fond memories of my day in Rouen--the amazing cathedral, Joan of Arc sites. Next morning, rent the car and go to Honfleur, see Mont St. Michel. Stay in Honfleur one night or two. Return to Rouen, drop the car and take train to Paris. |
Downstream from Rouen there are 8 free ferries that take you across the Seine in a minute or two. Some of them are along very scenic drives, like the Route des Chaumieres (thatched-roof cottages) and Route des Fruits, as well as the pretty village of La Bouille.
https://sites.google.com/site/shippingseine/the-bacs Also, for me one of the thrills of Mont Saint Michel is seeing it from a distance. When you're actually on the mount, you don't see that iconic outline. |
Go online and buy the Michelin Green Guide to le Mont St-Michel and then buy this: https://lacompagniedescartes.fr/geo/...normandie-ign/
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For a real detailed and historic look at Mont Saint-Michel check out Henry Adams' classic tome: Mont Saint-Michel and Chartres:
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/mont-s...3&idiq=5667745 |
Yes seeing the Mont from a distance hovering across the usually sandy bay is mesmerizing - try to drive along the coast north of Mont and see it in the distance. If staying on the Mont, be sure to take people mover to mainland at night to glimpse the Mont gloriously illuminated.
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We drove all over France (well a few times) and the one thing I would not do, is get the car in Paris from Gare du Nord simply because driving out of the city is tough...especially by the Arc de Triomphe. It is pure chaos with something like eight lanes coming at you and seemingly no rhyme or reason to it. If you can take the tube out and pick up a car, the rest is easy. We chose to take a lot of B roads so we could sight see and be less stressed. It has always been easy and I mean that. I can't think of any giant bridges. You should be able to take a B road to Giverny, I know we did and stayed there for a night. Normandy is beautiful, you'll have a great trip!
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There is no such thing in France as a B road.. What are you talking about? N roads? Routes nationales?
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Maybe meant 'D' or departmental or regional roads that outside urban areas are usually well-paved little trafficked back roads.
Try to leave or return to Paris on a Sunday if renting a car there. |
>>Try to leave or return to Paris on a Sunday if renting a car there.<<
Why would that be? Rental agencies in Paris will be closed (or will have very limited hours) on Sundays. |
Good point jan - I thought ones at say major train stations would be open - thanks for correction on that.
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I am getting discouraged and frustrated
You don't have to rent a car. You don't have to drive yourself at all. You can change things up a bit and plan the trip around where you can get using plane, train, bus, etc. |
Or simply take a guided group tour!
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No need for that. You can self-plan and do exactly what you want on your own time table (without the stress of driving, car rental, or planning an hour by hour itinerary OR the limitations of a large bus group tour).
I've only been to Europe 5 times, but each time I did nothing more than purchase a plane ticket and make hotel reservations (so I did need to decide on how many days in each city). I read a guidebook on the plane ride over. I planned trains, sight-seeing, collected tourist information, etc. all after I arrived. |
So did you pay a lot for trains as opposed to doing so a lot in advance?
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I did a little looking for you. France has thousands of tourists and many of them don't want to rent a car.
You can get to Honfleur by public bus from Le Havre, which has a train station. It's also possible you could get there by Uber as it's only a 30 minute drive according to Google. But I don't know Uber's services in France. Still, the bus is there. As to Mont St. Michel, you can take a tour with a much shorter drive from Bayeux (1.5 hours away), and in a mini-van not a big bus. There may be other tours, but this will give you an idea. https://www.busverts.fr//491-Calculateur-de-Tarif.html https://www.partner.viator.com/en/64...d909-3193MSM_B |
also trains Bayeux to Pontorson, six miles from Mont - if not wanting group tour which does however make sense in this case if just doing one day.
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<<Maybe meant 'D' or departmental or regional roads that outside urban areas are usually well-paved little trafficked back roads.>>
MAYBE? If you don't know the classification of roads in France, don't talk about them. There are A, N, and D roads. Your description of a D road is very shaky. In rural areas they are not often well-paved unless the local commune has allocated a lot of spring funds to re-do them. N roads - a completely different story. <<Try to leave or return to Paris on a Sunday if renting a car there.>> Good luck with that. Rental agencies are closed on Sundays, with the exception of some at airports, with limited hours at regional airports. |
St-Cirq I said 'maybe' only in reference to OP's confusion. I perfectly well know what D roads are and I know perfectly well the designations of roads in France. In your constant attempts to pick out and malign me at least get it right. I stand by my description of D roads that I have driven and bicycled over literally all over the Hexagon. I doubt they have changed that drastically in 5 years since my last road trip. And you can't judge D roads all over France by what you see in your Dordogneshire. Why so aggressive? Michelin maps clearly show main D roads which go for miles - not shaky at all. Come drive around the Loiret and other areas of France. and yes my French son concurs with this - he goes on long drives twice a year in France. Of course, like the French language which you claim to speak better than him born and raised in France not America like you -you claim superiority in knolwedge of France. And I just talked to his French mother who said the same thing I did. Sure there are some D roads in terrible condition but not many she says and she only takes them and not the busy roads.
Cheers! |
I read “overwhelmed” and had to read your post. I have never been to Honfleur or Mt St Michel but I have been to Giverny. If you can get to Giverny, I would say GO - it is as enchanting and charming as you see in photos. I took a day trip bu train and bus from Paris. It is well worth a trip there.
I would also like to comment on your feelings about being overwhelmed. I am currently going through the same roller coaster of trip planning. You are in good hands here. I have received so many good tips from the Fodorites. Try to enjoy the planning part, it is all part of the journey. Enjoy your trip! |
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