Hello and thanks to the many who provided information for our recent Paris and Normandy trip. Here's the report with a few caveats at the front-end: <BR><BR>1) You will see an emphasis on restaurants, hotels, and DDay sights. If that's what you're looking for, then this is the place. <BR><BR>2) I have included prices where applicable as that seems to be of interest to many readers. <BR><BR>3) I have done this report by city in which we stayed, with a general interest section at the end.<BR><BR>PARIS:<BR><BR>Hotel--Hotel Royal St. Honore. This is our third stay there and we continue to love the staff, the location, and the well-appointed rooms. The concierges (both of them) are very cheerful and helpful. Rooms are very quiet, have a/c, large bathrooms with great showers, and the towels are the best! Normally wouldn't notice something like that, but they were worth noting. Ask for a non-smoking room on the top floor--they have a very pretty roof line. Rate was quoted at 308E, but they billed us at 284E. Don't know why and didn't ask! <BR><BR>Restaurants: <BR>1) Brasserie Balzar. Always our "first night" meal. Love to dig in to the great roast chicken, frites, spinach, strawberry tart. My husband's sole was wonderful. Our old standby and it didn't disappoint. With wine, coffees, etc. 80E total. <BR><BR>2) Le Bellecour. In the 7th and new to us. Reviewed positively on this site, Zagat's and Access guide. WE LOVED IT! This is a real gem. The room is beautiful and the food was the best we've had in Paris in many trips. Service was friendly and warm. Every course was superb. Of note was the chocolate souffle for dessert. According to Access, they've just gotten a Michelin star. We did the prix fixe at 45E each. <BR> <BR>3)Chez Michel. In the 10th. Gotten alot of press here and elsewhere, including an article in the Paris "Where". Coincidentally, we ended up sitting next to the editor of that magazine at dinner. It was hard not to know this since the tables were so close together you had to practically share your food with the table next to you. The most cramped quarters I've ever encountered. Made for spilled drinks at several tables, including ours. Now to the food. In the good, but not great category. Service was thin as the staff was spread across too many tables. Don't know what the hoopla is about. And I can't find the receipt, so I can't report on price. <BR><BR>4) Cafe Bofinger. In the 4th. This is the offshoot of Bofinger across the street. We went late after the opera and had a very pleasant light meal. The most delicious cold poached eggs! Not masterful food, but good for the purpose of late-night light dining. Price info. not available due to bad record keeping! <BR><BR>General Info.:<BR><BR>1) Opera. We went to see the Barber of Seville. If you love, or even like, opera, Paris is the place to see it. The Bastille Opera house is very beautiful and modern. The productions are fabulous, and the singing makes you fall in love with music! I tried to get tix over the internet and it showed sold out. I emailed the concierge at the hotel and he got great tickets through an agency. We were thrilled to have them and the mark-up seemed a small price to pay for such a memorable experience. <BR><BR>2) Took a cab into town from the airport. An easy and convenient thing to do after a long flight. <BR><BR>3) ATM machines: tried one machine and it didn't like my card for some reason. Went to the next machine and it did. I don't consider this a problem. <BR><BR>....LEAVING PARIS....ON TO BAYEUX IN NORMANDY...<BR>

Lisa<BR>Thanks very much, looking forward to next installment...<BR>Kavey

Testing. This is a test to see where my next two installments have gone! It's been hours and no sign of them. I've never had this problem before. If this message comes up before my Bayeux and Honfleur segments, then something's up! Are they lost....do I have to re-create? Does anyone know? <BR><BR>Lisa

I can see that my test posted very quickly. If I can't figure out how to get my other installments to show up, I will recreate them tomorrow. Stay tuned, don't turn that dial! <BR><BR>Lisa

Hurry up! We leave on wednesday for Germany, Paris & Bayeux!<BR>aja

Okay! Just spent time re-typing the Bayeux portion and it's still not up. Sorry aja. <BR><BR>My conclusion...the system doesn't want something long. So here's the "Normandy in a Nutshell" digest version. If you want details, I'll email you directly. Let me know in your response on the site. <BR><BR>Bayeux:<BR>Hotel--Chateau de Bellefontaine. Adequate, charming, ask for room facing away from parking lot. 101 E per night. <BR><BR>Restaurants--<BR>1) La Rapiere. Very good. Prix fixe 26E each. <BR>2) Lion d'Or. Excellent. Prix fixe 31E and 25E each. <BR>3) Chateau de Sully. EXCELLENT. One of the highlights of the trip. I'd stay here as well next time. Very special country property. 28E prix fixe each. <BR><BR>Other: <BR>1) Colonel Chilcott. His tour was very good and informative. I recommend him highly. Others have covered this topic well. [email protected]. Tour was 350E plus lunch for very long day. <BR><BR>2) Car rental. Took train from Paris to Caen. Used Auto Europe. Was the right way to go! <BR><BR>....ON TO HONFLEUR....

Well, I can see that shorter works! <BR><BR>HONFLEUR:<BR><BR>Hotel: Hotel L'Ecrin. Severely hampered by the heat. No a/c and no windows. Only french doors opening into the parking lot. Very uncomfortable 2 nights. In better weather, this would be a good choice. 101E per night (no b'fast incl.) <BR><BR>Restaurants:<BR>1) L'Absinthe. Great. Wonderful food and great outdoor seating. Prix fixe 28E each. <BR><BR>2) La Chaumiere. A+. BEST DINNER of our entire trip. Relais and Chateux property, beautiful view out to sea, dining room to inspire redecorating at home! Food was exceptional. I'd also stay here on my next trip. Prix fixe dinner 40E each. <BR><BR>Other: <BR>1) Trouville. We spent a short time here one day, but this is worth a closer look. Very beautiful and charming. I recommend on itineraries. <BR><BR>2) Car rental return at CDG. Much fear intstilled by this site, but this was very easy. Left from Terminal 1, and as we followed signs to Terminal 1 we then saw the signs (in English) for Car Rental Return. <BR><BR>And we're home! Please let me know if you want more details. As for now, I'm just interested in getting this posted. <BR><BR>Thanks again to all the contributors of info. for our trip. <BR><BR>Lisa

So, as I understand it, you picked up the car in Caen and then spent one night in Bayeaux, one in Honfleur and then turned in the car at CDG? Is that right? Did you see the D Day sites? Did you feel rushed? Thanks for all this info.

Jeanne,<BR><BR>Actually, here's our itinerary:<BR><BR>--4 nights in Paris<BR>--3 nights Bayeux<BR>--2 nights Honfleur<BR>--car rental was pick-up in Caen and drop off at CDG. <BR><BR>You can tell this by the # of restaurants we went to (1 per night). <BR><BR>While in Bayeux, we saw DDay sights one full day with Colonel Chilcott. The next day we went to more DDay beaches and towns on our own. We did not feel rushed and had a good amount of time to stop at many memorial areas. My favorite things were American cemetary, British cemetary, German cemetary, Pont du Hoc, Omaha beach, Arromanches, Sword beach. <BR><BR>Hope that helps. <BR><BR>Lisa<BR>

Thanks for this info. It will help my planning.

Was Col. Chilcott 350E per person? Just curious - going to Normandy in October and was thinking of doing his tour but that sounds pricey. Thanks.

we took the Col's tour last summer. The price quoted in this posting was the total price I'm sure. We had three couples in our group and including lunch the total cost was around $100 each. Col Chilcott has a minimum price no matter the number of persons on the tour and naturally the more people the cheaper per person. You should email him to get a quote. For us he was well worth the pricd.

Linda,<BR><BR>I can see that my information on Col. Chilcott was confusing. Here's a very specific breakdown: 330E is for the first couple total. On top of that is a flat fee for gas/van and that is 20E. So for a couple, it's 350E, plus buying the Colonel lunch at a cafe. If you have any additional people, it's 20E per person. <BR><BR>For a couple, it's 175E per person. Keep in mind it's a personal tour, tailored to your interests, and lasts 10 hours (he seemed like he could have kept going!). <BR><BR>If you had 2 friends with you, it would be 97.50E per person.<BR><BR>I hope that clears up the math confusion! <BR><BR>Lisa

The Chilcotts live in and run a big rambling inexpensive B&B within walking distance of downtown Bayeux. The Colonel's wife, Rosemary, is delightful. We stayed there in June 2000 and would stay there again. Found out about it on this Forum.<BR><BR>Le Manor des Doyens<BR>St Loup Hors<BR>Bayeux <BR>14400 France<BR>From US: 011 33 2 31 22 39 09 <BR>[email protected]<BR>www.vrbo.com/vrbo/352.htm<BR>

ttt...

Many thanks to Lisa who provided a good deal of information for me via my e-mail address. Our trip will be better for having the benefit of her knowledgeable and well written advice! Clearly this forum has a number of very nice people who are genuinely interested in helping. I had not used this site before, but will certainly do so in the future. Thanks again! Leslie

Leslie,<BR><BR>You're very welcome. Have a wonderful trip and let us know what happens! <BR><BR>Lisa

This has much good information for the trip I am planning. Thanks everyone. <BR><BR>Does anyone know the time of day when (supposedly) a French fighter plane flies over the American Cemetary and Omaha Beach? I'd like to plan to be there then. <BR><BR>--K<BR><BR>

Lisa I am so glad that you ate at Le Bellecour, it is my favorite place to eat in Paris. Thanks for your trip report.

Elizabeth,<BR><BR>You're welcome! And I'm glad you share my new-found enthusiasm for Le Bellecour. <BR><BR>Lisa