Paris, Normandy & Amsterdam with College Graduate
 

My son is graduating from college in April. We are planning to surprise him with a trip to Europe. We will be flying into Paris on May 1st and flying out of Paris on May 17th. We are planning on visiting Paris, Normandy Region/Mt. St. Michel and Amsterdam. Haven't a clue how to get to Normandy and where to stay for three days. Also don't know where to stay in Paris where my 21 year old will enjoy and won't break the bank (>$500 a night for two rooms). Also considering renting from AirBnB and VRBO.

All suggestions for our itinerary is welcomed. Thank you for all your help.

Katherine

I'd catch the train out of Paris to Rouen and hire a car from there, getting out of Paris is a bit of a pain. Look at seat61.com to understand the French rail system. Depending on how well you handle jet lag you might just take a car from CDG rather than go into Paris and put all your Paris time at the end of the holiday. Where to stay, certainly Bayeux is a great little place to stay, road transport is not great in Normandy but Bayeux is pretty good. It also has a Medievel structure and the "tapestry".

Amsterdam and Paris are both better visited by the local train/tram/bus system, so get rid of the car when you come back from Brittany.

You might like to look at St M staying on the island, just one night but v pleasant.

Yes take train to Normandy -I'd suggest to Caen - if going to D-Day beaches area and drive to Bayeux - great base for D-day beaches and drive to Mont Saint-Michel and to Rennes, returning car and taking train to Paris.

Paris-Amsterdam about 3.5 hours on train (www.thalys.com).

for lots on trains and booking own discounted tickets online check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

without car take train to Bayeux and hook up with mini-bus tours to D-Day beaches highlights and take train to Pontorson- 6 miles from Mt Saint-Michel and then buses from MSM right to TGV train in Rennes to Paris.

Best way Normandy to Amsterdam is via Paris.

Book a fast train from Paris to Amsterdam about 90 days in advance. Try to land in Paris and leave from AMS.
Good luck with their security. Be nice to them.

Have a good trip !

Most airbnb are illegal in paris.
2000 RMB per night per room is enough. Check on booking.com.
Select the area you want to be in - look at a map of paris per arrondissement and select the art. 6-7 as most US tourists seem to do.

In Paris, if you do not see a 13-digit registration number on the websites you consult, it will be an illegal apartment.

Agencies may list properties without the 13-digit registration number, and are not breaking any laws.

The burden falls on the property owner, who has to apply for the registration number before the end of December 2017.
This number cannot be faked, as it is tied to the financial information of the property owner, and there is only space for 13 digits.
If the property owner has a year-long tenant, it must be specified in writing (in advance) that the tenant may sub-let. This is highly unusual, so I would be on my guard.

You don't really need an apartment, you just need 2 connecting rooms with a minibar. You'll probably be out all day anyway.
I'd suggest you search on booking.com in the 6th arrondissement. There's lots to do there, and good Metro connections.

You didn't mention this specifically but I am assuming you are thinking of flying into Paris and then return from Amsterdam on an open jaws ticket. That would save you the time returning to Paris. Also, just FYI, May 1st is a holiday in Paris.

If you decide to stay in a hotel I have recommended this one to friends, the Hotel Odessa. It is a pretty simple 2 star place but nicely located in Montparnasse and easy walking distance to St Germain and the Latin Quarter. They have family rooms although at your sons age you will probably want to get 2 adjoining rooms:

http://www.hotel-odessa.com/en/superior-room/

Be aware that May 1 is a major holiday in France and many things will be closed - including (probably) car rental places in Paris. CDG rentals will most likely be open There are other bank holidays in France in May. Hotels seem to get booked up then..

Option 1.
I suggest that you land at CDG, rent a car, and spend the first 2 nights in Honfleur - a 2 1/4 hr drive. If all drivers have trouble with just lag - see Option 2. Explore the Pays d'Auge by car.

Then 2 nights in Bayeux & do the WWII stuff and explore some more of Normandy (there is MUCH more to Normandy than WWII sites).

Late in the day, drive to MSM & spend the night. We're staying here next year https://www.auberge-saint-pierre.fr/en/

Explore more of MSM the next morning. Then drive to Rennes, visit, return the car & take the 1 1/2 hr TGV to Paris.

Visit Paris

TGV/Thalys to Amsterdam. One train change involved. Fly home from Amsterdam.


Option 2
Fly to Amsterdam

TGV/Thalys to CDG airport (one train change involved). Rent a car & do Normandy.

TGV Rennes to Paris & spend your remaining time in Paris. Fly home from Paris.

Stu Dudley

If you are stuck with flights in & out of Paris, I would skip Amsterdam. If will consume most of a day (5 hrs + to & from train station time) both going & coming. Add some time in Brittany and skip Amsterdam.

>>Paris-Amsterdam about 3.5 hours on train (www.thalys.com).<<

I only checked the German site. I didn't find any 3 1/2 hr trains - but I only have time for a quick look. Off to brunch.

Stu Dudley

It sounds like you have already booked your flights - right? It would have been better in to Paris and home from Amsterdam (or vice versa).

As it is you will want to be IN Paris the night of the 16th so that sorta screws up the itinerary.

If Amsterdam is a must, I'd get it out of the way first. Either immediately fly on to AMS from CDG or take the trains via Brussels. Flying would be easier since you will already be at the airport - but you need to allow a lot of time to transit through CDG. Then return to France and do the rest of your plan.

Or -- either of Stu's suggestions would work . . .

Thank you for your suggestions. We got an amazing deal on our flights from Chicago in/out of Paris for $430. So yes we are locked in. We fly out on May 1st at 7:30 at night and land in Paris on May 2nd. Flying to Amsterdam soon as we land in Amsterdam is a good idea. We all want to go to Amsterdam due to seeing the Dutch Masters. Probably spend four nights.

Should we train from Amsterdam to the Normandy area in well full day (if Possible) then come back to Paris. We leave at night on the 17th.


I have been trying to get to Normandy for years, but it was so out of the way when we booked our other European trips that I am determined to get there this time. D-Day Beaches are a must, love to stay at Mt. St. Michael. How many days should we stay to fully enjoy the region?

Does anyone have any recommended places to stay or tours to go on in the Normandy area.

Visit Paris

TGV/Thalys to Amsterdam. One train change involved. Fly home from Amsterdam

Not from Paris - direct trains but yes coming back if going to CDG Airport have to go to Brussels and change to TGV to CDG Airport.

Better to yes fly as janis suggests -fly right away from CDG to Amsterdam and train to Paris and same day to Caen or Bayeux.

From Bayeux the mini-bus tours in one day will show you the highlights - then a day to MSM (driving would be neat but again you can go by train or the rest of places).

Bayeux is the best base IMO - one of few cities in the area not decimated during WW2 (like Caen was) and has its own main sights like the famous cathedral and museum with Queen Matilhda's Tapestry woven just after 1066 Norman Conquest of England and documents it. And a nice regional city.

You can get direct trains there from Bayeux to Pontorson for buses from station to MontSM. Hotels on tiny island itself are limited but there is a gaggle of hotels on mainland right opposite the island where the causeway greets the mainland and views of the Mont all illuminated at night from there is stupendous.

>>Should we train from Amsterdam to the Normandy area in well full day (if Possible) then come back to Paris.<<

That's what I would do. Either train to CDG airport, or fly there. Rent a car at CDG & then drive 2 1/4 hrs to Honfleur & stay for two nights. Honfleur is a good spot to visit the port, and also the Pays d'Auge and the coastal towns with interesting Belle Epoque houses. Then 2 nights in Bayeux, then 1 in MSM. Then drive to Rennes, return the car, visit Rennes, and 1 1/2 hrs TGV to Paris.

Do not go into Paris itself from Amsterdam and try to get to Normandy from there. That would make things much more complicated, IMO. Flying or training to CDG, renting a car, and heading to Normandy from there is a lot less stressful.

I could not locate any no-train-change trains from Amsterdam to either CDG or Paris on May 5, 6, or 7. You'll need to make a train change in Brussels. I would probably fly from Amsterdam to CDG if you can find a good RT fare between CDG & Amsterdam out on May 2, and in on May 6 or 7.


>>I have been trying to get to Normandy.....How many days should we stay to fully enjoy the region?

Five - 6 nights. I think 4-5 nights (3-4 days) in Amsterdam, 6 nights (6 days) in Normandy, and 7 nights/6 1/2 days in Paris would be perfect.

Be careful to where you are in Sundays. If you try to pick up a car in Paris, Caen, or Bayeux - the train stations might be closed. Some close around noon on Saturday. Rental offices at CDG airport should be open.

My wife & I have vacationed for several weeks in Normandy & Brittany. I developed an itinerary that describes our favorite villages, scenic drives, markets, restaurants, etc. I have sent my various itineraries (I have others) to over 6,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail.

Stu Dudley

We took the train from Paris to Caen and rented a car there. Easy driving there. We stayed in Bayeux and really liked the village. Good places to eat, nice laundromat, good pub. Churchhill hotel http://www.hotel-churchill.fr/en/

I like apartments in Paris but you could look at an apartment like this, https://www.citadines.com/en/france/...ris/index.html

You know it would be cheaper and shorter to take the eurostar to London but if you really want Amsterdam book three to four months in advance. I think four months out is earliest.

Thank you for your suggestions to fly to Amsterdam after we land at CDG. A round trip ticket from Paris is very doable. We would then travel to Normandy. Is it easy to Drive from CDG to Normandy? Is it easier to pick up a car at CDG especially on a Sunday or should we train from CDG on Saturday then pick up a car?

>>Is it easier to pick up a car at CDG especially on a Sunday or should we train from CDG on Saturday then pick up a car?<<

Train from CDG to where??? CDG is not a central train hub. Pick up a car at CDG and head into Normandy from there. On a Sunday, you should not encounter much traffic on the Autoroutes.

Stu Dudley

If I understand you do : land in CDG then fly tonSms
Then train to paris. Correct ? It would be easier than taking a flight from AMS to Cdg.
Then take another train to say Bayeux and rent the car there. Drop in bayeux and take another train back to paris.
The trains in Paris are in center of town - 45 min at leat from CDG.

Take the train to Haute Normandie - here's a handy website:
http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/plan...ris-633-2.html

Then you can pick up a car in Bayeux, or go on a guided tour. All this is explained in the link, above.

Looks like there are only 2 hotels on Mont St Michel - Auberge Saint Pierre and La Vieille Auberge.
It's a good thing you will land on May 2, by the way.

You have plenty of time to book tickets on the train. Book 90 days in advance for best prices.

I suggest you take Stu Dudleys advice about renting at CDG and heading to Normandy. If you take the train to Caen, you have to go into Paris to catch that train.
We did much the same as Stu's itinerary, but did drive back to Paris via a stop in Chartres and returned the car at Orly, which is not difficult. Taxi into Paris.
Or go to Versailles and take the train from there.

We spent our first night in Rouen and saw the sights there so it wasn't a long drive. Giverney is also a possibility. There is a road north out of Rouen toward Honfleur--the Route des Abbes--which passes a number of medieval abbeys which are VERY interesting.

I recommend the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy for your planning--AND for your tour to see the D-Day beaches.

And yes, Normandy is much more than the beaches--great cheese and cider. Be sure to visit a fromagerie and ciderie.

>>Then train to paris. Correct ? It would be easier than taking a flight from AMS to Cdg.
Then take another train to say Bayeux <<

This would require a mid-day departure from Amsterdam, and a train change in Brussels, and a train change that also involves a taxi from the Gare du Nord to Gare St Lazare in Paris

Depart at 10:52 & arrive in Bayeux at 19:19. Pretty much kills the day.

I'm guessing that a flight from Amsterdam to Paris will get you to CDG before noon, and in Normandy (Honfleur) by 15:00.

However, there does seem to be a no-train-change train from Amsterdam to Paris tomorrow. But I could not find one in early may around the time the OP would be traveling. It would still involve a station change in Paris, however. It would get yo to Bayeux at 17:18. If all you want to see in Normandy is the WWII stuff and if there really is a no-train change train in May - then the train all the way to Baueux would be OK.

Stu Dudley

Also, a round trip flight ticket from Paris to AMS might not cost that much, & save a lot of valuable time. I'm usually not someone who recommends flying within short distances in Europe when a train of less than 5 hrs is possible. But it seems to be a good option in this case.

Stu Dudley

This would require a mid-day departure from Amsterdam, and a train change in Brussels, and a train change that also involves a taxi from the Gare du Nord to Gare St Lazare in Paris>

Where do you get this no direct Amsterdam to Paris train stuff? Plenty everyday - no changing in Brussels - www.thalys.com shows this. Still have to change stations in Paris however and a long day. Try to put your Paris stay in between Normandy and Amsterdam.

Investigate flying Amsterdam to Caen or someplace in Normandy.

>>
Where do you get this no direct Amsterdam to Paris train stuff?<<

On the German site. The Thalys site shows almost hourly departures. But you can't search for May departures yet. I'll assume there certainly will be May departures showing within a couple of months from now. If that's the case, and the OP can get an early departure, that would certainly be a good option if the OP wants to travel to Caen & west. If they want to travel to Rouen, Honfleur, and are uncomfortable with a station change in Parts, then I would probably do the fly thing. Remember - most people from the US who are not frequent visitors to Europe, are a little hesitant about train travel. We have not flown within Europe in the past 20 years (except on arrival/departure flights to/from SFO). We always use trains - six this year & 2 next year.

>>Try to put your Paris stay in between Normandy and Amsterdam.<<

I prefer city, countryside, city. AMS, Paris, and Normandy would probably require a double stay in Paris or train from Paris to Rennes & work back to CDG and stay in Chantilly the last night & visit the chateau & then drive to CDG for their evening flight.

Stu Dudley

with a college graduate, don't stay in the 6th in Paris. Make it the 11th or 10th or do montmartre and even south of pigalle.

In Bayeux,make sure to see the c.1066 Bayeux Tapestry that describes William the Conquerer's feat.. We enjoyed staying and dining at the historic Hotel Lion d'Or in Bayeux which has parking.

Also, buy your tickets for Amsterdam museums and Anne Frank house online before you leave home.

Well you may find the Netherlands Museum Card a good deal if visiting more than 3-4 museums (including in Leiden or Haarlem, etc) and Anne Frank House is covered and you get priority admission at busier museums (I did but that was several years ago - not sure currently but if so better than booking ahead and paying per museum.

And with the Museum Card (valid one month for foreigners) there are so so many neat lesser museums I went in in Amsterdam - like Rubens House; Amsterdam branch of The Hermitage; Jewish Museum; Dutch Resistance Museum; eclectic Troppen Museum; and Maritime Museum and some historic churches like the Oude Kerk and the Lord in the Attic; Portugeuse Synagogue and Royal Palace.

Most of these are within a very compact few square-mile area- I would have never paid to enter some lesser museums that once in fascinated me.

So I suggest getting the Museum Card if going to more than the two famous museums (Rijksmuseum and van Gogh and Anne Frank House). Not clear if you can book a time with museum card at Anne Frank House or not - was added recently after I've been there.

Don't think Keukenhof Gardens covered but not sure:

Oh and buy the museum card at any participating museum - no need to buy ahead of time -plans could always change. I've bought mine at lesser museums with no line but at Rijksmuseum you'd have to wait in line. Supposed VVV Tourist Info at Centraal Station or at airports sell them too.

Thank you for all your suggestions. Taking everything into consideration

I think we are going to Fly into Paris on May 2nd and take a flight to Amsterdam. (Anyone know how long it will take to get through immigration and customs?)

We will then stay in Amsterdam for four nights and then fly back to CDG. We will pick up a car at CDG and drive to Normandy and are tentatively staying four nights.

Thank you for the suggestions in Amsterdam on what to do. Definitely looking forward to the museums. Is the tulip festival in May? If so where should we go to see the festival

We will then drive back to CDG and drop of the car and go into Paris for the remainder of the trip.

Curious what your thoughts are on menchem's comment "with a college graduate, don't stay in the 6th in Paris. Make it the 11th or 10th or do montmartre and even south of pigalle."

>>your thoughts are on menchem's comment "with a college graduate, don't stay in the 6th in Paris. Make it the 11th or 10th or do montmartre and even south of pigalle."<<

If your objective is to be close to, & visit most of the places first-timers want to visit & be in an area that is "comfortable" for Americans - stay in the 6th. If you want the graduate to stay in a "hip" area that is a bit "edgy" for people over 50 from the US - the 10th & 11th or Montmartra/south of Pigalle would work. Actually, for the latter - I prefer the Marais.

Stu Dudley

I would never fly between Amsterdam and Paris but take Thalys.


StuDudley and OP: Marais is becoming staid and boring and overpriced. Also most hotels there are on the edge of it, usually bordering the Bastille area, so why not go there in the first place?

Around Canal St Martin is not "edgy" at all (I'm over 50 btw and I stay there a lot).

Point with staying in the 6th: It's thoroughly boring. And all the interesting stuff is happening on the right bank.

Can't agree more with Menachem.

But still US posters receive mend the 6th and ate obsessed with safety or find no go zones here or there.

Strange that Stu with his 63 pages itineraries and extensive experience says the same.

As for me it has been a long time I keep saying the 6th is not paris anymore. People are always surprised when I speak french there.


Menachem I must recommend the hotel ' le robinet d'or ' 2? Blocks from the canal you'll like it.

You don't go through Customs, but you do go through Passport Control, which can take a lot of time.

If you want to get an inexpensive hotel, look in the 11th and 12th arrondissements or the 14th. Good Metro connections, but you can't walk to most places which you will want to see.
Not sure about connecting rooms, but you should check the websites.

pariswat, I stayed there numerous times. Their suites are excellent, and bonus: they have a more than decent restaurant on site! Also gracious staff and always a friendly welcome. I'm so glad you like it too.

There are trains from CDG to Amsterdam, likewise involving a change at Brussels.

PS: Paris hotels. Not luxurious and no frills, but comfortable and convenient for public transport, being in an everyday sort of area near République, but also within walking distance of Oberkampf for nightlife:
http://www.cosmos-hotel-paris.com/en,1,6436.html

In planning our trip I am also dealing with Jet Lag from an overnight plane from Chicago. We wouldn't get on a train the day we land as we would be too tired to deal with it. However, it is easy to just change planes.

Also, checked out the airfares to Amsterdam from CDG. One way is $160 and a round trip is less at $152. So that was another no brainer as it saves time and money.

Fuzzbucket--Our flight lands at 11:00 a.m. How much time should we a lot getting through passport control before our plane to Amsterdam.

Thank you for your suggestions on the hotels. I am looking into them. Unfortunately many of them are booked already.

My son is a big fan of Hemingway so I think he is going to want to be on the Left Bank so he can wander around to Hemingway's old haunts.

Nothing much to see there, and His Bar was on the right bank.