StuDudley

>>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

StuDudley

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

PalenQ

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.

StuDudley

>>
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

menachem

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.

HappyTrvlr

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.

HappyTrvlr

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

PalenQ

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:

PalenQ

https://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museumkaart/

PalenQ

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.

Klgallo

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."

StuDudley

>>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

menachem

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.

pariswat

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.

fuzzbucket

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.

menachem

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.

PatrickLondon

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

PatrickLondon

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

Klgallo

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.

menachem

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