My mother's dream trip!!!

We are flying into Paris in mid May and would like to spend 5 nights in Paris and then go to Normandy area for 5 days. Should we go to the Normandy area first and then Paris....does it matter? Also, should we rent a car? Here is our itinerary.....

May 21st- arrive in Paris and stay 5 nights...
May 26th- leave for Honfleur....by train from Paris.....is this a must see?
May 28th- leave for Caen
May 29th- leave for Bayeux (for two days)
May 31st- Mont St Michel
June 1st- leave for Paris and depart on June 2nd!

Are we spending enough time in Normandy or am I including too many stops?

Any suggestions for an apartment for 5 nights in Paris....

Thanks for any suggestions!!

I have a couple of thoughts from a similar trip several years ago. Visiting Normandy first would allow you to have a more ralaxing time, get over jetlag, etc. For the first part of the trip, I would consider renting a car at CDG, make a stop at Giverny for the first night; mid May would be a perfect time to see Monet's gardens. Then I would base in Bayeux for 3 nights to see Normandy. The driving distances to the places you want to visit are not long and it's eaier not to move hotels each night. Then drive to MSM for one night.

Turn in the car before you get to Paris, take a train to Paris and spend your final 5 nights there.

Yes, I would go right to Normandy upon arrival.

There are no trains from Paris to Honfleur (no train station there), so that's out. The nearest you can get is Trouville-Deauville, and then you'd need a car anyway, so I'd just pick up the car at the airport in Paris and drive from there. If you don't want to drive all the way to Normandy on Day 1, stop in Rouen for the night. Then visit Honfleur the next day, have lunch, and continue to Bayeux.

No need to spend the night in Caen; it was bombed to smithereens in WWII and all its charms went up in smoke. DO go see the Mémorial Museum there (and plan to spend a few hours), but base yourself in Bayeux. Then go spend a night at le Mont-St-Michel, drive back to Chartres, visit the cathedral, drop the car, and take the train back to Paris.

I agree with the above - but I would end the Normandy trip in Rennes instead of Chartres. Rennes is one of our "Top 5" cities in France - we enjoyed it more than Chartres (we've visited both cities at least twice). Getting to Rennes from MSM would involve a lot less driving, and Rennes has frequent TGV train departures for Paris.

Just make sure you don't arrive in Rennes & want to visit it on Sunday May 27 - when all the shops will be closed.

Stu Dudley

I consider a car a necessity for Normandy too. But don't jump into a car when you land. Take the RER in to Gare du Nord and transfer to Gare St Lazare for a train to Vernon or Caen. Spend the night, pick up a car the next day and start your adventure.

<i>but I would end the Normandy trip in Rennes instead of Chartres. </i>

But Chartres has an incomparable cathedral that should be seen.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...01029366/show/

What St. Cirq says. That is how we did it a few years ago and it worked out really well. We didn't do MSM, and did come back through Chartres.
Make a dinner reservation at Le Petite Bistro in Bayeux--the best meal we had on that trip to France.
Rent the car at CDG and simplify your time spen in transit. Staying in Rouen is good. When you head to Honfleur, take the Abbey Road--a string of Norman abbeys on a ridge road outside of Rouen. Get the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy for great ideas of stops and tours.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all of your help!

Another vote for Le Petit Bistro in Bayeux!

And yet another!

Definitely another vote for Le Petit Bistro.