marmar10

Am planning a trip to France. It's a very ambitious site-seeing trip a la Rick Steves. 12 days doing normandy, brittany, loire and dordogne before ending in Paris. I am renting a car...so very mobile. I am having a tough time deciding whether to stay one night in St. Malo or Dinan. Up to that night...I will have overnighted in Honfleur and Bayeaux. Where to stay on that third night between visit to Mt St Michel/St.Malo and small town south of St. Brieux to visit a family homestead before heading to the Loire. I would like to spend the evening in one of St. Malo/Dinan/Dinard/Cancale...I seem to read equally glowing reports about St. Malo and Dinan. But can't decide! Please help!

cheribob

oth of those towns are so picturesque. I say stay one night in each!

Nina66

I vote for Dinan. We have been in St. Malo but just for a few hours, but we stayed in Dinan for two days. It is a very picturesque little town. Our hotel, I'm sorry but I forgot the name, was up at the top of the town and had free parking. We left the car and just roamed all town. When we got to the bottom and saw the river below, it was breath taking. One full day would be plenty of time to walk around and see the sights and enjoy this lovely little town.

Nina

marmar10

Thanks for your help. I was swaying towards Dinan...and will take your advice!

beaupeep

I would stay in Dinard, it's between the two and there is bus service to Dinan, St-Brieuc, St. Malo so you could see it all.

progol

I just got back from a trip that included Normandy & a bit of Brittany. We loved Dinan. We drove around St. Malo, but the traffic was unbearable, and couldn't even get in to the city. Of course, what time of year you go will make a difference, but you can't go wrong with staying in Dinan.

We also stayed in Hotel Arvor, which I'm sure is the one Nina is speaking about. It's a comfortable hotel, centrally located with FREE parking. My husband and I really liked the proprietors as well. They were warm, welcoming and very helpful.
Paule

usbeauty

I was in St. Malo after spending the day at Mont St. Michel. We parked outside the city walls and spent a leisurely late afternoon walking around the city, taking in the seascapes and shops. In the evening, we chose a little bistro and ate outside, punctuating an amazing day. I vote for St. Malo after dark for its resort-like qualities, romance, and restaurant.

hopingtotravel

I will be curious to see what you end up deciding, as I'm planning 2-3 days in this area also.

Pausanias

Stayed three days in Dinan this August, using it as a base. It's worth at least one full day by itself. We stayed at the d'Avaugour. Does not have parking but pay and free municipal is nearby.

Working on a trip report but stuck on Mont St-Michel. Hope to post it soon.

Underhill

Dinan is the better of the two, I think, but I'd also cast a vote for the resort town of Dinard if you'd like to have access to a good beach.

tower

marmar:

Yes, consider Dinard..Underhill is right...the beach is quite amazing..at low tide, one can walk long distances on the hard-pack toward the sea. Dinan would be my second choice. You may want to consider the Manoir de la Rance in the countryside close to all three towns...I suggested it for Hopingtotravel on another thread.

Stu T. (http://www.guidesdecharme.com/reserv...782FA----.html
Stu T.

hopingtotravel

These are helpful. Especially, when I initially started looking at maps and books and it was Dinan -- Dinard yikes, which is which? who does what where? Thanks, guys.

Sue4

I'm also trying to decide where to stay for a few days in Brittany after spending time in Normandy. I'm torn between staying in Dinan, or over on the coast. The Manoir de la Rance looks lovely - such a glorious setting. Any "reports" or comments from any of you will be greatly appreciated.

OReilly

Just a comment on St. Malo (I stayed in an hotel between there and Cancale). I think it is a great day trip, and I enjoyed my visit (about 4 hours)but I would not have been interested in staying there for the whole day and certainly not overnight. I'd say move on.

I really loved my early morning drive from my hotel, toward Cancale, around the headland. If you click on my name, you will find my Brittany trip report.

Regards Ger

hopingtotravel

Let's see: Sue4, my trip isn't until 2007. However, if you stay at Manoir de la Rance, I'd be interested in hearing all about it. Someone named Michael on another thread posted favorable comments on it.

Ger, I'm tentatively planning 2 nights about 10 miles east of St. Malo. Bascially that gives me only 1 full day plus whatever time I have if I arrive early from the Bayeaux the day before, etc.

If I want to see some of that coastline between Cancale and St. Malo, some of Dinan and Dinard, do I need another night in the area? I'm wondering about seeing some of the ramparts, etc, at St. Malo since people sound like the traffic is incredibly bad. BTW your e-mails and routes have been very helpful.

I have been pulling up posts from others as far back as 2001.

hopingtotravel

Topping this thread from last year to see if anyone has any additions. If I continue to not hear back from Manoir de la Rance, am thinking that instead of planned 2 nights there, I might try one night in Dinan and use the other night in Finisterre.

bilboburgler

All this DInan Dinard stuff.

Dinan has a nice cathedral and places to visit near it plus small yacht harbour. Loved it as akid.

St Malo great fun, swiming, restaurants. Dinard well pretty but a bit dull.

Dinan for me as a few old castles to visit

StuDudley

I would not change locations - theres lots to see near Dinan.

Did you call them???

E-mail Karen Brown if you get no response & tell her that Stu Dudley from San Mateo suggested that you contact her (her office/travel agency is less than 1 mile from me - I don't know her, however).

Stu Dudley

hopingtotravel

Hi Stu. I was already planning a couple of nights in the Finisterre area. This would just take one night of Dinan area and move it west -- more time for seeing Point de Raz, Lacronan, etc.

By the way, I appreciate your Brittany itinerary. As usual, would love to spend the amount of time in some of these places which you do.

DeborahAnn

hoping, we spent two weeks in Britany this Sept. After reading the postings here we came up with the schedule to stay 3 nights in Dinan arriving from Bayeux. One week in a gite near Roscoff and then 4 days in Locmariaquer.

Dinan was a delight. We have been to Mont Saint Michel, Carcassonne, and Briancon so enjoy the medieval type of narrow cobbled streets. Dinan has all that plus a lively market and easy access to St. Malo and Cancale.

We found the fishing museums in Douarnenez and Concarneau to be unexpected highlights. We visited so many lovely towns in Brittany that Locronan for us was rather a disappointment.

With such a variety of coastline, the Cote de Granit Rose, around Ploumanac'h was like stepping into modern sculpture. The rock formations were spectacular.

I am sure you will enjoy your stay in Brittany. Deborah