Still trying to get this basic itinerary done so I can make hotel/b&b reservations. I will be in Paris for more than 3 weeks next August and wish to take a couple of trips from there to Normandy and to Loire Valley. I have decided it's best to break up these trips as otherwise seems too much driving. My plan is to stay in either Honfleur or Bayeux for two days to tour beaches, Caen Museum, war sites, and possibly Deauville then drive to Mont Saint Michel and stay there one night before returning to Paris. The second trip will be to Amboise for three days to tour chateux. Recommended hotels are Sully, Bellefontaine, L'Ecrin, Auberge St. Pierre, Mere Moulard in Bayeux/Honfleur/Mont Saint Michele. In Amboise will likely stay in LeFleury. Any feedback? Much appreciated as always.

I'm playing around with info for similar trip to Normandy in May; the Hotel d'Argouges in Bayeux has been recommended several times here, to add to your list! <BR>I don't have any recommendations for Honfleur; think we will just trip there from Bayeux unless someone comes up with good reason to change my mind. <BR>I think you mean Mere Poulard in MSM? <BR><BR>Happy planning!

If you are going to be in Paris for 3 weeks I think you are shortchanging Normandy. I would spend more than 3 days to do what you seem to want to do. There are many charming towns and wonderful abbeys and churches to see along with the D-Day beaches. Bayeux also has the tapestry--well worth an afternoon visit. Also I might suggest that once you leave Paris in a rental car why not just do the two parts of the outlying trips together--you go north and then come back and go just south of Paris. This consolidates your time better to my way of thinking. You could start in Honfleur for a bit of coastal charm. Then drive to Bayeux in a leisurely way seeing small towns (Pont LeVecque). See the museum at Caen and the Pegasus Bridge. Then from Bayeux see the D-Day beaches for a long day. Perhaps spend another day just looking along the coast--or head to Mont St. Michel (it is about 100KM from Bayeux). Drive back toward Paris perhaps stopping at Chartres and then head south to the Loire for several days.

Great ideas. Do you think it's necessary to reserve hotels in advance? I'm concerned because we will be travelling in August and I know many French families travel at that time as well. Any feedback?

I sure would make reservations for Aug.; I plan to for my trip in May. I like to make reservations to insure that I will get to stay at a place that I am happy with; I don't want to be forced to stay at either very high or very low end places b/c no place else to stay. The popular mid-range 3 star properties get filled up quickly in high season. <BR>Just my thoughts on it!

Lily: Absolutely book hotels in Normandy in advance - at any time of year, but particularly in summer.

Thanks again for the advice! Lily