Floridacouple

We've decided to fly to Paris, rent a car and tour Brittany for a week before moving on to Mont-Saint-Michel and Normandy. I'd like to stay in one town in Brittany and take day trips to others. The cities/towns I am considering are Rennes, Dinan, St Malo, Fougeres and Vitre. Which town would you choose for a base and what hotel/B&B would you recommend?

Do any of these towns have "No drive zones" that we need to be careful of?

Thanks for your advice!

StuDudley

Dinan. We based there for 2 weeks, and will do so again in 2019

I love Rennes - but I certainly would not use it as a base. It's somewhat difficult to get in & out - plus a tad far from many of the main sites. Both Vitre & Fougeres are a bit away from the main sites also. St Malo is fine - but it's small & somewhat in a corner.

Stu Dudley

annhig

I agree, with Stu, Dinan is an excellent base with lots to see in the town but also plenty to see in the vicinity.

Gardyloo

I guess it depends on how far you are from your day trip destinations. The four towns you mention are all fairly convenient for the north coast (including Mont-Saint-Michel as a day trip, by the way) but quite a distance from the wonderful villages in the south of Brittany, like Pont-Aven, Belon for oysters, etc. Would you consider two bases instead?

Also, what month will this be?

Floridacouple

Thanks everyone! Dinan it is

Gardyloo, We will be going in September. We will be in Normandy for another week, then off to Italy for 2 weeks. Have to leave off something to guarantee we will be back in Europe the next year.

kja

If there is <b>any</b> chance that you will have jet lag, I would strongly encourage you to take public transportation for your first night or two. Although many people are not aware of it, there is mounting evidence that driving with jet lag is just as dangerous -- to yourself and others -- as driving drunk, and <b>nothing</b> you can do will prevent the microsleeps (which you might not even notice) that are the apparent culprit. Seriously -- NOT a good idea, no matter your other constraints and no matter your prior experience!

You can get to Rennes by train. So maybe a night or two in Rennes and the rest in Dinan.

StCirq

Agree wholeheartedly with kja. Don't drive there after an overnight flight. Don't be blasé about the effects of jetlag; it could kill you (or others). I've seen it in France, some really ugly accidents, not far from us, involving foreigners driving jet-lagged. As in dead people.
Take the TGV to Rennes and chill out for a day or two, then begin your adventures.
It's all HAHA when you're planning your trip. It's never HAHA when you get stopped by the police in France, who can pull you over with no reason whatsoever and check you out and issue you a fine or revoke your IDP in an instant. And there are now 30,000 or so hidden speed cameras in France that will track you and send you fines. You need an IDP.
I would agree with Dinan.

shamouel

Other options than Dinan to stay in a well located place for the north coast of Brittany could be Dol-de-Bretagne or Combourg.
If you are not coming in the middle of summer , Saint Malo may also be a good choice if you attach importance to the seaside.

WoinParis

I'm in love with St Malo.
Do you go on the south side ? Quiberon ?

Floridacouple

Good advice well taken. We won't be able to visit the south side of Brittany. I can plan that for next year.