I have used the maps extensively when driving around in Tuscany, Umbria, and Provence, and have loved using them. I have also used GPS but it sometimes leads to a cow field instead of a site we are trying to get to.

There are signs to the next town on practically every intersection in France - a Michelin map is all you need - stick to D (departemental) or side roads for well-paved un-trafficked roads winding thru small villages, etc. Main roads can be a real drag - the N or National roads, oft filled with trucks and very busy, especially around larger cities.

It is hard to get lost in France with a Michelin map - never used GPs but it is definitely not needed to get around. The 1:200,000 Michelin maps like St-Cirq says show so much - that's all you need and you can buy them at any petrol station or news shop or tourist office, etc.

If traveling around a lot the big yellow Michelin Atlas has all the maps in one book.

Hi there,

We took the train from Paris to Caen this summer and picked up our rental car in Caen. It was very convenient. We had a yummy lunch at La Cave aux Huitres (we love oysters). The Caen Memorial museum is VERY worth it - definitely a highlight. We also did an excellent D-day beaches tour with Normandy Sightseeing Tours, which left from Bayeux.

Other highlights were following Stu Dudley's Pays d'auge itinerary (good calvados and cheese) as well as visiting Honfleur.

The Bayeux Cathedral and Tapestry museum were also highlights (along with dinner at La Rapiere).

Between our GPS (which we loaded with European maps brought from home) and our google maps we had no problems (compared with our trips to other parts of France where the Michelin maps were a must). My two cents.

Bon voyage!

We rented a car in Paris near one of the train stations( sorry, don't remember which one)and got on the periferique. Spent the night in pretty Honfleur and stopped at Peace Museum in Caen, higjly recommended) enroute to Bayeux. Loved Bayeux too.
One day for US beaches, cemetery, St-Maire Eglise another for British and Canadian beaches, museums.Took a day trip to Mont St-Michel and saw a lot of interesring towns while driving there.

Just get a car at gare Montparnasse in Paris, it's easy to get from there south a bit to Porte to Brancion to get on the peripherique going west and then onto the Autoroute de Normandie.

A few years ago we did a similar trip. From Paris we took the train to Versailles and picked up our rental car there. By doing this we avoided all the traffic and congestion of Paris. From Versailles we toured Normandy and the Loire valley. We then returned the car to the airport in Paris. When driving to the airport there are many signs posted on the freeway directing you to the rental car area. Overall driving was very easy and we would do it again.

Driving in France is a snap as long as you know a few local rules like round-about rights of ways and now that speed limits and drinks driving are being toughly enforced safer than before too. Every intersection seems to have a sign pointing to the next town - with a 1:2000000 scale yellow Michelin map you can't get lost.

Entering a round-about you do not always have the right of way and you need to check every time you enter one.

GPS is great at getting you from point A to point B and is also good when you are in a town/city and the maps don't show that level of detail or when you need to find a gas station or restaurant but you can not wander and explore with GPS like you can with Michelin maps as the maps have all kinds of icons for touristic and historic things of interest to visit as well as showing designated scenic roads and leaving open the opportunity to have an unexpected surprise and perhaps a chance encounter that you would not have had otherwise if you stuck to obeying GPS.

For really detailed maps for walkers and hiker I found IGN maps to be perfect- 1:25,000 scale on hiking maps (Institut National Geographic - the equivalent of Britain's Ordnance Survey maps I think.) Used to be ubiquitous in gas stations and news stands but not sure now as no one ever mentions them.

We were in Paris and Normandy in September. We made the mistake of renting a car at CDG after being in Paris for 5 days for the drive to Bayeux area. Mistake because it was way out of the way, and the traffic around Paris was horrific (it was a Saturday). It took us over 4 hours. We used GPS and michelin maps as back-up. We wish we had taken the 2 hour train to Caen and rented a car there. It might be difficult to stay in the Bayeux city center with a car, and personally, I wasn't crazy about Bayeux. I much preferred where we stayed -- 5 miles outside Bayeux at Chateau de Sully and liked it and its location very much. Short drive to Port en Bessin which is a delightful port town where we had our dinners and went to the Farmers Market on Sunday. We took an afternoon small group tour (7 of us) of the D-Day beaches with Normandy Sightseeing. We were picked up and returned to our hotel. It was great, and 5 hours is plenty. I thought the Tapestry was highly overrated, but each to his own. Be sure to read up on how to use the toll systems on the autoroutes. It's easy once you know what to do, but panic inducing if you don't. The most pleasant surprise to me was how pretty Normandy is. Lots of rolling green hills and upscale farms and beautiful chateaus. Loved it there.

Thanks for all the feedback! Current plan after Paris is 3 nights outside of Bayeux (?maybe day trip to Mont Saint Michel) and 2 nights in Honfleur. We're thinking of renting a car in Paris and will check on car rental at gare Montparnasse as suggested by Christina so that we can hopefully get out of Paris as easily as possible, and then stop at Giverny on the way. We're thinking of the Bayeux area first, even though it's further, then spending a more relaxing weekend in Honfleur, with a couple of scenic drives; maybe check out the Saturday market too. Then turn in car on the last day at Caen, take train to Paris, then transfer for the Thalys to Amsterdam. We realize this will be a full travel day, but then we will have 5 nights in Amsterdam. How does this sound?

I think you are worrying needlessly about driving in Paris. The best place to pick up the car is as near to your accommodation as possible so you can drive back and load your luggage. Plan your route out of the city using Google Maps and as long as you are outside rush hour you're off.

Do remember that with 3 people the luggage area of a car can be too small. My wife and I traveled this past summer in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta and it had barely enough space for our luggage. You can see the cargo area of cars that would be in the same class of what you end up renting if you go to http://www.parkers.co.uk Simply use the search box then pick
the gallery view. For example, other cars in the same class as the Alfa were a Golf, BMW 1 series or Peugeot 308.

AutoEurope.com is a broker many people here have used and have been happy with. I used Sixt this summer and was well pleased.

"The best place to pick up the car is as near to your accommodation as possible so you can drive back and load your luggage. "

That's one option. Another option is to take your luggage with you, via taxi if necessary, so you don't need to go back to your hotel.