I am trying to decide whether to rent a car or merely to take a train and bus. I plan to devote 2 full days in mid march--leaving relatively early in the morning from paris and returning relatively late to paris the next night.

i am wondering how difficult/convenient the bus connection would be, as well as where you get dropped off and how much walking would then be required..

in terms of trains, if have seen the TGV to Rennes recommended or the TGV to St. Malo. Haven't looked at the map closely. any thoughts?

I've never heard of anyone taking the TGV to St Malo for that trip. It's still too far from St Malo that you probably wouldn't want to take a taxi from there.

From what I've read, you can take the train to either Rennes or Pontorson, and then there is a bus from there. I think there is a bus right from Rennes now, and you have to connect trains to get to Pontorson, anyway. Pontorson is close enough that you could take a taxi from there (9 km) rather than a bus, though. From the schedules I've seen, it's not that convenient if you were trying to do it in one day.

I don't think going to St Malo helps anything.

Your best bet would be the TGV to Rennes and then the special bus to Mont St-Michel. With two days you'll have plenty of time; it's the people who want to make the trip from Paris in just one day who have problems with connections.

I don't know where the bus drops you off, but I would imagine that it's in the big parking lot. From there you have to walk up to the village, but it's not far.

If you will have luggage with you, that could be a problem

If walking is a problem you need to be aware that Mt St Michel is a LOT of walking - mostly uphill with lots of flights of stairs, then downhill, then back up again.

I would take a train to the nearest station and bus from there - or better yet, rent a car and you can stop to see a couple of things on the way to/fro.

I took a bus from Rennes to Mont St. Michelle - it was easy. For even more flexibility if the schedule doesn't for whatever reason work for you, you can also take a cab to and/or from the Mont to the town across the causeway and catch any one of the frequent trains back to Rennes. Just ask a hotel on the Mont to call a cab for you.

Rennes is an excellent base for public transportation and is a pleasant city. It easy enought to get from Paris to Rennes by TGV.

I like St. Malo and think it is well worth a stay. If connections are good I would opt to stay here for 2 nights instead of Rennes.

Have Fun!
Naxos

When we did this trip a few years ago we rented a car and based ourselves in Honfleur for a night;two nights in Bayeaux(for the Caen museum and battlefields);one night in Mont St. Michel and then two nights in St. Malo which we loved.

MSM should be experienced for a night so you can enjoy the mont after the tour buses leave around 4pm-it is magical. The wind through the ramparts along with looking out at the salt flats are amazing.After two bad knees, I cannot imagine doing a train and changing going up there with luggage?