Intex

Kaneda, or anyone:
If I was to do a two-day trip from Paris to Normandy, how would it be best to manage Rouen, Bayeux, and Honfleur, and fast stop at D-Day beach (Omaha) ? TGV into Rouen, then rent a car, and go where first?

blh

Sue4 - I certainly feel your pain in that parking lot - and trying to find the car park to turn in the rental car. We have had so many of the same kind of problems - I really admire you for doing this on your own with no one to navigate. We are just as nervous and have just as many problems and there are two of us! We had a hard time finding the train staion in Rennes and then finding the car rental place to turn in the car as well. Finally parked the car, my husband went inside the Gare, located the Europcar office and asked directions to turn in the car. It was the weirdest return ever - drove into a car park, took a ticket, found the Europcar sign, got out and left the car. Then went inside the train station to the office and turned in the keys. The whole reason we left the car in Rennes and took the train to Paris was to avoid turning the car in in Paris - have done that twice and we said never again!

All's well that ends well - sure hope your insurance takes care of the damage. Glad you had the insurance! I'm trying to work on a trip report - but seems like I'm having trouble getting started.

DiG

Hi Sue4:

Your report was an enjoyable read and I also had some 'relive' moments from it. I added it to my return trip planning as you may recall our focus was a military one last year.

You are a trooper to travel solo, especially by car. Cheers to you, You go girl! I dream of the day when I can drive around like you did and really experience the Normandy country and lifestyle at a leisurely pace.

I'm glad you found La Chaine charming.
We'll never forget our stay there on the Seine. Too bad about the rabbit. I had a bunny once too. Did you get to meet and chat with the owners, the Millets?

It's good to hear your carry on bag was returned and in a brief amount of time.
Sorry to read about the car but glad to know you had insurance and now are home safe and sound.

Last night I posted the final installment to my 2006 Normandy & Paris report. It's lengthy with too many details so it didn't draw much interest.
My deadline was to finish before DDay of 2007 and I did so that's what counts.

Thanks for the great report. You shared many interesting insights and also places I want to visit my next time.

Keep on driving,

Di

Sue4

Thanks, Di. Your report was a great help to me with planning, and great fun to read. I enjoyed all your details!

kansas

Sue, thank you for a great trip report! I had missed it until today. We leave June 11th. Almost the same trip as yours - but instead of Crepon, we (two couples) are doing MSM. Staying at La Chaine and L'Ecrin, too! And we are staying right near Balleroy at the Chateau de Vouilly. I applaud your courage travelling solo!

Julie49

Just curious, did Access America come through and pay for the car damages?

Thanks for the trip report, Chartes is on my list for this summer.

Sue4

Kansas, have a great trip! That'll be fun with 2 couples.

Julie49, not yet, but they better! I had a notification that they had my claim, but nothing more. I'll keep you posted as to that.

hopingtotravel

Hi Sue4, I remember when you had to cancel, so am so glad you finally got your trip. I enjoyed the report.

I too am amazed at your fortitude in doing both the driving and navigating. I'm usually the navigator and I can't imagine trying to drive and read the signs.

I was tentatively planning to avoid Rouen as so many have gotten lost there. Any comments? Also, I thought I'd drive along the Deauville coast but now am wondering about that.

Keep us posted about the car rental damage charges. Good luck.

Sue4

HopingToTravel, it would probably be a shame not to see Rouen if you have the time. I would hate to drive around in the city looking for hotel or something. However, I had to drive right through Rouen from Les Andelys to get to the Abbey Road Route I wanted to take to Honfleur, and it wasn't bad right along the Seine. If you were just driving through, you could park along the river somewhere and easily walk into the old town to Cathedral, etc.
Especially with 2 of you along (and one a man!) you wouldn't be as nervous as I was. Are you going to be driving from Paris to Normandy? My choice to see Rouen would be to train from Paris, spend a night and pick up car in Rouen. That was my original idea until I got freaked out about it. I actually enjoyed having 2 nights in Rouen (as I had plenty of time on this trip).

As for the Deauville coastal drive, it didn't impress me. But then again, it was at the end of a tiring day and I didn't like the traffic. I ended up turning off the coastal road to get back to Honfleur. I'm sure the Corniche road from Honfleur to Trouville is pretty, though. I enjoyed walking up high roads in Honfleur and looking down at the water and the Pont de Normandie. fter dinner one night I walked that way up to the Ferme San Simeon, and could have gone further except that I didn't want to be out like that after dark. It was beautiful and peaceful. I loved Honfleur!

hopingtotravel

Hmmm, we were planning the Abbey Road from Les Andelys to Honfleur, so looks like it may be going through Rouen.

I'll look at the map again re: the Corniche road along the coast. Maybe we can do a section without so much traffic.

We stayed in La Chaine d'Or three years ago. It has since become so popular on this board, I hope they haven't raised prices!

amwosu

Sue your trip report brought back memories of my own several years ago.

I stayed at Ferme de la Ranconniere also. I enjoyed dinner but afterward the waiter ushered me into another room for a drink saying they do that with all of their customers but no one else came in that night. Then he came back and tried to talk me into sleeping with him.

In Rouen I could not find the alley to pull into the hotel parking. As it turns out there are these metal poles that block the alley from car traffic but if you are staying at the hotel you get a code and the poles drop.

Then I had to pull into a tiny claustrophobic car elevator so the car could go up to another level for parking.

I stayed directly in front of where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake with the hotel entrance just a few yards from that spot. Homeless men and urine are all I remember about Rouen thanks to the location of the hotel. Kinda like you didn't think much of Deauville, I didn't think much of Rouen cause I was obviously not in the right spot.

I love Honfleur also. With all of the English who just bebop across the channel the town is very accomadating to non French speakers which I found nice. Mussels and fries every day for lunch portside for me!

Sue4

amwosu, that's too much about the waiter at Ranconniere! You're apparently cuter than I am - so I didn't have any trouble like that (and I'm OLD!).

kansas

Sue, are there hair dryers at La Chaine and L'Ecrin? I hate to drag along mine with the converters if I do not have to! Only 5 days till we leave! Your trip report has me so excited for our trip!

Sue4

Kansas, re the hairdryers - I don't remember at La Chaine, but I feel sure they did. And definitely they did at L'Ecrin. I think every place I stayed had hairdryers. Have a wonderful trip!!

DiG

La Chaine has hair dryers.

Sue4

Re my accident insurance claim with Access America, I've just posted an update, if anyone is interested -"Avis Rental Car Accident in France". Just click on my name to see some nice, and surprising news!

cafegoddess

Sue4, I just got done reading Kansas report on Normandy and you mentioned your age and I just want to say "You are one tough lady!" While driving out of Paris and driving around Brittany and Normandy is easy, I don't think I could do it alone.

Your report was fun to read and inspiring.

marinaview

I realise your post is from 07, but just wanted to thank you for sharing such great information. We are travelling to Mornady from Australia in May 2010, and have 12 days there. I have been getting utterly frustrated in searching for an interesting itinerary. I have already booked at La Chaine D,Or for 3 nights, as we will not arrive until late aftrnoon from Giverny. Like you we want to explore Foret de Lyons, I was a little ambivilant about rouen, but thought of doing a day trip.
Again thanks for the info

Sue4

marinaview, I was just brousing this forum and came upon your reply to my old Normandy post. Thanks. I enjoyed re-reading and reliving my trip! I really liked Normandy and would love to go back. I remember agonizing over my itinerary for months before the trip. I think May is a perfect month to be there, at least it certainly was perfect for me. The countryside is so lovely to drive through. I did the same kind of trip the following year - to Brittany. It was wonderful, too, but I think I prefer Normandy.
You have a lot to look forward to! If you have any questions, just let me know and I'll try to help.