I'm bothering you with a question I posted months ago. I'm further along in my travel plans, but I'm still so undecided about one three-day stretch and I need some outside thinking.<BR><BR>We will have spent four days in Paris before we do a biking trip in Brittany and Normandy. Our trip ends in Caen. At that point we will already have done Mont St. Michel and the Normandy beaches. I will have three nights left. I have arranged to rent a car in Caen and I've also arranged to drop it off early a.m. at Versailles, take the train to Montparnasse, and the Air France Shuttle to CDG. <BR><BR>OK: Now where would you spend those three nights? I'd like to stay in one place (we will already have shuffled to three hotels for the biking trip alone)and explore any or all of these areas: Honfleur, Rouen, Giverny.<BR><BR>Opinions?

You will find more to see and do, in my opinion, in Rouen. Rouen is a large city and houses the Joan of Arc museum and several historical sites. The Cathedral is worth visiting, and it's the one Monet painted. The old part of the city, through the Grand Horloge, is quite nice, and the food is wonderful. Honfleur has a charming port and interesting wood churches, but is much smaller than Rouen. Giverny is famous for Monet's house and gardens and is worth a visit. There is also a museum near which is worth seeing, but I can't see spending three days there. You might enjoy 3 days in Honfleur just to R&R, however. Hope that this is helpful.

We're going to spend 3 days in Honfleur. From there we intend to take a day trip to Cieppe, Fecamp and Etretat, lovely little fishing villages north of Honfleur. The second day we plan to do Trouville, Deauville and Cabourg, resorts west of Honfleur. You could also do a day trip to Rouen. Honfleur is a lovely little village in its own with a great harbor and lovely little wooden church built like an upside down ship by shipbuilders.

Didn't visit Giverny.<BR><BR>Visited Rouen and Honfleur, stayed in Honfleur for 2 nights, and loved it. <BR><BR>It's a lovely place to be based - perfect for the evening strolls before and after dinner.<BR><BR>I'd base myself there and sight see from there.

Julie and Kavey: I was so hoping you would say "Honfleur." It's where I wanted to stay, but since I did want to tour Rouen and we have this car drop-off problem, I feared it was too out of the way. I was dreaming of just what you described--nice, relaxing after- dinner walks in a cute seaside town.<BR><BR>Two questions for you: Could you take a stab at the car travel time early in the morning from Honfleur to Versailles (as I previously posted, we have to drop a car off at Versailles, hop a train, then get a shuttle to CDG in one morning).<BR><BR>Second:What would be your favorite place to stay in Honfleur?<BR><BR>And thanks!

My Michelin says 199 km from Honfleur to Paris, so assume a little less to Versailles. My husband, the driver, says about 2 hours which sounds right<BR>to me in view of the ability to pick up A13 only about 20 km out of Honfleur and stay with that freeway the entire trip. We've stayed at Ferme St. Simeon and will be at Manoir Butin, apparently not far from it this trip. Both are very expensive so I can't whole heartedly recommend them. I hope Kavey has more reasonable suggestions and in town so you can walk about the town after dinners. Enjoy.

Amy,<BR>There is a great driving website for Europe www.viamichelin.com and it details time from one city to another and give detailed directions that you can print and take with you. Your trip from Honfluer to Versailles is about two hours depending on traffic and wait at toll booths. The French drive fast so you could make it in better time but 2 hours is a good benchmark.

Our family will be staying in these places in July. Honfleur sounds perfect. Do you have to book accomodation ahead?<BR>Thanks,<BR>Peter

Hi!<BR><BR>In estimating time of drives decide whether you're taking the toll route motorways or the main D and N roads. We took the lesser roads and the journey did take a little longer.<BR><BR>We didn't come from Paris though, but from Calais, stopping for 2 nights in an auberge in Yvetot, so I am not sure about your journey.<BR><BR>We stayed at the Cheval Blanc. I did post a trip report on this site, I will try and find what I wrote on the hotel for you.<BR><BR>Be right back...<BR><BR>Kavey

Here are extracts from what I posted regarding our trip in May 2001:<BR><BR><BR>After the late lunch we arrived in Honfleur at about 4.30 when it was very crowded with weekend visitors. We found the hotel easily but unable to stop infront, we had to park in a pay and display round the corner, unload luggage from there, before Pete put the car into the space we had booked through the hotel in a garage a little distance away. I would strongly advise thinking about booking parking before staying in Honfleur. Pay and display would not be cheap over the whole stay. <BR><BR>The Hotel Le Cheval Blanc has a wonderful location looking out on the outer harbour. It is not directly looking out over the internal basin harbour which is featured in the pictures but is only yards away from that and you can see it from the windows at an angle. Perfect location. Rooms were quite small and very ordinary, considering I booked deluxe, but they were clean, and comfortable and had a harbour view. Ruth and John's room was smaller, and newly furnished and decorated, making it a little more attractive, ours was larger, being on the far corner, with windows looking out in two directions which was a bonus, but with old, dated and tacky wallpaper, linens and furniture. Good size bathroom though plain, but with nice strong shower with hook attachment so can shower standing up. No A/C but swung the windows open. Both rooms were fine but nothing to rave about, however I would definitely stay here again for the location, view and comfort and for the friendly and helpful reception staff. Also the hotel offered a plastic card which gave discounts on local attractions, we used it once each for a discount on the boat trip. It also gave discounts on the horse and buggy rides around town, local museums and purchases from local farm shops. <BR><BR>Honfleur is even more beautiful than the guidebook descriptions and photos lead me to believe. A harbour town, where a few real fishing boats are still based, it is now in main part a visitor attraction. Many yachts | 2 are moored in the internal harbour basin. This little square harbour is closed off by a road bridge which you will see being opened for boat traffic a few times a day. It is around three sides of this little harbour that the tall, slim buildings featured in guidebook photos sit, hugging each other like old friends who need each other's support to stay standing, they are each individual and yet form a pleasing whole. Some are criss crossed by traditional Normandy timber beams, others reflect the sunlight in a myriad directions from their slate and wooden tile coats. Most of them house restaurants, cafes and a few little shops with colourfully decorated tables spilling outside into the sun. On the fourth side is the road bridge and an attractive old brick and wooden building. <BR><BR>Out from all sides of this basin are a series of little streets and alleys, any path chosen leads to further surprises, including an old wooden church | 2 | 3, with a double arched roof, where it was doubled in size some time in its past. Lots of little shops selling local produce sit side by side with clothes stores, pharmacies, restaurants, cafes and old houses | 2. Though Honfleur is clearly a tourist mecca, this doesnt detract from its sheer prettiness and strolling around is a true pleasure. Walking round the corner from our hotel on the Quai des Passagers, towards the main lock out towards the sea and estuary (and Pont de Normandie) there is also a little green park full of flowers and benches. <BR><BR>

Amy<BR>I have photos and more from the trip report - do email me if you'd like to see them, one photo shows the view from our room.<BR>The Cheval Blanc wasn't a luxurious hotel, the rooms were perfectly comfortable though. It's strong point was it's wonderful location and views right over the harbour and basin of Honfleur.<BR>Kavey

Kavey: Superb review. Thank you for telling exactly what I wanted to know. In addition to all the rest of you who contributed driving estimates, Sharon, your website hint has just joined my "Favorites" file. A find. Thanks to all.

Amy<BR>You're welcome. If you want that photo of the view from the room, email me.<BR>I am sure you will have a wonderful trip and look forward to reading about it here in the future.<BR>Kavey

Honfleur is lovely. If you're looking for accommodations a little easier on the pocket book than Ferme St-Simeon and Manoir du Butin, you might check out the hotels listed on http://www.honfleur.com/<BR><BR>We stayed at the Hotel l'Ecrin which was within easy walking distance of the old harbor and would return. The decor of the public rooms is Napoleon III - a little over the top, but breakfast on the glassed in veranda overlooking the garden was lovely. <BR><BR>I've also have friends who enjoyed staying at l'Absinthe but have no personal experience of it.