KyCarol

Hi there to all you helpful Fodorites. My family (5 adults and a 2 year old) and traveling to Brussels and Paris. We will arrive in Brussels Sept 30, spend 2 nights there visiting with friends, depart October 2 to Normandy, arriving in Paris on the 6th (with a stop in Chartes on the 6th), departing Paris on the 13th. I have no idea where to begin planning the 3+ days in Normandy.

Suggestions appreciated regarding these questions:

Rent a car in Brussels and drive to ?,

Train from Brussels to Lille, or similar city, then rental car.

What next? We want to visit the beaches, American Cemetery, Peace Museum and possibly MSM and Bayeux cathedral and/or tapestry. Would like to stay at B&B, nothing posh, just clean and pleasant.

Restaurant suggestions also appreciated.

Should we return rental car in Paris, or somewhere outside Paris and take the train to Paris?

We have accommodations in Brussels and Paris.

I have scoured this site and others and have read a lot, but still feel I know too little of the geography to devise an itinerary.

Thanks in advance.

kerouac

I would say to take the train to Paris and drive from there.

daryleann

Haven't done this, but will tell you what I am learning - for our trip in April. Renting inside the one country is cheaper, although europecar allows rentals from Brussels to some towns in France. With so many persons, this would be my choice. Then you would have car to do the D-Day beaches, etc, and area. Return car before you enter Paris, perhaps Rouen.

ira

Hi Ky,

I agree with kerouac, go to Paris and visit Normandy from there.

You can split your Paris visit.