Where to stay for Mont Saint-Michel
 

My wife and I will be visiting Mont Saint-Michel in mid March.
I have read many Fodors Posts and cant decide if we should stay in Mont Saint-Michel or just outside.
Many say stay inside to walk it after most people leave. Then others say stay just outside and see it at night. Most of the inside hotels seem to have alot of steps which we can do, but dont enjoy.
I have looked at Hôtel Gabriel outside and it seems reasonable. We arrive by car.

I appreciate any advice I could get on this stay.

If you are visiting for an overnight, there's no doubt that you should stay in Mont St-Michel itself. It's not even close for me. Once all the tourists clear out, it's a totally different experience. Though I'm curious about what others think.

I stayed in area of several hotels opposite Mont on mainland and reveled in visage of illuminated Mont at night from there and went to the island after tourists have left too. Staying on Mont is great but for folks like me on low budget not possible. Motorists especially will find hotels opposite the Mont easier to use.

A side note for motorists - if coming from Normandy like Bayeux area be sure to drive thru Avranches and go to the Botanical Garden in there as there is a marvelous view of the Mont hovering in the distance and go down to the shore there too for other mesmerizing views - I put myself in well-worn shoes of medieval pilgrims who must have been so so euphoric seeing their goal getting closer and closer and closer and...

and drive on side roads along the coast to the Mont - views of it glimmering across the usually sandy bay the whole way.

http://us.france.fr/en/information/s...t-saint-michel

I visited in mid-March, too, and stayed on Mont St-Michel. It's so unique I don't understand the arguments to do otherwise. If it costs a bit more, for just a night, most budgets have some wiggle room for something extraordinary. I think of it as akin to a choice between staying in a castle or in a place with a view of the castle. I chose the romance of the place and recommend it highly. You can stay not-on-Mont-St-Michel any other day.

A number of years ago, I stayed in Mont St- Michel and walking up to the abbey in the evening has been one of my most memorable European experiences. I agree completely with Doug, the place takes on a totally different ambience once the tourists are gone. My walk was in the dark with some moonlight. It almost felt as if I had stepped back in time.

But motorists like OP would have to carry luggage from car up stairs, etc. And could leave nothing of value in car - I stayed opposite the Mont and walked over to it at night and spent a few hours roaming around -yes neat but you need not stay on the island itself to experience that. The walk at night over the causeway was ethereal. (Not sure how late the shuttles from car parks go.)

And if staying on island, which is neat of course, be sure to walk over the causeway or take the shuttle to the car parks for the neat view of the island illuminated from afar.

So even though hotel guests can park inside the walls the trek to your hotel for folks with mobility problems especially could be harder than parking right near to your room as the hotels opposite the island offer.

Useful info for motorists:

http://www.bienvenueaumontsaintmiche...rriving-by-car

We stayed on the island for one night and it was fantastic. We arrived by car but packed an overnight bag before arriving so that we didn't have to bring all our lugguge into the hotel. Touring the monestary after dark was one of the best memories of the trip, as we had it almost completely to ourselves, and it was eerie and beautiful lit up at night.

russ_in_la -- you left yout luggage in the car? Is it an attended parking lot?

Any specific recommendations for places to stay?

It would be so much nicer yes just to pack a light bag for the night. I assume hotel parking is attended? Russ? And one would assume well patrolled?

I’m very glad I spent the night on Mont St. Michel! I found it truly charming after day trippers had left, and I was glad to visit the Abbey before the onslaught of tour groups the next morning.

I visited the Mont before it was restored to island status, and had a parking space through my hotel in a protected lot on the Mont side. But IIRC, I took my suitcase with me – I remember a long-ish gently uphill walk to lodging that was closer to the bottom than the top -- the Hotel Le Mouton Blanc, which I can’t personally recommend, but check it out to see if it meets your needs. I just took my time, and the only problem was with the departing hordes, not the walk itself.

I do appreciate the replies. From the replies I wonder if staying by the shuttle and using it to visit during the day and at night (website states it runs until midnight) would be reasonable. The cost isnt the real issue, but every hotel I check on the island states there are alot of stairs. We are older with bad knees and we can do stairs, but like to avoid them when we can.

I don't remember if the parking lot was attended, but we had a car with a locking truck (not a hatchback) and didn't have anything valuable in there anyway. I suppose if my dirty clothes had been taken it would have saved me from doing laundry when I got home. ;-)

When I was there, one needed to climb stairs to see the abbey itself. Has that changed?

Staying on the Mont might give you a way to split the climb into two part -- to your hotel, then to the Abbey -- rather than trying to do it all at once. (And, of course, to your hotel and then to your car for the reverse.)

We stayed on the Mont and I agree the atmosphere was wonderful after the crowds departed. However, the hotels are poor and overpriced, and the restaurants are about as bad as they can be and still be in France. Your call.

I agree regarding the food. Probably our least enjoyable meal of that trip.

I doubt it's the food that's the draw.

I prefer the hotel zone on the mainland. The free shuttle runs to the Mont very regularly until late so you would not at all be depriving yourself of the atmosphere at night, which I would not describe as "fantastic" but "creepy."

I stayed at the Mercure last time, and it has a shuttle stop right in front.

It was years ago when I stayed at La Mère Poulard. While my room was fine it was rather basic. I dined in their restaurant and had their famous omelette and a cheese platter for dessert. Everything was excellent but, perhaps, things have changed in the ensuing years. One reason I don't recommend hotels and restaurants I haven't been recently.

I suggest you do some research regarding hotels and restaurants as well as how manage a trip up to the abbey for those with mobility issues. All such information is readily available online. Google a bit.

We decided to not stay on the Mont or across from it. We were staying three nights in Bayeux, so did the Mont as a day trip. We headed out late morning, enjoying the drive and gasping at our first view of the Mont. This was the year before the re-construction, so we parked and walked over. I took Rick Steves' advice and went outside the gate and around to the left. It was a pleasant (but steep) stroll up the outside. There was almost no one there. We entered near the abbey. My husband walked back along the inside while I toured the church. There were several school groups at the entrance, but it didn't take long to get away from them. I walked down along the rampart and met my husband. The crowds near the bottom were ridiculous. We had planned to eat, but instead drove back to Bayeux in plenty of time for dinner and drinks. Along the way we stopped to see the German cemetery for another perspective on things. Lots of ways to visit, I guess. Do what seems best for you.

A suggestion for the OP, in March you can easily play it as you go. My trip in March was relaxed and some of it unplanned. We decided after we arrived on Mont St-Michel that we'd like to stay, found a hotel on the main drag. It was basic but I loved it, ate in the restaurant where I discovered Ile Flottante and though it was some time ago it remains one of my fondest travel memories for a variety of reasons. There are times when we can be spontaneous and I suspect it was a better trip as a result.

I have stayed ON the Mont and in Dol de Bretagne. A toss-up IMO.

We stayed outside for one night, went there in the daytime and back in the evening, and deliberately stranded ourselves for a few hours. If you're a walker, I don't see the problem with staying outside.

Yes to sum up some of above replies I'd say that you do not need to stay on the Mont to enjoy it at nice - shuttles from mainland go there all the time so you can bop over and walk the not always deserted streets at night and savor the 'mystical' atmosphere, etc.

And may well get better deals for hotels - comfort and price-wise on hotels on mainland - that's what I did (well was camping so had to) and the motel-like hotels looked modern, etc and plenty of close by parking.

Mmm, "motel-like hotels", my favorites. Not.

Mmm, "motel-like hotels", my favorites. Not.>

Yes like you see on any major city autoroute exits all over France - no not your dreamy family-run place but dependably modern and good plumbing and a great price often.

Good for folks like me who don't care where we sleep as long as clean, comfy, budget as I would rarely be in the room - why care how a hotel looks? It's the insides more important to me.

Agree. Avoid like the plague. I think part of a good travel experience is where one stays and dines. It certainly doesn't have to be expensive. I've stayed in some rather basic, plain B&B's and hotels, but they did reflect some local character and often had charming hosts.

Historytraveler, indeed! It's the old "don't care where we sleep as long as clean" cliche. I want an experience every moment of my travel time, even while I'm asleep, even when I travel locally. And quite true, there are plenty of moderately priced and interesting possibilities almost everywhere.

I have never - well, only once - had to subject myself to a highway motel in Europe, and wouldn't want to. I have neither a big budget for accommodations nor a yen for fancy accommodations, and am generally not fussy, but have always managed to find small local hotels or inns with character that were perfectly comfortable.

When we travel in France for business, it's obviously a different story. We generally end up in Ibis Budget hotels, which are plain and simple and cheap and charmless. But when we're "traveling" we rarely fail to find some charm and comfort at the same price level.

And quite true, there are plenty of moderately priced and interesting possibilities almost everywhere.>

Yes to all that but we are talking only about the efficacy of staying in one of these bleak awful motels at M-S-Michel because of the lack of hotels on island at a decent rate, accessibility with car, etc. I think folks will not find places with some charm and comfort at same price level as those motels on the island itself.

That's all.

"...we are talking only about the efficacy of staying in one of these bleak awful motels at M-S-Michel..."

No "we" aren't. Some of us are also talking about refusing to settle for boring in general, caring about how we spend all 24 hours of every travel day. Or is it the royal "we"?

Please give us details about these bleak awful motels, since you seem to have personal knowledge about all of them.

My husband and I stayed at Hotel Gabriel in May. We had the same dilemma, to stay on or off. We were really happy we chose to stay where we did. It was magical seeing the Mont at dusk and in the evening - we took so many pictures! Plus it was much more affordable.

Hotel Gabriel was fine, a little quirky but clean and a good location, and convenient with a car. Nice staff, decent breakfast. We ate at a restaurant near the hotel and while it wasn't "bad" it was definitely the least impressive/most mediocre meal we had on the trip. There aren't many choices around, I wish we had bought some picnic supplies while driving in. We did pick up some sparkling pear wine in a little town on the say in for 3 euro a bottle that was AWESOME.

We didn't take the shuttle bus (they are frequent though and many people did) - we preferred to walk, and we did that twice - once during the day when it was crowded and once at dusk.

So many people told us Mont St Michel was too touristy and not worth the trouble to visit, but we're really glad we did. Enjoy your trip!

Please give us details about these bleak awful motels, since you seem to have personal knowledge about all of them.>

hope not directed at me as I was only sarcastically saying what those who find them 'boring' say - personally I find IBIS and Novotel or even ETAP have character too and are dependably modern in amenities.

Yes what exactly is boring about a Novotel or IBIS, etc? What gives an older smaller independent hotel so romantic?

If you have to ask, I doubt you'd understand, but I'm out of here. Tired of whipping the dead horse.

Not sure I wish him dead but mute would be nice.

Oh, I was referring to an old saying which pretty much means to fruitlessly continue to do something. A waste of time.

Yes, we know. That IS the royal we.

Oui!

Any airbnbs on the Mont?

Couch surfing?