We are planning on flying into CDG on 9/25. From there rent a car and travel to Giverney and spend one night. Then head to Normandy. Normandy is my husbands bucket list as his dad landed there on D Day. We plan on staying near Bayeux for 5 Nights. After that we are curious for recommendations. We want to experience coast, wine region, small towns. End up on east coast. Is a trip into Italy possible or maybe Spain. We do fly home from CDG.
We are first timers and in our 70’s. Will appreciate any input.
Posted by
State of Washington, USA
300 posts
My wife and I spent 28 nights in France in 2021, visiting (mostly) places we hadn't been to previously. (I had previously visited the Normandy beaches while staying in Bayeux, so this time we only stayed in Honfleur in that region). Our trip report might help your planning: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-france-28-days-aug-sep-loire-dordogne-languedoc-roussillon-lyon-burgundy-honfleur
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15572 posts
Are you planning to spend any time in Paris? I'd put it at the end of your trip so you position yourselves for your return flight.
I don't know if you've chosen a hotel or what your budget is, but I stayed in a lovely chateau for 4 nights on a Seymour Travels tour last October about 10 minutes outside Bayeux. It was lovely, food was awesome and it seemed to be fairly easy to get to many places.
https://www.chateau-saintgilles-bayeux.com/fr/galerie.html
I also recommend a private tour for the D-Day landing areas. The tour guide should be able to tell your husband about where his Dad's unit landed on DDay. I've done several tours, the best one was with Dale Booth but he books out pretty far in advance. Others here on the forum like Overlord tours.
With your wish list I think you could do EITHER Spain or Italy for a week or 10 days depending on where else you want to go in France.
When you say you want to end up on the EAST COAST - of what country? Or was that a typo?
Since you are first-timers, I'd caution you against allowing too many places to creep in.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2016 posts
Congratulations on going to Europe!
I have a recommendation regarding your Normandy section. After Giverny, go to Rouen for a night. You will get there early enough to see the cathedral (of Monet fame) the fascinating medieval section, the Horloge, the Joan of Arc connections and have a n ice dinner. Next morning drive toward Bayeux along the D road that follows the Seine River. It is a lovely drive through the French countryside. Take the Route Des Abbayes portion and see the Jumieges Abbey. I saw it for the first time on my seventh trip to France and wonder why it took me so long. I would lessen my Bayeux stay by a night. The Bayeux tapestry will be gone for refurbishment for two years. The town has a lovely cathedral and museum and is very walkable. You can pick your own route to drive to see the WWII beaches, sights and museums and spend two days doing that. (For me, any more would be too much, but that is me.)
Many travelers go from Normandy to Brittany, spending a night at Mont St Michel on the way. It is iconic, and since you have time, I wouldn't miss it. It is a fairly short drive from Bayeux. Next day head for a town in Brittany (e.g. Dinan, but there are many). Lots of travellers only spend a couple of days in the Dinan area of northern Briuttany. Personally, I love the region and like Quimper. If you wanted to, you could spend 3 nights here and visit Carnac for the dolmens. (I think this takes you up to 10 nights...time flies!)
Whether or not you spend time in Brittany, the most logical direction (IMO) to head is toward the Loire Valley. Chateaux, wine tastings, lots of history, and beautiful scenery. 3 or 4 nights here would give you time to see more than just the chateaux. There are vineyards, mushroom caves, troglodytic sites, Leonardo de Vinci's home and more. (14 nights gone)
I could suggest other areas of France, but if you wanted to visit Italy or Spain, I would go back to Paris (probably Orly airport) and fly to one of those countries for about a week (I would pick Rome for 7 nights. It deserves a week, with maybe a day trip from there...lots of options). (21 nights gone) Fly back to Paris for the rest of your stay (7 nights)...there's so much in Paris it's hard to narrow things down.
Of course, this is what I would pick for myself, but I do think you would get some lovely experiences and memories from my suggestions, seeing some wonderful parts of France and a bit of Italy. You could drop Brittany and add time to Rome and/or Paris. There is a reason they are 2 of the 3 top cities in Europe (and the world...Paris, London, Rome).
Do get a guidebook and read any sections that interest you to narrow down what your priorities are. Lucky you to have this trip to make!