Hoping for a suggested overnight stop between Bayeux and Bruges for next summer.
Looking for a town on coast of english channel for one night. Looking for something scenic with hotel that may have rooms overlooking the water.
We are driving.
I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you
Consider Honfleur... described in Rick's France guide.
Honfleur is wonderful but it's pretty close to Bayeux. Another nice seaside town further up is Boulogne-sur-Mer which is about 4 hrs drive from Bayeux and about 2 hrs drive to Bruges. Those drive times might be understated and don't include stops. I enjoyed the drive along that coast a couple of years ago.
I agree with Boulogne-sur-Mer, nice historic centre. But finding rooms overlooking the sea will not be easy along the Atlantic Coast, there are way less than you might think. Expect the few will be fully booked during summer, so book as early as possible to make a change.
The seaside resorts along the most northern coast of France are not the most fancy, but during summer with fine weather the number of visitors will bring a good atmosphere. Nevertheless to my opinion you can consider the following places:
Still a bit south there is Le Tréport, with hotels along the coast and more north closer to Boulogne-sur-Mer in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage there is a Novotel and Ibis just close to the beach. With Google Maps I can spot Hôtel Neptune in Berck-Plage. Wimereux just north of Boulogne has hotels close to the beach too.
If you can´t find a room overlooking the sea I think too Boulogne is nice to stay. Worth a stop is Le Cap Blanc Nez from where you can oversee the Channel with The White Cliffs of Dover if weather cooperates. Closer to Bruges the litte but lovely main square "Grote Markt" of Veurne along the E40 freeway is worth a stop too.
from what I've been reading on the forum, there is a quite steep dropoff charge to rent a car in one country and return it in another. Bruges is easily reachable by train. Perhaps you might want to consider a nite along the coast somewhere and dropping off the car, then taking the train to Bruges and getting another car if needed there. Of course if you return to France after Bruges this doesn't apply.
thank you for taking the time to respond.
The idea of returning car in France makes sense. I appreciate your suggestions very much.
