I am traveling with a small group of elderly women. We will travel from Paris for a short stay in Bayeux, then head back to Paris. There are 7 of us —all with luggage. What is the best travel option? Can luggage be checked safely on trains? Are there options for renting a van/driver?
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7204 posts
The train is the best option in my opinion. Easy and fast. You can't check your luggage so you need to carry it yourself.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8042 posts
You don't say if you are only visiting Bayeux, or if you plan to see various D-Day beaches and/or museums? Do you know if your hotel is walkable from the train station? You are NOT going to Mont St. Michel or Le Havre? 7 people will need a very big vehicle, adding premium cost to an already pricey car service. Don't forget that you have to, in effect, pay for an empty return to Paris unless you are paying the driver and car to stay with you in Bayeux.
Normal European trains have luggage racks at one end of long-distance coaches. And a much narrower rack over the seats, which often can barely accept "carry-ons". There is no checked baggage. I don't think I've even been offered it on premium trains, like Eurostar.
If none of the seven of you have ever taken a European train, you need to do some research. Start here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation
https://www.seat61.com/
Most posters on this newsboard favor trains, and they are not that hard to manage. But getting up the stairs (on occasions when the train floor is not level with the station platform) can be challenging for people with mobility difficulties. One test would be, can all 7 put their carry-on up in the airplane rack alone?
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks! We are staying 2 nights and are a short distance from the train station. We’re planning to take an organized tour to MSM and beaches. I’m just trying to find the best transportation out and back to Paris. I can handle my own suitcase but not sure the entire group is as capable. Thanks for the links