We are traveling to Paris for the holidays. We would like to go to Normandy for a day or two. What is the best way to get there from Paris. We thought about the train or renting a car. I would rather rent a car in Paris and drive, but my mom thinks taking a train there and then renting a car once we get there is better. There are a total of five of us (2 teens, my parents, and myself). Also we want to stay 1 night there and looking for any recommendations for places to stay. Does anyone have any info or experience on this? Thanks!
The best way to Normandy is take the train to Bayeux or Caen direct from Paris and then rent the car to explore.
You need a current guide book it has a lot of answers duplicated here. The guide book will give you an overview of the area and a better idea if a day or two will be enough for your group.
You can also look at the official tourist site for the area of Normandy if not the guide book to get some idea
http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/normandy-tourism-1-2.html
I went to Normandy around the same time December 2014; my trip covered Bayeux, D-Day beaches, American Cemetary and Mt St Michel over a 3 night period. It was real peaceful really enjoyed it and the weather was pretty mild compared to Paris and Chicago at that time of year. The daylight ends at 16:00 that is all.
I would take at least 3 or 4 nights and do Mont St. Michel, the beaches, Honfleur and Etretat at least. If possible take the train to Bayeux and do a van tour of the beaches the next day -- Overlord is good -- and then pick up the rental car to visit the other areas.