Crazy to skip MSM?

George is right that you'll be rather far from the sights you've pinpointed. Everything we liked in Normandy, except Rouen, itself, is too far away for daytrips. IMO, MSM is better viewed from a distance than actually visited. The street leading up to it is so jammed with tourists we had to push our way through to get up to the abbey. Along with the tourists are lots of tacky souvenir shops. The interior of the abbey is rather stark,

Hi Kay, if you want to do MSM, I suggest that you plan an overnight there. During the day it's a crowded mess but when the tour busses leave, it's magical. You could have dinner, stay at one of the hotels on site and visit the monastery the next morning before the "tourists" arrive.

MSM Is one of my favorite places – beautiful, unique, and peaceful/contemplative when approached appropriately. That means it takes time to fully experience it, as well as effort to escape the distractions of crowds. (I should also note, I don't go in summer, and I stay overnight on the island and join the monks and nuns for their liturgies – all of which helps me to experience the reality.)

Given the time and distance constraints that you described, it might be best to leave MSM for another trip.

Not crazy at all. We were on our third trip to Spain before we ever hit Barcelona! Sometimes it is better to save a place for a future trip rather than stress yourselves to squeeze it in.

thanks so much for your quick postings. I think we will be smart (not crazy) and save MSM for another trip. I do think that we'll splurge on an overnight in Bayeux to see the tapestry and D-Day sights. We know the timeshare in Connelles is located in the hinterlands of Normandy, but we actually love being out of the main tourist areas. Plus, we need to use our points and felt lucky to get this place.

"Sometimes it is better to save a place for a future trip rather than stress yourselves to squeeze it in."

This should be emblazoned as the splash page on every travel website, and in front of every travel guidebook! I think failure to appreciate this has ruined more trips than anything else.

There is a one-day van trip to MSM that goes from the Churchill hotel in Bayeux.

Harold, I sure don't disagree with you. But some of us travelers don't have deep pockets, long lives, and have yearned for years and years to see and experience certain sights. However, after reading about the time frame for when the craziness of MSM ends in the evening - and given our availability - we've definitely decided to skip it. Hopefully, the opportunity will come again. Sharon, what a great suggestion for the one-day van tour from Bayeux. Still, I think we simply stroll the streets of Bayeux after seeing the tapestry (which I'm not so sure is a bigger must see over just strolling the streets)! But really, travelers do need other who are more experienced to call our attention to things we have yet to discover. Such as, enjoying the journey one slow footstep after another. Thank you! (I'll have more questions later for this board.)

Kay, strolling the streets of Bayeux is wonderful. It's a charming town and we've enjoyed walking all over there. There's also the best WWII museum of all imo in Bayeux... well worth your time.

We too loved Bayeux - the tapestry, the WWII museum, the British cemetery, and the cathedral. It's a very beautiful town. The D-Day tour van (with Dale Booth) picked us up by the Churchill hotel for our day tour of the beaches.

I think I'll take a look at a van tour of the D-Day beaches. Thanks for the suggestions!

Since I'd never heard of Connelles, I typed it into Google Maps. It doesn't look so remote to me. It may be that you've selected the wrong attractions. How about Giverny, Le Havre, the meanders of the Seine, public gardens, ...

Sorry - I almost never do this - But how can her attractions be WRONG if they are what SHE wants to see? <------This makes me tear my hair out!

OP knows her accommodations are not ideally located for her chosen places but is willing to make it work as the TS is already paid for! We have done the same thing on more than one occasion. Booked the Marriott DLP and took the RER into Paris everyday or rented a car and drove to the Loire. Having your accommodations paid for sure frees up a large chunk of vacation budget for other things.

I certainly don't mind the additional suggestions, Tim, and Giverny is one of them. We didn't make it out there the last time we were in Paris. Don't tear your hair out, Christi! It's a precious commodity! As you so well understand, we use our timeshare points where we can but they are often not convenient to the biggest tourist attractions. We try to balance at least a couple of those sights with those closer to us.

It's not a frigging sin to skip anything.

C'est la vie!