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Heart of France itinerary order - Ascension Day crowds in Paris?

Posted by on

My wife, our college-age son & daughter and I are planning a trip to France 5/13 to 5/23 2020, using Rick's 11-day Paris & Heart of France tour as a template. Below is my rough draft itinerary with Paris as the last portion of the vacation loop. The Ascension Day holiday falls within our trip (5/21) and the French Open tennis tournament starts on 5/23. Would it be better to visit Paris at the beginning of our trip to avoid excessive crowds due to these events or does it really matter?
I like making Paris last so that we are not diving right into the big city scene on the first few days of our trip. Also, it makes for one less hotel change if we save Paris for last.
Any tips for order of the loop are also welcome. Would the Loire Valley be a better first stop for getting over jet lag rather than Rouen and Honfluer?

First pass at itinerary:

  • 5/12 - Flight arrival in CDG Paris @ 07:00, train to Rouen, pick up
    rental car to Honfleur, stay overnight in Honfleur
  • 5/13 - Honfluer am, then to Bayeux as base for D-day sites
  • 5/14 - More D-day sites, stay in Bayeux
  • 5/15 - To MSM in pm, stay near MSM
  • 5/16 - MSM in am, then drive to Loire Valley (Amboise as base?)
  • 5/17 - Chateaux touring, stay in LV home base
  • 5/18 - Flexible day - another day in LV home base (maybe head back to Paris)
  • 5/19 - Turn car in at Tours, train to Paris
  • 5/20 - 522 - stay in Paris (NOTE: 5/21 = Ascension Day)
  • 5/23 - Fly home from CDG Paris (NOTE: 5/23 = start of French Open)

Thanks!

Posted by
6916 posts

Ascension doesn't matter, you'll have more French tourists in Paris but that's about it. Likewise, the start of the French open has little impact.
I like the itinerary as it stands, but I do suggest you leave Loire Valley in the evening of the 18th for a fourth day in Paris.
Edit: noticed you picked up a car in Rouen, I would do so in Le Havre instead. From there, it's just a thirty minute drive to Honfleur, so very manageable even if jet lagged.

Posted by
13977 posts

Whew...your first day is long and depends on you driving at the end of your jet-lagged arrival day. I'd suggest you take the train to Bayeux for night 1, then rent a car for one day from there to go see Honfleur and maybe a few other DDay related sights that are sort of in that direction. I thought Pegasus Bridge was very interesting as well as the small museum at Arromanches regarding the Mulberry Harbors.

I'd also do a full day van tour of the landing areas. I've done a couple and learned so much information from the guides about the geography of the area plus more details about the invasion plan and battle.

I don't think the French Open will affect you at all.

Posted by
874 posts

We traveled this same route a few years ago......had a car and used Amboise, Le Manior Les Minimes, as our base for all of the chateaus........drove from MSM to the Loire Valley and it was not a problem. We flew into CDG, drove to Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, Bayeux and WW2 toured.....then on to MSM, Loire Valley and back to Paris for 5 days and home......at the exact same time of year that you are going......it was a great trip!

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