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help with itinerary Paris/Normandy

I want to ensure that we are not putting too much on one day in this itinerary. We have been to Paris before and do better as a family when we are out of the "rat-race" of the city. (kids are 12 and 16 and travel well)
Day one and two: Paris two nights
day three: rent a car at CDG and drive to Giverny then to Rouen to spend the night
day four: Etretat to Honfleur for a meal then on to Mont St. Michel for a night stay (not planning on arriving any earlier than 5 if possible)
day five: Sant mere Eglise to Bayeux (museum or cemetery)
day six: full day (with guide possibly) at beaches/museum and another night in Bayeux
day seven: drive from Bayeux to CDG and fly to Barcelona in the late afternoon/early evening to meet up with family.
Suggestions?
Thanks so much!!

Posted by
2542 posts

You´re wasting a lot of time and money by going to CDG to rent a car. CDG is on the exact opposite side of Paris from where A13 to Normandy begins. Look for a provider which will not charge you an in France, one-way fee (such as Sixt or Europcar) and pickup a car either near Porte d´Auteuil, for A13, or near Porte Maillot, to take A14. You´ll save almost 3 en route to Normandy.

You´ll save the 45€ location surcharge if you avoid picking up a car at either an airport or train station.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks Tocard! We were concerned about our lack of control over travel on the day back to Paris. Because we will be flying out of CDG that afternoon, we presumed it to be easier to rent the car at the airport so that, in case of a time crunch, we only have to dump at the airport without worrying about additional travel once we arrive in Paris. Could you explain the surcharge to me?
thanks so much - this is super helpful!
a

Posted by
73 posts

You can pick up and drop off your car at different locations. If you are doing either one on a Sunday, be sure the location is open! Many are not. We are picking up our rental on a Sunday and are doing it at Gare du Nord train station which is open on Sunday and convenient to the A-13 (we are also driving to Giverny for the night).