We will fly in/out of Paris March 10-18
Paris (4 nights)
Rent car and visit Mont St. Michel (1 night)
Maybe stay in a chateau in Normandy or northern Loire (2 nights)
Drive back to Paris (1 night)
Fly out early the next morning
Does that sound like too much driving?
We did something similar with teenagers several years ago and it was more driving than anticipated. Suggest doing either MSM/Normandy or the Loire region but not both on such a short trip.
In Normandy, stay in charming Bayeux. It is an easy drive to MSM.
I agree, in a short time frame it sounds best to pick either Normandy (including Mont Saint Michel) OR the Loire, with a single base in each case. Bayeux is the best one for Normandy; I am less knowledgeable about the Loire valley.
Crowds at Mont Saint Michel in March should be OK this year since international tourism isn't back to full steam, so my usual reservations with a day trip there from Bayeux do not apply.
Do you recommend a train to Bayeux and then pick up a car there?
ETA: thank you for your advice!
There is one car-rental outlet in Bayeux. There are quite a few in Caen, a much larger city that's a short train ride from Bayeux (and closer to Paris). I haven't rented a car in Europe; I'm just repeating what others have said many times on the forum. Check agency hours of operation very carefully; it seems that French car-rental spots often close for lunch.
With 4 people and luggage, I would rent a car at the airport and head to Bayeux for three nights and then either drive to Paris or take the train back to Paris. Try to avoid 1 night stands as they will eat up a lot of time.
And try to avoid driving upon arrival from a trans-Atlantic flight and a 7-hour time change, as you endanger both yourself and your passengers, but also others on the road with you.
