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How to please everyone? Group travel & co-lodging

Posted by on

I’d really appreciate some guidance as we try to plan a group trip and keep a variety of interests in mind.

We’re a group of 8 traveling from the U.S. for a wedding near Maxent. We’re coming as 4 separate parties (3, 2, 2, 1). Aside from the wedding, we don’t have firm plans yet.

We all have overlap for 1 week, so we’re considering renting a house as a home base. The idea is to have a central place where we can relax together but also take day trips depending on interests. The wedding in Maxent is about ~3 days into the trip, so its ideal to be within 1-2 hours of Rennes (by train or reasonable drive).

We’re trying to balance a few things:

Comfort vs budget: We all started with the idea of saving money, but I’m not sure if that means truly budget/cheap. I’d personally prefer a place we genuinely enjoy spending time in, not just a place to sleep between day trips.

Scenery: Ideally somewhere with beautiful surroundings, gardens, forest, or possibly the coast.

Architecture (my top priority): I’d especially love to be based somewhere with access to beautiful historic architecture...charming towns, cathedrals, etc....

Varied interests in the group: Nature/outdoors, museums, walkable areas for running, and a spot where a soccer-loving child could play outside.

I’ve looked a bit at chambres d’hôtes and rentals in Brittany and Normandy, but I’m unsure which areas make the best base.

What we’re hoping for ultimately is an area that is within ~2 hours of Rennes, scenic but not too isolated, and good access to day trips (towns, nature, coast)

Questions:
- which towns or regions would you recommend as a base?
- Would you choose coastal Brittany/Normandy or stay inland?
- Any areas that offer a strong mix of architecture, scenery, and flexibility for day trips?

Thanks very much for any advice!

Posted by
200 posts

Any areas that offer a strong mix of architecture, scenery, and flexibility for day trips?

France.

Posted by
1288 posts

I would suggest you also think about the logistics and group dynamics for your trip.

If you all know each other, but live in separate cities and this wedding is a chance for
all of you to spend time with each other, that makes a difference in how you look at
things. The common time matters more and the day trips matter less.

If everyone knows each other well enough to want to do things together (other than
the wedding), then you rent 1 van, not 4 cars, and everyone needs to be able to get
to the lodging in some relatively convenient way.

If everyone is most likely going to do their own thing(s) re day trips, then the time
you will have together is breakfast and dinner, and arrangements need to be
considered, as these things won't necessarily plan themselves.

Renting a place may become a issue of availability, esp in the summer.

Aside from the obvious option of getting 4 hotel rooms with a half board option,
renting a house and hiring a chef can make things really convenient and reduce
the amount of planning anyone has to do. No one has to do any grocery shopping
or make any restaurant reservations (even if someone likes doing that, it can get
onerous when everyone else assumes you're going to take care of it).

I realize this is not the angle you are looking at things at, but I have planned many
a group trip and these types of things tend to be overlooked.

Posted by
2192 posts

Before suggesting an area, when will this trip take place? Will your parties have several rental cars or are you hoping to use public transportation? Since each party is arriving separately, will some need easy transportation to/from Paris CDG?

Posted by
8745 posts

Look at Quimper (Kemper in Breton). It’s not super close to Rennes, but within your 2-hour range by train, maybe a little longer by car.

For lodging, are you looking at Airbnb, VRBO, and also Gîtes de France?

Posted by
2 posts

These are really good points you all bring up.
We all live in the same city, and know eachother well enough & enjoy the company. This will be our first time ever traveling together or being in close quarters for this duration. I do think everyone gets along well. We plan to do somethings together while respecting that others might want to do different things at times. We are thinking of just doing 1 big rental van (or maybe 2 cars if needed).
Proximity to train station is great, especially if theres a high speed train that allows for farther travel. Having a chef is a super great idea, I hadn't even considered that as an option! How would one even go about this?

The trip is taking place in Mid to late July (19 to 27). Most of us are flying into Rennes and out of paris.

Quimper looks magnificent! We will look around here too, thanks for the recommendation. Been. Checking for houses on Gites de france, per a friend recommendation. Are airbnb and vrbo common to use in france? Wanting to make sure we get a host thats reliable. Would hate to have it cancelled on us last minute!

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