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Lodging in Brittany and Normandy

We will be traveling in Brittany and Normandy in early September. Our stops there are Carnac (2 nights), St. Malo (3 nights), and Bayeux (3 nights). We would like any information regarding lodging in these towns. Also, has anyone stayed at the youth hostel in St. Malo? Our budget = 60 to 90 euros per night. Any information regarding sights in these areas would also be helpful. Highlights for us are: the Carnac alignments, Mont St. Michel, Cancale, Dinan (?), the Bayeux tapestry, D-Day beaches, the Memorial Museum (Caen). We will have eight days before moving on to Southern Germany and Austria.
Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Posted by
169 posts

Of the towns you listed, I have only stayed in Bayeux. We stayed at a gite there (cannot remember the name, but I learned of it from this website), and it was fine, but expect a lot of stairs. We also stayed at a hotel (I believe it was the Churchill, but am not sure), and that was also fine (although we had to pay extra for breakfast). we did a D-Day tour through the hotel, and it was very well done. also did a trip to Mont Saint Michel through the hotel, and it was great. Restaurants in Bayeux are generally great - just look for ones that seem to have French customers, and not so many tourists. There is a street market in Bayeux that is fun to do. And of course you will want to see the tapestry and the cathedral in Bayeux. Peter

Posted by
554 posts

Just spent a week in Normandy and Brittany. Our B&B in Bayeux was outside your price range, but we really liked it, Le Petit Matin. We did a full day d-day tour with Bayeux Shuttle which was fantastic. If you have a car the drive between Mont St Michel and Bayeux is very pretty. We stayed in Pontorson near Mont St Michel, so can't help with places to stay in St. Malo.
We enjoyed Dinan more than St Malo and wished we had allowed more time. It's smaller and much less touristy.
We spent a couple of days in Brittany in the Finistere area. We particularly enjoyed the parish closes and the town of Locronan.

Posted by
1 posts

We were in Bayeux 2 nights ago (currently in Vannes). We stayed at la Reine
Mathilde. Wonderful! We had room 11.

Posted by
13809 posts

Lol, lots of us seem to be criss-crossing the area!

I just spent 3 nights in Saint-Malo and loved it! Actually liked it better than Dinan but I loved walking out to the places at low tide. I did not see everything on my list. You do need to check the tides carefully. Access Le Petit Be up to 1.5 hours before and after low tide. You can get over to Grand Be a bit before that, as soon as the causeway is clear. And that is the islet where Chateaubriand, the Romantic writer, is buried. See Jacques Cartier's tomb in the cathedral. His head is actually in there altho many of the bones were scattered during the 2 week or so battle to occupy the town in August 1944. There is a tour of one of the corsair's houses although it is only in French. Biggest tip from my guide is not to eat in the restaurants that parallel the inside of the wall. Walk a few blocks further in. I had an excellent meal at Le Punjab - maybe 15E for a huge portion of rice, dal, fresh naan (I was seated near the kitchen and I could hear the cook patting out each for cooking!) and a bottle of fizzy water.

In Cancale we visited an oyster farming visitor center which is slightly east of town. Although I am with a group it appeared that individuals can visit as well.

I loved the Alignment at Carnac. There is I think only one English tour per day that allows you in to the stones. It is amazing to be inside. Be sure to see the nearby tomb and largest stone at Locmariaquer. Watch the movie first (they give you headsets in English) there.

If you are driving from Bayeux to Caen, divert slightly to see the Pegasus Bridge at Bénouville. It's only about 15 minutes further (plus of course the time you spend there). We just stopped here today and you can see where the first shots were fired on DDay shortly after midnight and the first family and home were liberated. The cafe is still run by the daughter of Monsieur Gondrée. This is where the British glider group landed (remember the scene in The Longest Day where the Lord with his personal piper come to relieve the troops? It was here.)

I am now in love with Brittany! Pont-Aven is neat if you want to visit from the Carnac area. This is an area where Gauguin painted. So much to see!

Posted by
151 posts

About your itinerary in Brittany, in the area around Carnac you may consider Locmariaquer (especially if you are interested in megaliths), Auray and the gulf of Morbihan in general. Around St Malo, yes, I advise to visit Dinan, especially if you'd like to see well preserved medieval town. Of course there are many other less known and beautiful traditional Breton towns. You can pick some hints for places to see in Bretagne over a few days on http://visite.bretagne.free.fr/index.php/en/itineraries.html

Posted by
1097 posts

If you are just two people, I recommend VRBO #695184 in Bayeux, Studio St Jean. My husband and I stayed there three nights last June and it was perfect. The location was right on the main street pedestrian area, right around the corner from the Hotel Churchill. Public parking was also right there around the corner. Walking distance to the tapestry and the train station. Sally was very responsive and helpful. I believe they also rent another unit if this one is not available for your dates.

Posted by
446 posts

Last September we stayed at these properties. Both within your budget.

Carnac: Hotel les Alignements (without breakfast). €74
Bayeux (nearby in Manvieux): La Gentilhommiere. €71. Very nice farmhouse B&B.
Both on Booking.com.

In addition to the sights you mention Fort La Latte is interesting and in a scenic coastal location.

Posted by
1540 posts

We stayed 3 nights in Hôtel d'Argouges in Bayeux. We all loved it and would stay there again. It is across the street from the main parking square in the center of town. The town main street is short - few blocks, very walkable and lots of restaurants. You can read reviews on tripadvisor.com.