Mont St Michel, stay on island, or off?

No one can make your decision for you, and you will hear opinions of both sides of this issue. I have stayed both on and off the island. I definitely preferred staying on the island. IMHO, the best views are closer to the island than off the island. Either way you have to get out of your hotel, but I found it easier to do multiple trips out to see it from the causeway. No bus needed, just take a short stroll. But the best part of staying on the island is wandering around the ramparts and tiny walkways late at night or early in the morning. It is just magical at those times and nothing like the experience of being there when there are lots of other people with you (you really feel like you have the place to yourself). No, the food on the island isn't great, and neither is the food just off the island. They cater to tourists—not repeat customers. But you can find a decent enjoyable meal. Just don't expect to be blown away with the culinary scene anywhere near there.

My too sense...

Stay on the Mont. it’s amazing. Gives you time without the crowds. Totally worth it

We stayed at Relais du Roi just at the end of the causeway -- able to drive right up to the hotel, and if I leaned out the window there was a view of the Mont. Walked the causeway to the island and also took the bus for an early-morning goodbye visit.

I stayed on the island and was 100% convinced I made the right choice for me. It was magical. I have not (and would not) stay on the mainland as long as I had the choice to be on the Mont itself.

IMHO, you go there to be there. Better to be there looking out, than to be on the outside looking in, even if the view is nice. I spend all the money and jump all the hoops to get somewhere, not to be outside somewhere looking at the place from a distance (even if the view from outside is nice - being on the inside is nicer). The finer points of the sleeping quarters and the food is secondary - years later, you won't remember those details. You will remember the night and the morning you spent with the place to yourself, for the rest of your life - not what you had for dinner or if the bed sheets felt luxurious.

Just my 2 cents, only you can decide what's right for you.

We stayed off island because i wanted night views of the Mont at a distance and that was lovely but if I had to do it over again I would stay on the island. We spent the first evening there and had dinner and so did get to see some of it in the evening and explore the ramparts, but wish we had stayed on the island. We came back the next morning to tour the abbey.

ok great! the decision is unanimous! I just booked two rooms on hotel St Pierre

Yay! Please come back and post when you get back to let us know how you liked it. Safe travels

I follow this forum regularly. We go to Paris and Normandy next year. Staying on the mont thanks to the experienced travellers of this forum!!

We stayed on the island and the dinner wasn't as bad as we were reading about, but the breakfast was, which was odd since I always think breakfast is easier to prepare than dinner.

I stayed at a hotel across the bridge. Beautiful views of Mont St. Michel lit up an night! There are frequent buses across the bridge during the day and they continue running until late in the night (I think less frequently though). I was happy the way it worked out; if you stay on the Mont you have to park in a distant lot and take your bags onto the bus, staying across the bridge lets you park at your hotel.

No, the food on the island isn't great, and neither is the food just off the island.

I stayed at Hotel Le Relais du Roy 2 years ago. Their restaurant serves great food! Literally one of the best meals I've ever had in France.

stayed at a hotel across the bridge. Beautiful views of Mont St. Michel lit up an night! There are frequent buses across the bridge during the day and they continue running until late in the night (I think less frequently though). I was happy the way it worked out; if you stay on the Mont you have to park in a distant lot and take your bags onto the bus, staying across the bridge lets you park at your hotel.

Wait...don't you get to park on the island if you are staying on the island hotels?

EDIT: Disregard... I just saw that there is a dedicated parking area just outside past the bridge.

The parking area for the hotels is part of the parking area for everybody who drives to MSM.