Are we able to purchase tickets to tour the Abby the day we are visiting (April 10th)? Do you have tips for storing luggage while we visit? Tips for traveling to and from our hotel to Mont St. Michel? We have a tight travel timeline. We will be going by train to Paris from MSM. Thanks for any assistance!
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Long Beach, Ca, usa
2066 posts
ccemerson,
By your hotel, are you referring to a hotel on Mont St Michel, in a nearby town, or in Paris? It would help to know where you are coming from with your luggage. If you are staying at a nearby hotel, just ask to leave your luggage there while you visit the Mont. Or are you trying to make a visit to the Mont in one day from Paris, returning the same day? Do be aware that there is no train station at Mont St Michel. The nearest train to Paris would be from Pontorson, about 9 km. from the Mont. There is a shuttle bus from the station to the Mont. I believe only large group tours require a reservation to see the abbey, but I am not sure of that. The abbey is open from 9 to 7 from May 1-August 31, and from 9:30-6 Sept. 1-April 30. Last entry is an hour before closing, but one hour isn't really enough time for a visit. Note that the abbey is on the top of the Mont, so when you arrive, allow time to cross the causeway and to walk up to the abbey. (I am 81 and allow almost an hour for myself, but I walk more slowly when going up a somewhat steep route, like on Mont St Michel.) So from the time you arrive at the causeway, to the time you leave it after your visit, allow yourself about 5-6 hours minimum, and add more time for a drink or meal, or a visit to souvenir shops.