My wife and I (mid-70s) will be driving a rental car from Mont St. Michel to Bruges in mid-May. It looks to be a 6+ hour trip and we would like to break it up with an overnight stay somewhere in-between. Any recommendations? Amiens? Along the coast? The overnight doesn't have to be in a major tourist spot but perhaps someplace picturesque/charming (you get the idea).
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
How about Lille?
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
On the coast I would suggest either Honfleur or Etretat. Away from the coast I would suggest Rouen rather than Amiens. All of these are just personal choices and others will have different suggestions. Actually any of these will probably leave a longer drive to Bruges on the second day than on the first day, but nothing horrendous. Certainly doable.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7887 posts
It is a special-interest (and I could not get a reservation on our last trip to France, so I have not seen it), but an extremely famous public garden, Le Vasterival, is halfway along this route. My garden book says it is unmarked, and it is by appointment only.
Posted by
Huntington Beach CA
1162 posts
Are you dropping off in Bruges, Belgium? Did you get the rental car already? It's off the subject but there's a huge drop off fee if you're renting and/or dropping off in different countries so I wanted to make sure you're aware before you continue your plans. The drop off fee I was quoted for renting in Amsterdam and dropping off in France was $600!
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2087 posts
Yes, you have to drop off in France for taking the train to Bruges, you can do that for instance in Lille or Arras for catching a highspeed train to Brussels and there an intercity train for the final leg. So is it worth to drive all the way through France if it is actually not possible to drive that last bit to Bruges. Droping off closer to Le Mont-Saint-Michel in Rennes or Rouen is an option too, just a matter of costs and/or preference.
If you want to drive you can stay in Amiens (there is also a Jules Verne house) or Arras, both charming towns. Along the coast Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is touristy but with enough quieter parts to enjoy the place, and besides the Belgians mostly visited by the French. There is also a steam train to nearby Noyelles-sur-Mer. More north Le Touquet-Paris-Plage and Montrieul with it’s historical ramparts, but I think too much out of the way to drive to.