Paris, Loire Valley, and Normandy in November

I would spend five nights in Paris and four nights in Normandy and skip the Loire. If your heart is set on the Loire, take one night each from Paris and Normandy. You could take two nights from Normandy, but that would only give you time to see the highlights of Normandy and make it difficult to find time for Mont St. Michel. It all depends on your priorities.

You don't want a car in Paris, but you really need one to see Normandy. It would also be helpful in the Loire Valley. You could train from Paris to Rouen or Caen and rent a car there. Driving in Paris is the pits, although we have successfully driven out of the city twice.

I agree with the above. The Loire is better experienced in good weather, and you really don't have enough time to do both it and Normandy. I would split the nights in Normandy, perhaps 2 nights in Honfleur and 3 nights in Bayeaux. You can do MSM as a day trip. Try to find some nice cozy places to stay where you can warm up close to a fire and sip some Calvados.

I agree also that ten days won't give you a good experience split three ways -- better to choose either Loire or Normandy, in addition to Paris. You could spend 4-5 days in either area and do it justice, save the other for another trip. I'd choose the Loire based on November weather alone, Normandy is one of the wettest coldest parts of France. But of course weather's always going to be an unknown till it happens.

I'd suggest taking the train to either Rouen or Caen (for Normandy) or Tours or nearby St-Pierre le Corps (for Loire), then renting a car. But if you enjoy driving and don't want to pay train fares and car rental on the same day, you could drive to Normandy from, say, La Defense on the west end of Paris, or to the Loire from, say, Orly. You'll want to drive in either area.

Bayeux is a good Normandy base, with an overnight at MSM. Amboise is a good Loire base, though you might prefer west of Tours if you want to see more chateaux etc. on that side.

Don't have a rental car in Paris, no one does that--an expensive headache.

For Paris in November, you want to have the appropriate clothing for the probable weather and have options for outdoor activities in case the weather is good, out door activities that will not keep you out so long that you can't get inside to dry off and/or warm up.In Paris you'll never run out of indoor things to do, if the weather isn't cooperating.

Normandy will be the opposite of Paris, in terms of the mix of indoor versus outdoor activities. The Normandy weather will typically be cooler and windier in November. Best to have a car in Normandy, or take a train to Bayeux or Caen and go on a tour if your interest is the D-Day Beaches.

OK, I am going to say that 10 days you can totally do all three, with a caveat (drop some Paris time). There are tons of different types of travelers out there, and if you look at the Rick Steves' philosophy it is all about ... doing the best and skipping the second / third tier stuff for your next visit. "Assume you will return."

Not everyone wants or needs to beat a city/region/country to death.

Days 1-3 Paris
Days 4-6 Loire (get car in Paris, drive to Ambois hitting Chartes on the way)
Days 7 MSM
Days 8-10 Normandy

I love Paris, but with a 3 day museum pass and a few carnet's of subway tickets is plenty. Could you slow down and take a cooking class? Yes. You could probably do a week in Normandy just doing Dday sights? Should you, well that depends?

The above itinerary could easily be altered, allowing for more time in Brittany or Paris. I've never done the Loire in November, but think that the chateau's would be impressive with a few less leaves on the trees. We are going in late October and I'm more worried about the weather up North along the coast.

Peace,
Tom