Paris/Normandy/Belgium/Paris

If you don't plan on visiting Paris itself, then you could have landed in Normandy Caen International airport and from there navigate your way through Normandy. The car rental fee would have been cheaper in Normandy.

In your post you say, "We arrive in Paris on 7 November in the morning & plan to see the Normandy Beaches, then up to Dieppe, to Ypres & area (3 nights)" Are you suggesting you are going to see Normandy beaches in the afternoon of the 7th. I would highly suggest not driving the day of your arrival all the way out to Normandy due to the lack of sleep you most likely will incur. I would suggest doing so the next day. It is a 4 hour drive to the coast of Normandy.

"Is this too ambitious? Too much driving & not enough seeing?". The simple answer is yes. Maybe enjoy your battlefield tours in Normandy and Belgium, drink fine French Champagne in the evenings and skip Reims.

We have already booked flights through CDG & in any case, our airline does not connect with Caen. We will sleep on the plane, but plan to stop somewhere after renting the car en route to Normandy. Have not yet decided where, perhaps Caen. Then the next day for the beaches. Then a stay perhaps in Deauville & on to Dieppe the next day, also a layover. I have planned to break the trip up this way before Ypres where we are spending 3 nights. On the 13th we will have 2 days before returning to Paris & I thought a stay in Reims would be nice. I think this is doable even though some of the legs could be around 3 hours in length. Agree? Or better suggestions?

Anyone know the answer to the need for an international drivers license? I have read differing reports. Last year in Spain I was told absolutely you will & then no one cared. (-: Thanks.

Americans are allowed to drive a rental car in France without an International Driving Permit (IDP) during their time in the country. Although an international driver's license in France isn't required by law, Auto Europe recommends that you obtain one before traveling abroad as it's an inexpensive document that can be very useful. The international drivers permit costs only $20. The link below will provide you information on how to apply.

https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

Thanks RJean.

Most posters on here, myself included, think that the drive from CDG to Caen is too long to be done on arrival day after a transatlantic flight. It is dangerous. Now, if you know that you sleep well on planes and if you can share the wheel, you could take your chances.
If you'd rather not : Giverny is a more reasonable stopover, so is Rouen (albeit at a stretch). Incidentally Rouen would be an OK base for Dieppe.

Thanks all.

I would not spend so much time driving. The problem is that Belgium and Normandy are on opposite sides of France. Don't forget that you have to spend the last night near CDG. I think two trips would be more enjoyable, one for Normandy/Champagne and one for many more war sites in Belgium, including their coast. You need to check for museum closing days while planning. There are a lot of specialty museums that may interest you.

You have to expect extra traffic and hotel loads around an anniversary like that. I'd also comment that it was very interesting to (coincidentally) be in Antwerp on the anniversary of its liberation - a different date than Armistice Day. When you get to Normandy, you will find a lot of posted dates of when xxxxx village was liberated.

I don't drive in Europe, but I've read tons of posts on this forum about the IDP. Folks who seem to know what they are talking about say France requires a French translation of your driver's license. The IDP takes care of that. If you don't have an IDP...

It's not just a question of whether the rental-car company will insist on seeing an IDP, though every now and then someone reports having been asked for one while picking up a car in a country where others haven't been asked to do so. The real issue is what will happen if you are stopped by the police (could be a spot check, or someone might bash into your car) and you don't have a legally-required document.

It sounds like your trip is less than 2 months away (and not next year). I've seen warnings here recently that the WWII area is very crowded around Armistice Day. That means it may be hard to find rooms now, traffic will be very heavy and parking may be a problem. Or do you already have reservations?

Yes a translation of your drivers license by a French government certified translator is required, or an IDP. It's the law.

Correct that no one cares, except the gendarmes, and yes they do check everyone when they set up a roadblock.

Prime roadblock times are Friday after work and Sunday afternoon, times people drink.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have some reservations already, just deciding about the first day & the last. And I'm off to get an IDP, just in case I need it!