My wife, two kids 2 and under and grandparents will be spending a week in Paris for a work conference. We'll be in France an additional week, but haven't decided where to go. So far the only requests are a DDay beach tour and to see some chateaus(but not necessarily tour them if it's a pain with kids). Any suggestions for nice central place to stay and take day trips from to do both? Any other sites that would be reasonable and worth doing in the area with kids? Thanks.
Posted by
Chicago
7850 posts
You will have to stay in two places to take day trips that would include DDay and castles.
2 nights in Bayeux for DDay and the rest in Paris for the castles. Or stay a couple of nights in Amboise or Blois for the castles
Posted by
Washington DC
27122 posts
We normally urge folks wanting to see D-Day sites to take a van tour, but with two such young children, I don't think that's a good idea. I don't even know that the van-tour operators would allow such young children on the trips they offer to the public. But doing it on your own without specialized knowledge just seems like it wouldn't provide a lot of bang for the buck. You'd need four round-trip train tickets to Bayeux or Caen (I'm guess that such young children don't need train tickets but don't know it for a fact), then a rental car. It would cost a bit more, but a private guided tour would be better. You'd get the benefit of the guide's knowledge as well as his logistical smarts. Honestly, unless your family is seriously interested in Normandy (not just trying to check off a box on a list of sights), I don't think this trip is the time to tackle it.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4862 posts
Agree that you would need 2 separate stays 1 for the DDAY beaches (Bayeux) and 1 for the chateaux (I'd recommend Amboise).
Not sure that even a private van tour would take such young kids, but if you have car seats with you, then that would be my recommendation for the DDAY beaches.
To get to Amboise and travel to the chateaux you'd have to rent a large enough van to accommodate 6 people plus 2 car seats and luggage (and strollers?). Will you be bringing your car seats with you? Then you could turn in the van at the Tours train station and train into Paris. There's just no getting around the complications that go hand in hand with travelling with small kids.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks all. We do plan to rent a vehicle and drive after the first week in Paris with our own car seats and 1 stroller. Considering just myself and grandfather going on the DDay tour since we're the most interested and it won't disrupt the 2yr old's schedule. Someone had suggested Amboise to my wife too so it looks like there's a consensus.
Posted by
Washington DC
27122 posts
I think that's a very good plan: Just the ones especially interested in Normandy make that trip. I recommend that you take the train up to Bayeux late on the day before your tour. A lot of the van trips leave from Bayeux. The trip should end early enough that you can travel back to Paris after the tour. Do check on storing your luggage, though. I assume your Bayeux hotel will be willing to hold it for you while you are on the tour, but best to be sure.
Currently, on weekdays the last two trains from Bayeux leave at 6:35 PM and 8:09 PM. I am doubtful that you'd be able to catch the 6:35 after allowing time to walk back to your hotel, pick up your luggage, and get to the train station. The tour ending times are subject to traffic considerations.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3046 posts
With the kids, I sincerely doubt they would have any interest in D-day. They would have interest in the beach. Divide your forces - those interested in D-day, take a tour. The rest take the kids to the beach. Sounds like you already figgered this out.