We will be in Paris next year for a week and are leaning towards a few days in Normandy first. We really didn’t plan on driving but it looks like that is the best option. Is it possible or recommended to drive through Normandy and then drop rental car after Mount St Michel in Rennes, then take fast train back to Paris?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5430 posts
Sure. Some would even recommend taking the train to Caen and renting the car there.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
It would help to have a few more details on your trip. What are you planning to see there, and why is driving "the best option".
I agree with the previous suggestion that renting in Caen is probably a better option. There are also some car rental options in Bayeux. Note that each driver will require an International Driver's Permit.
AFAIK, all the trains serving that area are TER Regional trains, so you probably won't be able to get a "fast train". As I recall, travel time to Gare St. Lazare is about 2.5 hours (depending on your departure point).
Posted by
OP
4 posts
I think the car might be best because of all the possible stops at different beaches and maybe stopping by Giverney on the way. It will also give us the option of a private tour guide in our car. I will checkout other rental car options on the way so we won’t have to drive anywhere near Paris. I have driven on trips to Australia, Germany, Italy, and Japan but just don’t want to do it anymore.
Thanks for the advice.
Posted by
Indiana
923 posts
We rented in Caen. Car rental agencies are located within a block of the train station. Check their websites carefully, as the agencies are usually closed on Sunday, and they may take a long lunch break on the other days. Our private guide used his own car, however it we needed the rental to visit the sites on our own following our tour.
Posted by
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
55 posts
Caen has better selection than Bayeux. Bigger town. If you want to do Giverny or some other stop close to Paris you might just rent in Paris and return there. Not sure the train to Caen is much faster than driving. I'd say plan it out and see how much time you will waste driving back to Caen and training back. If it's the closest spot to Paris then might be a good option.
Not sure you can do much else besides Mont Saint Michel in a day. We started from Bayeux area and took a whole day to get there, tour, and back. No special mud flat tour either, just the abbey. A lot of walking to get from parking lot to the abbey jtself. Of course that's part of the fun approaching it and making it to the top.
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1227 posts
I've rented in Rennes and dropped off in Caen. Never used or needed an IDL. Rennes is definitely closer to MSM than Caen.