The Abbey on Mont Ste Michele

I stayed once, and it was totally worth it. Don't let people talk you out of it (they will try). It is not the same as staying off island (which I have also done). Just being able to wander around the island and its little pathways anytime you walk out of your room, at any hour of the day, is incredible! And some of the best views are on the island, or just outside of the ramparts on the causeway—which is an easy walk from the hotels on the island. Totally different vibe once the masses have left. I don't think there is any way to stay in the abbey itself. I stayed at Le Mouton Blanc. Basically, one company has a monopoly on the hotels and restaurants on the island. No competition means very basic and very expensive. Still worth it IMHO. If I ever get the chance to go back, I'll stay on the island again.

Agree with Pharmacy Phil 100%. After about 8 pm the crowds are gone. Being able to walk the streets without the crowds is magical and worth it. The service at the Abbey in the morning (7am ish?) is as close to Heaven as you will get in this world. You’ll get there just as the sun is rising. It was a highlight of our trip,

These days with the tarmac road running right the way to MSM it doesn’t feel like an island. It was far more magical in the days when it was a tidal causeway and you could only get on and off at certain times of day. I guess if you didn’t know what it was like before, you wouldn’t appreciate the difference, but it’s been ruined IMO. Sorry, but it was the biggest disappointment of my 6 week holiday in France and yes I was there after the crowds had gone too. During the day, it’s a scrum. I was there mid June, so not peak season.

The restaurants were the worst quality and most expensive of our trip as they aren’t expecting anybody to return often, so it felt as though they didn’t care, just fleece the mugs that were visiting.

You can’t drive down there yourself, you have to park in the car park about a mile short and take the shuttle bus (there’s a fee and long queues) or you can walk it quicker. Some of the alleyways are narrow and steep and can be slippery if it has rained, so take care.

Yes its worth staying on the island. I don't think you can actually stay in the Abbey itself. Hotel rooms are hidden in the buildings on the mount, so its all close. There's no need to worry about navigating. There is only one road (pedestrian only) going up the hill with the Abbey at the top. Everything is along this road.

Jeanette, you asked about staying at the Abbey. AFAIK, the abbey (which is perhaps 5% of the island) does not have sleeping accomodations. There are a number of traditional hotels on the island, and a larger number of recently-build, chain-style hotels on the mainland within easy walk of the island. There are, naturally, hotels and B&B's in the countryside around the island, but most of them would require a rental car.

You may wish to use the Search box here to read some of the many, many posts that cover past comments on questions like yours. There is a wide range of opinions about staying on, near, or beside MSM, or just stopping there on a fuller day. Be aware that some discussions of MSM include comments from people who were there before the modern "access" construction by a giant global infrastructure company, to increase the capacity while (hopefully?) limiting the impact right beside the short bridge to the island.

We parked in the vast modern (pay) parking lot, and walked to and from the little bridge to the island, which is a considerable distance from the parking lots. It is a very level walk, along a very modern commercial "strip", purpose-built for MSM tourism. I wouldn't swear, but I believe that diesel busses from the parking lot to the shorter-ride electric shuttle bus stop are free. I don't remember paying for the electric bus when we took it for our exit from the attraction.

Jeannestp,

We stayed the night on MSM three years ago and would highly recommend it. The pros for staying on the island are the lack of crowds at night, enjoying the sunset and sunrise from an extraordinary location and being able to fully explore such a one of a kind place. The cons are minimalist hotels, bad food options and no view of the island (compared to staying off island). I will say my two hour walk by myself the night I stayed on the island is probably the best night I have ever enjoyed in Europe (eight trips). Enjoy!

So worth it to stay on the island. We drove from Bayeux to the island and consider it a bucket list once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was magical! We parked our car in a lot, locked it up and carried a smaller bag with just pj’s to take with us. The tourist buses were leaving just as we arrived so we immediately toured the abbey first. By the time we got through the island was all our own. We stayed at Hotel La Croix Blanche.....ate dinner there and had a wonderful cozy room for the night. Just as darkness came we looked out our window and the lights on the island bridge were lovely....so we threw coats on over our pjs and ran down to the bridge to get beautiful island night shots we would never see again! It was a night I will never forget! We had breakfast the next morning, walked to our car and left. Be aware that you need to get your room ASAP....they only have so many and they go fast! An entire Rick Steves tour group had taken most of the rooms in our hotel......they must secure them early so get yours before they do!

We regretted not staying on the island. We did have dinner at the hotel nearest the Abbey (the Abbey is not a place you can stay) It was not terribly expensive and was fine. It was not a fabulous dining experience, but it was fine and similar in price and quality to many meals we have had in France over the years. I seem to recall we paid aroudn 25 Euros for a 3 course meal; I had lamb.

Left you a lodging recommendation on your other post. Basically you park and walk across the causeway to the island - which is small. Not hard to navigate - just follow the main drag up - Abbey at the top. We had dinner there one evening and then went back the next day to visit the Abbey and explore the island.

It is worth it to stay on the island. We had dinner and stayed at La Mere Poulard and joined a tour in English the next day of the Abbey which I would also recommend.

I'd agree with staying on the island in most cases. I really enjoyed camping (in a tent) walking distance from Carcassonne for just that reason - being able to walk around in a medieval environment when few are around at night.

The difference for me was, literally, the price of an omelette. I walked around late afternoon and expected to eat dinner then stay into the evening. An omelette, not an entire dinner, was between 35 and 50 euro. Too much for me. As much as I'd love to stay on MSM, I'm not sure I'm ready to budget for it. The secondary reason was I wanted to watch the tide go out but low tide was at night and it was forecast to be overcast - so no moon, just dark, and nothing to see.

Instead I stayed at the HI hostel in Cancale (I really prefer travelling on a low budget, not just for saving money. Hard to explain to most Americans). The architecture was 70's (maybe 80's) but a great sea view. It was fascinating. The Hostel itself was like visiting a commune in the 70's. Referring to lifestyle - vegetable garden for a yard, chickens, hippies running the place - nothing else.

I ate at a restaurant/bar with a sea view in Cancalle. The oysters were the best, the price wasn't at all expensive and there was nothing touristy about it. The view of the tide going out was interesting too, something like a 25 foot change in sea level. Boats that were floating in bays when I arrived were lying on their sides on dry land when I left.