Trip Itinerary--feedback and suggestions welcome!

I'll just mention that the Olympics are in Paris next summer in case that was not on your radar. The dates are Fri, Jul 26, 2024 – Sun, Aug 11, 2024 so it is likely people will start arriving well before.

I understand wanting to save Paris for the end, but if your trip dates are firm, I'd probably do Paris first (because of the Olympic crowds), then end with 1-2 nights there.

How many nights were you thinking about spending in Bayeux?

I can't specifically comment on Paris to Bayeux, however in April we landed in Rome after an overnight flight and made our way to Sorrento the same day via train. In hindsight, we were in no condition to think effectively for even minor issues that came up. We should have stayed in Rome for the day and made our way to Sorrento the next day when we were fresh and alert. It all worked out, but we just weren't alert.

As for any consideration of renting a car that same day? That would be a big no; you'll be in no condition to drive safely.

Yes, the Olympics are on my radar, but I am hopeful that being 3 weeks early will be OK....but it is also why I want to book everything very early. As of now, the plan is to be in Bayeux for 3 nights--hopefully staying at Villa Lara. If you have any other suggestions for any of our destinations please feel free of offer them! In Paris, I am considering the Marais area.

We just returned from Italy too..and thank you Allan for the restaurant suggestion in Sorrento, it was magical! No, we would not drive, but just get on a train and stare out the window. I suppose we have to do something, so why not move closer to our intended destination. (my thinking--maybe flawed)

I can understand a reluctance to rent a car, but honestly, trying to do both Normandy and the Loire in such a limited time, it can make things a lot easier. Otherwise you need to stay in a larger center in each locale and buy guided tours or depend on sometimes limited public transportation to get where you want to go. You might consider going to Bayeux by train, renting a car there, then dropping it off in St Pierre des Corps (Tours) before training back to Paris.

"... consider going to Bayeux by train, renting a car there, then dropping it off in St Pierre des Corps (Tours) before training back to Paris." I was going to say the same, except return your car at Orly Airport. The only hitch could be if the Bayeux rental location doesn't have an automatic, or whatever type of car you're looking for. The rental agency opening hours could also be limited since June 29-30 falls on a weekend.

Excellent advice. I had been thinking of the same as an option. It just depends on my husband's willingness to do it. I do not know if I would have the stamina. How is driving in France? Having just gotten back from Italy, I know I would never attempt driving there!

We've driven around most of Western Europe and parts of the UK, and have never gotten ourselves into any trouble or gotten a single ticket. You just need to know how to read the traffic signs and know the rules of the road in the country you're in. And avoid driving in cities when possible. The only thing that makes Italy different are the dreaded ZTLs. And even those are easily avoided if you take the time to learn about them. We didn't find driving around rural France to be much different than driving around our countryside. Except the Loire is prettier and the signs are different.

So ages 72 and 71 chirping in here. My husband is reluctant to rent a car, I understand, but we did for Normandy. Many on this site do not recommend trying to get to Bayeux upon arrival. I recommend doing Paris up arrival, then Loire Valley leaving Normandy to the end. You could do a short car rental in Loire to get around. We trained it to Mantes la Jolie outside Paris and rented our car there. Car rental right there at the train station. We stopped at Giverny (my favorite) and one night in Rouen (not my favorite), and Honfleur. We had 2 days to drive around Bayeux before joining our bike group. The car rental in Bayeux 3 years ago was in a gas station with limited hours and 20 minutes outside town.. We returned our car to Caen where you could grab a train to CDG airport. You could spend the night at the airport. If you are flying out of Orly, I would flip Loire and Nomandy to easier access to airport.
Side note: we rented from Eurocar. The car would stall out, we called the number we were given and they were there in 1 hour, (Honfleur) There was nothing wrong with the car, the mat had been pushed under the clutch preventing it from engaging at times. I was very impressed with their response and my husband was very embarrassed!
I loved Normandy!

We returned our car to Caen where you could grab a train to CDG airport. You could spend the night at the airport.

No direct train service between CDG and Caen or other Normandy cities. Even though it would greatly simplify things for all those on this forum, and despite our repeated pleas, SNCF still hasn't done it. ;-) You have to go into Paris, which is why you're getting advice to start your itinerary there.

Driving anywhere from CDG on your jetlagged arrival day is a bad idea. If you want to go straight from CDG to Bayeux, take a taxi to Gare St-Lazare in Paris, then a train to Bayeux (via Caen). The taxi will cost 50+ euros. There's a cheaper combination of commuter rail (RER) and Metro, but I think you'll find the taxi is worth the extra when you're tired with luggage. No need to reserve ahead for the train, just get tickets at the station.

I think you'll find a car is very helpful in Normandy and almost necessary in the Loire. Driving in France is easy and fun except in big cities, though autoroute tolls can add up. You could return it at Orly (or even CDG if you did Paris beforehand), but it would be easier to return in Amboise and take the train back to Paris.

We stayed at the Hotel d'Argouges while on the Paris & Heart of France tour. It is a lovely hotel with beautiful garden seating.

Renting a car in France

My sister and I are in our 70’s and have always rented a car in France without any issues. If you limit yourself to taking the train from destination to destination you will end up in the large cities ( which we avoid ) and will miss what France is most famous for: charming small villages.

As others have said, give yourselves an overnight at the airport on the night you arrive and start out fresh and rested the next day.

We have always rented a car at CDG using Sixt, Hertz, and AutoEurope. I am a Gold member with Hertz but cannot recommend them for CDG. Be rue to rent an automatic transmission. Plug your smart phone into the car and use your favorite navigation app. We used Waze this year and it worked very well even directing us flawlessly out of the airport.

Avoid the larger A roads, the France toll road freeways, unless you need to get from one area to the next in less than three or four hours. Using the A roads you will miss out on most of the scenery. Use the D roads. Pack Michelin maps for the departments you will be visiting and keep them in your car as back up.

Also buy a map of Les Plus Beaux Villages ( the most beautiful villages of France ). Do your online research and select which villages you want to visit. Look up the driving distance between each and then plan your day accordingly picking one with a nice selection of restaurants to stop for lunch.

Review the France driving/parking signs ahead of time and always watch for ‘Payant’ painted on the street and pay at the blue pay station putting your receipt on the car dash.

Jill

Whether you rent a car or not, I highly recommend taking a one-day small-group tour of invasion sites. You'll learn a great deal from the driver/guide, and he/she will move you very efficiently from one stop to the next. Unless you are experts on the invasion, simply driving around will be far less informative and interesting.

I am back and forth over this issue. We are packing a lot into 8 full days in France. If we stay at Villa Lara in Bayeux, we can book a full day trip to the Normandy beaches, and a full day excursion to Mont. St. Michel--right from the hotel. I am thinking this might be the easiest path, perhaps the most cost effective too, if you add in the cost of the rental on top of a guide. Also, all the rental cars I could find appeared to be stick shift, which is a deal breaker, since I have not driven one of those in more than 40 years!

We never have had problems finding cars with automatic transmissions in France. Maybe it’s the Olympics?

We'll be in France Feb-April and then have to dash out to avoid our penalty for length of stay. We're being warned about our time frame in Paris because of all the construction. As this is our 4th time there, I'm not worried. We plan to take the train everywhere and rent cars locally. We've never found driving a problem in Europe. Now though, you need a visa starting next year. 3 days in Paris is ambitious and unrealistic considering the time of year you'll be there.

If you want to stay in Le Marais, we'll be staying in a hotel there La Chambre du Marais. It's in the heart of Le Marais. Finding short term rentals now in Paris seems to be more of challenge and I've looked at 5-6 different sites (some recommendations from the forum), and there are rules about being there for business or as a student now. Anyway, day trips may be an answer for you on your visit to Bayeux and Normandy. There are plenty of private guides too that we now use from time to time. Whatever you do, have a blast.