Trip planning...Bayeux and Paris

Consider trying to fit in a stop at Arromanches, unless Overload goes there. See the picture on the June 6, BING page! Arromanches has the remains of the artificial harbor constructed for D-Day. It also has a wonderful little museum describing the harbor and invasion.

I also vote for a stop at Arromanche. The museum there is interesting with models of the still visible Mulberry Harbor as well as uniforms, arms and equipment. I think kids would be interested in seeing the artifacts after going on an Overlord tour. Though the museum in Caen is good, I preferred this one. Totally different experiences.

On Tuesday, don't drive back to CDG from MSM, it's on the 'wrong' side of Paris. Consider either
- dropping off the car in Rennes, checking the drop off fee, and taking the train to Paris (only 1.5 hours!). You'll save 3.5 hours of driving.
- dropping off at Paris Orly airport, which you'll pass by coming from MSM on the A11-A10 motorways, and take a 30-35€ cab to your accomodation.
- drop off at a Paris downtown location close to your hotel. If you deal with Boston traffic, Paris' won't be fun but it should be manageable.

This is the Overland itinerary:

MORNING: Longues-sur-Mer Battery – Omaha Beach – American Cemetery of Colleville – Pointe du Hoc.

AFTERNOON: Sainte-Mère-Eglise – Sainte-Mère-Eglise Museum – La Fière – DeGlopper Action – Utah Beach – Sainte Marie du Mont – Holdy Battery and First Aid Station – La Colombière Hospital – Hiesville General Taylor Headquarter – General Pratt Memorial – Angoville au Plain

Balso, thanks for the advice on coming back. I'm searching for alternate Paris lodging and will decide where to drop off based on where we are staying. Right now it's the Fred Hotel, since they had rooms. But it's not really what I want.

Unless you sleep much better on planes than most people, it's not a good idea to drive the day after an overnight flight, especially on unfamiliar highways. Given how little time you're spending in Paris, I'd suggest spending that first night there, or taking the train to either Bayeux or Vernon (near Giverny) for your first night before renting the car.

Under your original plan you wouldn't need a car at all. Under your modified plan you'll want one for MSM, and between Giverny and Bayeux, but not otherwise. But no need to return a car to CDG, a long way out of your way. There are car rental offices in various places west of central Paris, reached more easily from Normandy, or return it in Bayeux or Vernon and take the train in.

We had considered the train to Bayeux, but it looks like total trip time is about six hours to get there from CDG with train switches. A car to Giverny is under an hour and a half. Just seems less stressful. Yes, we'll be tired , but the train sounds daunting with kids. Am I wrong?

It would be helpful to know the flight schedule. If driving, I’d suggest cutting Giverny (do the kids care about it?) for driving safety reasons if you insist on driving. If you don’t have a car, you might cut MSM. This is an ambitious trip for such a short span of days. But it can be done.

Yes, it’s a drag to change train stations in Paris. But lots of people do it. How many passengers? How about taking a cab to the station for Bayeux from CDG? It just seems unnecessary to rent a car if you have an overlord tour. It ‘s really unpleasant to return a car in downtown Paris, by the way.

I feel you are shortchanging time in Paris, which will NOT be boring for the kids. It will be fun and enlightening for them.

We land at 10am. If we do Giverny, that's where we would spend the first night. Then drive to Bayeux the next afternoon. I don't want to drive all the way to Bayeux after an overnight flight.

Yes we will shortchange Paris, but we can return was my thought.

How's this change?

Land at CDG and take the Air France Bus to Porte Maillot. Spend night there, rent car in the morning. I've changed from the Fred Hotel (which I wasn't excited about) to Hotel Residence Foch, which is just south of Porte Maillot. We can rent and return our car there.

Listen, I think sleeping in Giverny is fine as a practical, driving safety decision - it's just a lost night (on a very short vacation) in a place with limited tourist opportunities. You may get there at 12:30 or 1PM. (Note: This is not a slam of Giverny, we went to Giverny by train as a daytrip, on our very first trip to Paris, seven nights near the Opera Garnier. We loved it. But not to spend a whole night.)

I don't think you are willing to change your destination list. That's certainly your right and your decision. But you need to think in detail about the consequences of your travel details. It sounds smart to not return the car inside Paris. But think about the seat-changing public transit overhead of returning the car at CDG: Rental shuttle, RER or bus to Paris, Metro to hotel? And you were worried about changing train stations to get to Bayeux! If there are two or more kids, I'd consider a taxi from CDG to the hotel, especially on a weekend. (Lighter traffic.)

If you had been to Europe before, you might feel more confident about train usage. A familiar, American-sounding car rental plan is comforting. And in fact, a car is very useful for Normandy and MSM. You probably should rent the car. But you are losing some options by doing so. (There is a tiny chance you'll have to accept a standard transmission despite your reservation.)

Here's another idea to consider. I hate changing hotels. But if you want to take the kids to Paris Disney ( ... not my favorite place), would you consider returning the car at Disney, sleeping there one night, and going to Paris for the remaining nights? That way, the train from Paris Disney deposits you downtown, ready to discover the city, in a well-rested state. Maybe someone who has been to Paris Disney can tell us if it's like an American car destination. I haven't been there, on eight stops in Paris.

Tim - the only part I can't change is Bayeux. We have a non refundable house and I booked Overlord Tour tickets. The rest can change. As for cars, my husband drives a manual...no issue there. We've also been to Europe three times. We've always relied on train travel. This would be our first trip with a car rental. If we were just staying in Paris, I'd never consider one.

Considering a taxi from CDG to a hotel near Porte Maillot for night one. Rent the car there the next morning, head out for Normandy, return the car to Porte Maillot, and begin the Paris portion.

Disney is not a definite. It's only if the kids choose it for their day. The boys LOVE history, but sometimes you need an amusement park or zoo.

I am puzzled by "visit Monet attractions" on day 2. Do you just mean the garden?

There is the cathedral in Rouen that he famously painted, but (1) it's in the wrong direction for Bayeux and (2) might not be that meaningful qua Monet unless one knows his work. (The Marmatton in Paris owns several of the cathedral paintings.)

I'd weigh alternatives to returning the car at deGaulle. (Why do that, anyway?) You are going to be pushing yourself so hard, anything you can do to reduce the logistical friction will be worth it.

Adam, yes the gardens. As for car rental, I'm leaning towards renting at Porte Maillot and spending arrival night there.

I updated my original post

I like your revised itinerary. Please add the Month and the Year. I'm not qualified to estimate the taxi fare, I wonder if it's a fixed rate? I might use public transit, but with x number of kids, the cab fare is entirely justified. I'd note that Porte Maillot has a public garden for the kids to run in, and you could visit the vert famous Versailles gardens nearby (without paying for the palace, I think ... ) for outdoor time in an historic and beautiful setting. (Note: We did not park in Versailles, we took the RER.)

I think many Americans over-prioritize the Normandy beaches, but that is an individual decision. In my case, it's influenced by the fact that my father and uncles did not happen to serve in European postings. I'm questioning two nights in Bayeux, because the extra night there is a night that could be spent in Paris-if necessary, at the Porte Maillot hotel, visiting that end of Paris, like Arc de Triomphe or Parc Monceau area and museums. I liked the Tapestry, but it could be underwhelming for young children. And Bayeux, while pretty, is far from the nicest old town in France. (We hate changing hotels, but your number of hotels will not change.) We did not spend the night at MSM, but our itinerary was completely different-we slept three nights in Dinard, which I am NOT recommending for you. It's good to have the car for MSM, but I found little to do for a family, near MSM other than MSM. Unless you count the Alligator Farm (no kidding ... ) on the "strip" of tacky attractions on the way to MSM! But you are right that it's quite far from Paris. I'd mention that Dinan, while touristy, is much more attractive to children than Bayeux. There are (I may be overestimating your interest in gardening) some public chateau gardens in the area, on rural roads.

Again, I'm not slamming MSM. It's a memorable "must". But it is surrounded by tourist infrastructure, if in a pretty setting. And it's easier by car from Normandy than any other way.

What is MSM?

MSM--Mont Saint-Michel, I'm very late to the discussion, but I was very happy with our choice to go to MSM. But, I would agree, the surrounding tourist area, is like a mini Disney. I was not impressed by the strip of restaurants and we had our worst meal in France at one of those restaurants. What I do highly recommend is staying off the island and arriving late afternoon and making a trip to the island for some photography when its more quiet. We also got some beautiful pictures from the mainland over the farmland with MSM in the background. Then the following morning we left our hotel (2 miles from shuttle lot) at about 7:45 and headed to MSM and got to the abbey a bit before it opened. We had a lovely time touring MSM and left at about noon when the crowds were building.

And let me plug Arromanches again. You could probably fit it in the day you visit the beaches. You can actually see remnants of the artificial harbor.

We will visit Arromanches. Thanks for the advice.

Here now. Landed this morning in Paris, rented a car, and drove to some tiny village just outside of Vernon for night one. We were supposed to arrive tomorrow, but flights looked better today. We fly standby....

CDG customs was easy. Lines were long so they allowed non EU people to use the EU lines. That really helped move things along. Airport was easy to navigate. Hertz car rental was very ineffy, but we got our car and we are on our way.