Trip Report for our family of 4. (Our daughter is 22 and son is 17.)
Our flight from Atlanta, departing at 11:39 pm Friday, arrived approximately 20 minutes early. We had no trouble getting through immigration, waiting in line 10-15 minutes. By the time we got to baggage claim, our 2 checked bags were there. We picked them up, got cash at the ATM machine and left the secured area, stopping at the tourism desk to purchase 3 2-day museum passes (our 17 YO didn't need one), and getting carnets for the metro. We headed for the Hertz office and picked up our diesel, automatic Peugeot minivan. We used the in-car GPS, supplemented by my husband's CoPilot App, which worked without cellular data, allowing us to keep data usage down. It took us about an hour and a half to drive to Rouen, where we had booked 2 rooms at $95 Euro each at the Hotel de la Cathedrale. Driving around the heart of the historic district is a bit tricky due to the many one way streets, etc., but we eventually found the hotel and parked nearby in a garage. The location is fantastic, within easy walking distance of both Notre Dame Cathedral and the Church of Saint Maclou, which is Flambouyant Gothic style.
The hotel public spaces are attractive and inviting. The guest rooms, at least the two we stayed in, met my 3 criteria: clean, good beds and quiet. Our rooms face an interior courtyard, so all I can hear is birdsong.
We walked around both cathedrals last night, ate Italian (the smell sucked us in!) at a street side bistro Tavola Calda Bistrot. Food was terrific and reasonable. We then walked around more and finished by popping into a small market to get bottled water, a bottle of wine, corkscrew and a bottle of local hard cider. The square across from the other cathedral was packed with people dining and mostly (drinking) at long tables outside in a big square. We seem like the only tourists, which is great. It is delightfully chilly! It was 95 F when we left Alabama, so it was quite welcome to step out of CDG to temps in the mid-60s. We turned in around 10 pm, though it was still light out. Seven and a half hours later, everybody else is still asleep.
More later.
Posted by
Boston
11 posts
thats great. we family of 4 (11&14 boys) just got here yesterday as well. the whole CDG experience was very quick and positive. we end up taking a taxi to Montparnasse for 55 euro fixed price, including luggages, which is roughly the same as taking public transportation. We landed CDG at 7:30 and arrived at hotel by 9:30AM! Hotel was able to check us in so we set out for a walk to Luxumberg Garden/LatinQuarter and Notre Dame. By 2pm, Eveyone is jetlagged and sleepy so we took a taxi back to the hotel for 8 euro, which again is roughly the price of 4 subway tickets. I think we will take more taxi if distance is within 30-45 min walk even the metro station is 3 mins away from the hotel. We slept till 6 and went out to a small restaurant near Catacombe (Le Vie De'Ange), excellent food and very friendly and English speaking owner. Overall, the only issue we have is the the on and off rain which could be heavy at times.
Posted by
Boston
11 posts
btw, our hotel implemented security check. after getting in and out if the hotel a few times, its getting pretty annoying. also, we previously used google maps for navigation and it didn't use much data at all, much better than any car gps!
Posted by
Birmingham, Alabama
17 posts
Sherri thanks for the amazing update!! I am from Birmingham, Al as well!! I leave for France next Wednesday I will be traveling with my aunt and cousin. Our first 4 days will be spent in Paris!! Then we are heading about 3 hours south (via train) of Paris to spend another 4 days in Chambon Sur Voueize which is the village where my great grandmother was born and raised. From there we head to the Lorie Valley and then to Normandy via rental car. I am excited to hear more about your trip!
Posted by
OP
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Peter, sounds like your trip is going well. Carmen, how fun! BTW, I have continued this in the Trip Reports section, which is really where I should have posted to begin with, as I am not asking questions. We arrived in Amboise yesterday afternoon, and love this town!
Posted by
Franklin, TN, USA
874 posts
Just completed this same trip 2 weeks ago and loved it. I am from Knoxville and we found the temperature in France delightful. We LOVED Amboise....stayed at Manior Les Minimes and felt like we were going home every night after visiting the castles. We rented a car and enjoyed the beautiful French country roads. Rouen surprised us as to its size. The cathedral was incredible. It is very hot here today so enjoy the cool!
Posted by
12 posts
I will agree on Amboise being lovely town to visit. This is a cozy village oozing with medieval charm, which is situated along a river with a picturesque castle perched above the town. Many cafés, restaurants and shops abound, many housed in structures that look as if they may have been around since Leonardo Da Vinci lived up the hill. Temperatures are starting to get warmer in the central and southern regions, unusual for this time of year (Paris had been cooler until now). Regarding car rentals, I noticed that when I needed to hire a car on short notice, using a site like expedia.com saved me loads when compared to using sites based in Europe.
Posted by
Coos Bay, Oregon
25 posts
Thank you for all the great info! I'm taking my two children to France in August to some of the same places you're going! happy travels! Catherine
Posted by
OP
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Hi Catherine -- I am adding info day by day over under the trip reports section. Hope you have fun!
Posted by
Chicagoland
18 posts
Quick question: which terminal did you arrive in? Our flight lands in Terminal 2 and I've read that the museum passes are sold in every terminal but that one.
Thank you very much btw for sharing your experiences thus far. We'll be there in 4 weeks and anything I can find out to make it easier for my husband (he hates to travel) is much appreciated.
Regards
Posted by
OP
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Hello myjunkmail123! Yes -- arrived in Terminal 2 and there is definitely a place to buy them there. In baggage claim there is an ATM, then you proceed to your right, out of the secure area, and then almost immediately there is a round sort of side room with a long desk with clerks. We have gotten museum passes and metro tickets there twice now. They are very nice and, like almost everyone who works in tourism-related jobs, they are multilingual.
Posted by
Chicagoland
18 posts
Merci Beaucoup!
It's nice to know that I can get everything that I need right there (Museum Pass and the carnets).