My husband & I will be in Paris for 6days last week of November. We have been once before for short visit with tour group. We are debating whether we should take day long tours to both Versailles & Normandy/Omaha Beach/American cemetery. I think because of time constraints & the likely hood of inclement weather, we should not use up 2 full days visiting them & save them for another visit. What are your thoughts & would one over the other be more advisable if we decide to do one? Also, recommendations on tour operator would be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
359 posts
I think you should just do Versailles. The Normandy beaches are amazing but there is so much to see there I think it's worth staying overnight up there for a couple days. Versailles is an easier day trip.
Posted by
OP
Caldwell, NJ, USA
24 posts
I thought since daylight will be short & most likely we will be walking around in the rain, that neither site would be advisable in winter months?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
How do you know it's going to rain on Day X ?
If Versailles rings your bell, scoot out there on a clear day, it doesn't have to be a hard-scheduled event.
The Contentin, not so much. You need at least a couple of days regardless if the weather.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7158 posts
I agree that you should stick to a daytrip to Versailles and skip the Normandy beaches - they deserve at least 2 days and an overnight. The short daylight hours should not affect a trip to Versailles but definitely would make a day trip to Normandy inadvisable. As Ed mentioned, Versailles is easily done as a "it's a nice day, lets go" kind of place, does not need to be planned ahead of time unless your other days in Paris are so tightly planned as to make it so. The gardens at Versailles may not be as spectacular in November but the palace would be wonderful and if the day is not too cold or rainy, the Trianons and Marie's Hamlet will still be enchanting.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
If it's a nice fall day, the gardens of Versailles could be wonderful. Keep it on the maybe list and see how the weather is. Normandy would probably be best saved for another time.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
2trips to Normandy. Dec weather was beautiful and we were almost the only people there. Late nov trip following year was cool and a little rainy.
I would save it if I were certain to return to this area , if not I would take what I could get. I would choose Normandy over Versailles.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I would normally vote Normandy over Versailles .. but not in winter and not as a day trip.
Versailles.. no one should bother taking a tour there. too much money and not enough time, most daytrips to Versailles are half days.. and Versailles would be better enjoyed as a leisurely visit.. so you could enjoy all the sections. not just the palace and part of the gardens.. And most importantly , most tours you have to book and pay in advance and there is no rain cancellation .. !! And I would not want to go in the rain. So easy to wake up in the morning.. see the weather is good.. hop the local train ( RER) for 4 euros and go.