Hello. I will be traveling with one other adult on December 6, 2015 from Venice to Bayeux. I will need a rental car in Bayeux for touring. What is the best way to make this happen? Easy Jet from Venice to ? and then train from ? to Bayeux? It was also recommended to me to stay in Honfleur.
We plan to stay in Bayeux or Honfleur Dec 6, 7 & 8th. Our Normandy tours are scheduled from 8:30 - 5pm Dec 7 &8th in Bayeux. On the 9th, we will need a train to Paris. Any advice on all of this?
Thank you for your time and expertise.
Julianna
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35348 posts
Normally the route to suggest it would be to fly from Venice to Paris then take a train to Rouen and then hire a car there and use that for your stay in Normandy. However on a Sunday it will be difficult for you to rent a car anywhere other than the very largest locations. Suggest that you consider a flying to Charles de Gaulle Paris and hiring a car there and driving to Normandy.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I agree with Nigel. And the reason he suggests Charles de Gaulle rather than Orly is that CDG is much closer to Normandy.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8463 posts
I second Nigel's suggestions, with a couple additional things. If you wanted to take the train a bit farther and/or drive less, Honfleur might be a potential car pick-up location, or farther west in Caen.
We had Bayeux as a base for our visit in 2008, and it was ideal!
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35348 posts
I misspoke earlier. I did mean Caen, not Rouen. I still stick with CDG for the best chance of getting a car on Sunday. If you do choose Caen or other smaller location, check carefully the opening hours.
Posted by
PA
2978 posts
I'll offer a different suggestion, as since you are on full day tours out of Bayeux both days there it would seem that a car is not a necessity .
You can get an Air France non-stop from Venice (Marco Polo) at 9:55 and arrive at CDG 11:45AM, more than enough time to get to Gare St. Lazare and take a direct train to Bayeux. These trains take 2'9", you have trains at 4:10PM, 5:45PM and 7:10PM, lodging in Bayeux is a short distance from the train station and the tours leave from the center of town (and as an alternative, there is another AF flight leaving 12:45PM, arriving 2:35PM). For the return to Paris on December 9, just take the reverse train from Bayeux to St. Lazare, on weekdays this train runs essentially every two hours.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15729 posts
I agree with Larry about not needing a car if you are signed up for 2 full-day tours. Some of the tours will pick you up at your hotel as well, so check to see what your company offers. I was in Bayeux last week and it is a very walkable town.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Air France AF1127
09:55 Depart VCE Venice Marco Polo
11:45 Arrive CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle
IC 3313
16:10 Depart Paris St Lazare
18:19 Arrive Bayeux