France Itinerary

If you will be going back to Paris later in the Year with your Mother. drop one day in Paris (no trip to Giverny this time) and add it to Normandy/Mont St Michel (maybe enough time to do Bateux tapestry). Not that it means anything, but Giverny to me seems like the place to visit with your mother (yes i have been there). My mother was nuts about gardens

Linnae Whilst the Fondation Claude Monet opens to the public on 1st April, I would be concerned that you may not be able to take in properly the atmosphere of the Garden so early in the year. I note that the Impressionism Garden (separately run) doesn't open until 1st May. Would you be better off going later in the Spring or Summer? I don't remember what advice was given to your previous posting but if it hasn't yet been said I suggest that one day to do the D-Day sites is tight, particularly if you are car free. The sites are spread out over a large area with poor public transit. Most are not go-in, absorb, come-out type places, they involve walking and interaction. The last time we went we spent nearly 3 hours alone walking around the British Cemetery at Bayeaux. Our visit to the museum and beach at Arromanches took best part of a morning. Is it feasible to leave Paris early in the morning and hit both the War sites and Mont St. Michel ...? Yes Is it feasible to leave Paris early in the morning and hit both the War sites and Mont St. Michel with enough time to enjoy them? Not really unless all you want to do is check them off a list. That's only my opinion, YMMV.

Thanks for the thoughts, Nigel. As a matter of fact I actually will be back in Paris this summer with my mom for five days. We're definitely planning on going to Giverny then as well. I'm teaching abroad at the moment, so I'm taking this particular trip over my Easter break.

My family will be in France the same time. We are planning 2 days in Normandy and I fear that may be tight based upon our plans and feedback I have received. We are leaving Paris and heading to Normandy on the 21st as well. We are renting a car and I have decided to skip Giverny and Monets Garden due to the time of year and to allow more time in Normandy. We will spend that day stopping in Rouen and Honfleur. We are planning to visit Caen museum the next morning and an afternoon tour out of the museum (5 hours) to see the beaches and cemetary. I have read some good reviews about that tour and 5 hours seems good to us. We are not "tour" people, more do it ourselves type, but I don't want to leave the area withour gaining some information we wouldn't get on our own. Our teenage son is a history buff. I think it will be more time effective as well. That will take our whole day. I have done lots of research and a few postings here and feel like to properly see the area we must do some kind of a tour. Our second day will be Mont St. Michel and St. Malo if time allows then heading to Amboise for the night in the Loire Valley. We will only have Sunday to visit a castle or two before heading back to hotel for the night. We plan to visit Chenonceau as my daughter studied that in French class and built a small version for a class project. Would like more time there but something has to give. Have a great time and maybe we will cross paths. Happy travels.

I was going to say, Save Normandy for your 2nd trip, when you have more time and the weather is nicer. But Brian's suggestion makes sense too.