Planning a trip to France in March. Thinking about 8 days in Paris (includes day trips to Versailles & Chartre) and plan on the 6 day museum pass, 2 nights in Mont St Michele, 2 in St Malo, 4 in Dinan, 1 at CDG. Will be using public transportation hence the 2 nights rather than one. Is it best to start in Paris or should we end there? Suggestions?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Flying Calif to Paris is already a long and tiring "day", if you add the time and effort to haul yourself and your baggage all the way to Mont St Michel, using public transportation--that doesn't sound like a good plan.
The train doesn't go all the way to Mont St Michel, you have to switch to a bus to complete the trip.
That's a lot of hauling of luggage from CDG to Paris, onto the train at Paris, off the train, on the bus, etc--when jet lagged. This can be avoided by doing Paris at the beginning.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I'm with Steve, maybe, at least if leaving Paris until last would save you from spending the night at deGaulle.
I'd suggest spending your first day either in Chartres or Bayeux.
Chartres is one of your day trips anyway, and Bayeux is convenient to Mont St. Michel.
Both are charming and interesting in their own rights.
There are alas no direct TGVs to either, and the trip will not be tons of fun after your flight. But if it gains you another night in Paris I think it is worth considering.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1925 posts
We really enjoyed Dinan, but I can't imagine what you will find to do there for four days with no car. Rouen and Bayeux are both interesting spots, as are Honfleur and Giverny---I would add one or two of those and cut Dinan to two nights.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
689 posts
Start in Paris. That means you can go right to your hotel and not have to deal with the hassle of more travel while tired and jet lagged.
You really aren't renting a car for any of this? I agree with the above poster, I can't imagine 4 nights in Dinan without one. It's a cute town but you can see it in 2 hours. It's easy to drive in Brittany and Normandy and you're really constrained without one.
Posted by
Lake Worth, Florida, USA
101 posts
I agree, start with Paris. Iy will take you a couple of days to get free of jet lag. We took the train into the city from CDG checked in to our apartment and we out and walked. We were in bed by 9:30 that first night but up early the next day. After seeing Paris the countryside is a wonderful change.
Posted by
OP
Martinez, CA, USA
1562 posts
Thanks to all for your suggestions! Still planning on starting in Paris. Dinan now has three nights instead of four. Thanks to your suggestions we're now thinking about a car for the countryside. As an aside, earlier this year we spent 17 days in Italy, arriving in Rome, train to Tiburtina, bus to Sienna (although we did nap & miss a lot of the countryside), check into hotel & out to Il Campo to climb the clock tower and explore, bed early to awaken ready to go. We spent 5 days in Sienna with a day trip to S.Gimingano, 5 in Florence & 7 in Rome and relied on public transportation for the entire trip. We thought we could do the same in France but it may not work as well. Thanks again for your suggestions.