Paris and Normandy

We really liked Bayuex for the atmosphere and the tapestry, but if you are looking for a surgical strike from Paris, it might make more sense to stay in Caen for easy transport to the museum. We did a D-Day tour through the museum and it was wonderful. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't that hard to get to Caen from Bayeux, I just don't know how much time you have.

My wife and I just returned from a week in Paris and 3 days in Bayeux. We highly recommend Bayeux. We stayed at the Hotel Reine Mathilde, primarily due to our budget, and found it very acceptable - a Rick Steeves' kind of place. It is right in the center of town. Bayeux has many excellent and inexpensive places to eat, including wonderful crepes at Creperie le Triskell, right on a canal by the old waterwheel. Whatever you do, take one of the tours. We were on Battlebus and had the best weekend vacation ever. Check out www.battlebus.fr - but they do fill up fast. However, it's a must.

Bayeux is a great base. Caen is a big city. Take your daytrips out of Bayeux and enjoy the evening in quaint and architecturly beautiful bayeux.greta strolling town with nice eating options and very safe for a person on their own. Our last visit wa in Oct 2006.

I second the recommendation on the Hotel Reine Mathilde. www.hotel-reinemathilde.com.

Thank you for suggesting the Hotel Reine Mathilde. Also, I am trying to figure out which would be easier to get back to the airport for my departing flight. I am staying 7 nights in Paris and 2 nights in Bayeux. Should I stay in Paris first and then go to Bayeux, then back to the airport? Or should I go Bayeux first then back to Paris for the remainder of the trip?

Are you planning to take the train to Bayeux? If so, the schedule for Bayeux-Paris will have a bearing on when you would need to leave there in order to get to Paris in time to catch your flight. What time does it depart?

We stayed at the Logis Les Remparts in Bayeux and was happy VERY happy with it. Easy walking distance to town.

We also took a 9 hour Battle Bus Tour and was very impressed with the guide's knowledge of D-Day.........

http://www.lecornu.fr/homeEN.html

http://www.battlebus.fr/

It leaves Pars at 1:30. What is the best way to get from Bayeux to CDG airport?

See the timetables at www.bahn.de. Click on "Internat. Guests" to view the site in English. I don't know what day of the week you'll be returning to Paris, but here's what I found for an arbitrary Friday. (1) Leave Bayeux at 06:46 and arrive at Gare St-Lazare at 09:00. (2) Leave Bayeux at 07:16, change in Caen, and arrive at Gare St-Lazare at 10:04. I'd play it safe and take the earlier train.

To get from Gare St-Lazare to CDG, take the RER E from Haussmann St-Lazare to Magenta, take the connecting tunnels to Gare du Nord, then take the RER B to either CDG 1 or CDG 2 TGV, depending upon which terminal you'll be leaving from. Be aware that the RER B divides northeast of Paris so be sure you get on a train that is going to the airport. The trip will take just under an hour and will cost 8.10 EUR.

Go to www.ratp.fr to download and print a Metro/RER map for central Paris and a RER map that show service to outlying zones, including CDG.

I highly recommend the Hotel D'Argouges in Bayeux, which is listed in RS book. It is absolutely wonderful! The owner, Madame Ropartz is extremely nice and she makes you feel very welcome. They have a beautiful hotel, the rooms, the lobby, the sitting room, the dining room and the wonderful garden are all beautiful. They do a great breakfast and there is a really good restaurant right next door that we loved. The town square is right in front of the hotel (the hotel is set back from the road, down a long driveway so it is quiet)and their Saturday market is a treat. There is a laundromat a half block away. The hotel is on the main street that runs through the old part of town where all the fun shops, bakeries and tourist office is located. There is also an internet cafe just a block away. They also have free parking at the hotel. We've stayed at Hotel D'Argouges 3 times and we absolutely love it there.

I'd recommend staying in Bayeux first, then Paris.

Arrival day you go see the highlights of Bayeux, Day 2 you could concentrate on DDay sights or take a day tour.

Your departure day will be less hectic is you're already in Paris.

Kyle,

If you stay in Bayuex, a fun restaurant is la Taverne des Ducs on 41-43 rue Saint Patrice -- downtown.

Enjoy your trip

Craig

I think the best way is the way we did it which is to pick up a car at CDG and drive to Giverney-it's wonderful. We spent 3 hours there and then drove on to Bayeux and stayed at Hotel D'Argouges-it's nice. The next day we drove all around Normandy area and saw all the sites-it's very moving and beautiful.

We then drove on the next day to Le Mont St Michel and then on into Paris Orly airport to turn in our car (I like turning cars in at airports as they're easy to find with all the signage). Then we relaxed in Paris a few days.

browsing this website for clues on planning a trip to normandy and the d day sights via paris. our plan is to arrive cdg and rent a car. drive to bayeux via givernay and honfleur. three nights in bayeux: a day touring the normandy beaches and last day to mon st michel. staying three days total in bayeux assuming that is the most central for touring this area. any recommendations would be appreciated. hotel options: hotel churchill, Hotel d'Argouges, Le lion d'or, Logis Les Remparts or Ferme de la Ranconniere. Return to paris from mon st michel. two nights in paris, then visiting pau.
comments appreciated.