France for Two weeks...Big family...a few specific questions
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France for Two weeks...Big family...a few specific questions
Hello All- I am planning our next trip for next summer. France for two weeks with 2 adults and 4 kids ages 8-16. We don't like to rush about, and so are thinking about the following as a r
I am planning our next trip for next summer. France for two weeks with 2 adults and 4 kids ages 8-16. We don't like to rush about, and so are thinking about the following as a rough schedule: Fly into Paris, immediately take the train to La Rochelle area (haven't worked out the details on that yet), stay for 3-6 days. Take the train to the Normandy area, stay for a couple of days. Take the train to Paris, stay for a week or more. I have a couple of specific questions I haven't been able to find answers for in previous posts:
1. I know we can take a train directly to the La Rochelle area from Paris (or possibly the airport)....but I don't think we need a car once we get there. Is this correct? We would be staying in that area and not going on day trips. And how long would you suggest we stay? We think the area is beautiful and would want to give the kids a different view of France than Paris will give them. And not in an area where we have to rent a van and drive.
2. I believe we need to rent a car (actually a van in our case) from a train station close to the Normandy beaches (Train stations in Caen and Rouen I believe) and then drive to the beaches area (Cherbourg?). Also would maybe see Mont St. Michel while in the area. Am I correct about the car rental? And any suggestions about the best places to go in this area? Or to stay?
3. Paris - I have a list a mile long....but the plan is to stay for at least 7 days, rent a flat, wander about, soak up culture. I'm not too worried about figuring this portion of the trip out. I've been to Paris (a long time ago) and know it is easy to traverse and there are a billion things for us to do.
This itinerary already seems like a lot for us for 14 days in France (not including travel days), but if the experienced travelers on this board have anything to add I would appreciate it. My husband is a history nut and the Normandy beaches would be amazing for him (the kids would benefit too). I am just starting the planning for this and have been looking for more information. Thanks!
P.S. We will have to fly in and out of an airport in Paris as the price difference for open-jaw tickets are astronomical when multiplied by 6 :)
As to Item 1. I cannot address as I have not stayed in La Rochelle.
Item 2 - Normandy, yes I would recommend a car given the places you wish to tour. Normandy is not blessed with extensive, rapid public transport and with a party of 6 it would be more efficient and potentially less stressful to drive. Fortunately the roads are good and the traffic is not overwhelming. A couple of days is not enough time to visit as you have Mont St. Michel and Cherbourg in the mix. The D-day beaches can be covered in a single day but I would allocate the full day to those. Consider staying in Bayeux as it has a bit more charm (IMO). There are some more remote places to stay in the villages in the region but it will be roll up the sidewalks at dusk. Caen is another choice. The Mont is a great attraction, especially the tide change ... it is also a full-day to see it right (I would recommend even an overnight to see it full-lighted (spectacular) but if time is short you can commute to Bayeux or alternate. Again, IMO, there is no easy way to take public transport to the D-day sites & the Mont. If you want to visit Cherbourg you will need to extend your time. The beaches are plentiful around the D-Day area but you might not feel comfortable having an enjoyable beach day where the battles took place. If you want to go to a beach nearby, head toward Deauville which is a crowded but an attractive beach resort. Summer will be more crowded and driving/parking will be more difficult to deal with so bear that in mind … the roads are functional two lanes in many places but subject to tourist traffic in summer (plan your driving times accordingly). Other attractions to consider in Normandy … Honfleur, Rouen, Giverny but given your time allowances they may have to wait for another trip. Item 3. Paris. Lots of apartment choices (do have a look at the Forum suggestions for rental agents and tips). No car required of course. You could absorb the full 2-weeks in Paris without running out of sites and day trips. Disney is nearby but if you have been to any Disney park in the USA, I would make it a low priority.
Much to consider. Since I have no experience with La Rochelle it makes it difficult to make comments about trade-offs, I will leave that to other Forum posters. Given your objectives, I would allow a minimum of 2 nights in Normandy (without Cherbourg) and 6 in Paris. Consider that a 14 day trip is really 12 effective days (2 days are really travel days for flights in/out). Do not forget the impact of train travel (and hotel moves) from one spot to another … it will impact your actual sightseeing time. You might consider picking up your rental van in La Rochelle and driving to Mont St. Michel but it might be a favorable trade-off since you would not have to backtrack. It is about 3.75 hr. drive direct; you could see the Mont and overnight there and see the D-day beaches (about a 1.5 hour drive to Bayeux). If you want to push it, you could view the Mont and drive to Bayeux in the same day (a long day). Do go to the Mont website and check the tidal flow times (they vary daily). As to D-day beaches … minimum is American Cemetery (officially USA soil deed by France). From the visitor center (a must see) you can use the path/stairs directly to Omaha beach. If you have an interest in other sites consider the monument on Omaha beach which is accessible by car and not far from the American Cemetery. Also the German gun battery in Longues-sur-Mer (located between Omaha beach and Gold beach) & Gold beach. In Bayeux is the tapestry of William the Conqueror (I was both surprised and impressed). If you want to make the most of your time in the D-day beach area ... do read history on the Internet and/or retain the services of private guide or tour. I would drop the car in your D-day beach city and train it to Paris ... it should save you time (but do the math on costs). GET A GPS WITH YOUR RENTAL CAR ... you will save time in end (D-day beach sites will be much easier to find).
Digest the comments and come back for additional comments and refinements.
Thank you Drobert. That was the kind of direction I was looking for. I think we will will rent a car after La Rochelle and head to Mont St. Michel for one night , then onto the Normandy area. I believe we will stay 3 or 4 days in that area and then get rid of the car and take the train to Paris. I am planning 2 travel days PLUS 14 days in France so that ends up being 3 nights in La Rochelle, 1 night at Mont St. Michel, 3 nights in Normady, 8 nights in Paris. (For now anyway!)
I will be back here later with more questions :)
And Chaos is 2 girls and 2 boys! Or a way of life. Or both!
You don't need a car in La Rochelle -- true. You can even walk to most of the hotels from the train station. Since your trip is pretty short, though, 2 or 3 days would be plenty. During the summer, La Rochelle has tons of things to do in the evening, and the entire area of the old port is closed to traffic, which makes it an ideal city for strolling around.
If you want to go to Mont Saint Michel while driving, I would certainly suggest not missing Saint Malo (definitely worth a night) and also stopping in Cancale for a while when taking the coast road to Mont Saint Michel. From there, you can easily drive to Caen and the Normandy beaches and then turn in the rental car and take the train to Paris.
Presumably you know that European cars are tiny, and even the vans are smaller. With a van, you can manage with six, but try to get everyone to pack very lightly! There's not a lot of luggage space. Also, beware that the gas stations on the highways in France often only take French credit cards at night - the kind with the PIN number. We found that out one evening several years ago when we were headed back to our out-of-the-way b&B and discovered that there were no attendants and no way to get fuel. We really didn't think we were going to make it back to the station in the morning. There are some lovely walled towns near the Normandy beaches that you should visit while there- Dinant is one. And the seafood is fabulous!
My family lived in Paris x 6 years, and we went all over France in one of those teeny cars, and Europe for that matter. Your kids will love it. My mom drove alone without my Dad many times all over the place. It will be fine. We went all those places you mentioned, hope you speak a little french tho.
Thanks all- I had to take a break from planning this trip to attend to start of school and 'real' life! Kerouac: I appreciate the mention of the specific towns...I was thinking about St. Malo so will have to check those out a little more. ethrush: good info on the gas stations...will have to make sure we plan accordingly. And as far as the packing goes, the last big trip we went on was to Italy for 2 weeks and between the 6 of us, we only took 5 backpacks...my family didn't think they could make it with so few things but after the trip all became strong supporters of packing light! So as long as we can find a van to rent that will seat the 6 of us, the bags will fit. And Sherri: I valued all your posts on the Italy board when planning that trip and appreciate your enthusiasm for me taking my kids all over - I can't imagine anything better! And I do speak French, although its a bit rusty! Will have to brush up! I will be back to post more questions soon!!
If you consider renting two cars for places like Normandy, it will save you a lot of grief for baggage and personal comfort. (Renting through a place like www.autoeurope.com for at least 3 days will get you some excellent rates at the major car rental companies.) The roads in Normandy are user friendly and pleasant. It's true that you have to be careful with service stations if you don't have a card with a chip. ALL of them will take American cards during normal operating hours, but when they switch over to 24-hr automatic operation, antiquated American cards will not work anymore. More than 60% of the gasoline sold in France is sold at supermarket and hypermarket locations due to the considerable price difference; keep that in mind. If you are traveling on a Sunday or "after hours" and might need to get gas, stick to the autoroutes, where all of the stations are 24/7 and you can use cards that only have a magnetic strip.
We were just visiting the La Rochelle area with some local folks, and I would strongly suggest a car. The town itself has plenty to see, but the surrounding area also has things to see that would interest teenagers!
For example, in nearby Rochefort there is a Maritime museum and Rope Factory--this was once the military location where they made all the ropes, cables, stringing lines for the sailing ships of the Franch navy! The exhibits are wonderfully done, there is a free audio-guide in English, and a couple of movies showing the process in action. The Ile de Re is a great place for renting and riding bikes through the salt marshes, around the oyster beds, and through the forts and villages. Enjoy your visit!
If you are traveling on a Sunday or "after hours" and might need to get gas, stick to the autoroutes, where all of the stations are 24/7 and you can use cards that only have a magnetic strip.
I learned real quick, when the tank is 1/2 empty, start looking for gas. Also gas is about $7- $8.00 a gallon, give or take a bit. If you drive a lot, you need to figure that into your expenses.
I dorve all over France this summer, and on the autoroutes, you can get gas 24/7. Off the autoroutes, and all day Sunday and after say 6:00 or so on all days, no gas for Yankees. The super markets sell gas cheaper, as stated above, but you have to go in the daytime and they will take Yankee cards.
Hai, last 2 weeks back I went to France with my family by booking tickets from ferry operator. I really enjoyed the trip to France and explored many places. We had a great trip and our kids also enjoyed a lot. We will plan once again to visit France next year as we missed out some places. Just I want to share my experiences if you need.
You have months and months to keep researching, and that is a good thing... Posted by kerouac
Ah..yes..Kerouac...I am nothing if not obsessive about planning these trips! By the time we actually land at our destination, I feel a familiarity that can only be come by having previously visited the country or by obsessively thinking and planning the trip for 10 or more months!!
We, too, are planning a vacation in France this summer with our three daughters - ages 14, 13 and 11. We are doing ten days in Paris then traveling north to visit Normandy, since my husband is also a history buff so the beaches are on our agenda. We are then booked on the Queen Mary to sail back to NYC. What has been your experience with travel in and around Normandy region? Any suggestions? Tips? THanks!
This thread went on for a while last fall, but doesn't have many current readers (I only stopped by to leave this note!)
You'll get much more response if you post a new thread, asking your question ("Suggestions/Experiences traveling in Normandy?"), whih is a lot different from the original headline!
Hello all- I am the OP and have not been back for awhile. Our itinerary has simplified a great deal since my first post...We are now staying for our first night in Bayeaux, seeing the tapestry and the D-Day beaches for the day and a half or so we will be there, then staying in Paris for the next 12 nights. I am just getting back to the planning so you may hear back from me with more questions on another thread. We decided to cut out a lot of the moving around and I know this means we will miss a few things on other people's "must see" list but this will work for us. (I wish we could take the QM back across the ocean- how fun!)
