Paris to Bayeux itinerary help

We are going to drive from Paris to Bayeux for a three night stay and I%26#39;m wondering what might be the most interesting route to take in terms of a stop or two along the way. I know that Giverny is a common stop but truthfully, I don%26#39;t think my family would get much out of it and I%26#39;m certainly willing to miss it.

I had two ideas I was toying with:

1) to drive the whole way through the interior, maybe passing some nice chateaux or towns along the way. Maybe stop in Caen?

2) to drive up to the coast, Etratat maybe, and then drive along the coast through Honfleur and on to Bayeux.

We plan on leaving Paris as early as possible in the morning with the intention of reaching Bayeux by 5 or so.

So without being too unrealistic, what might be an interesting itinerary for this drive?

Thanks!

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TBH go by train, cheaper,faster and less hassle.

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Thanks, but we want the freedom of a car to stop where we like. I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s a hassle, so that%26#39;s why I asked for itinerary help rather than transportation advice.

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I think ncreptile meant that taking the train to Caen and renting a car there would be much easier. I%26#39;m not sure there are many worthwhile sights from Paris to Caen, if you exclude Giverny. We picked up our rental at Caen across the street from the railroad station and the entire Normandy coast was within easy reach. We spent 2 nights in Bayeux, 3 in a B%26amp;B near Villers-Bocage, and with a car, had all of Normandy within reach, plus St. Malo, around the bay from MSM. The coast is only 15 km from Bayeux and the coast road is fun to drive, stopping in the towns made famous by the D Day movies. With a family, there are lots of opportunities to picnic along the coast from St. Mere Eglise to Arromanches or further, getting food and drink from local shops, taking in the museums, and having a great time taking about 500 photos. The large American cemetery at Colleville sur Mer takes about 3 hours to visit the graves of some of the famous soldiers buried there. Your time might be better spent starting out at Caen and driving from there. Trains are great fun as well.

Worked for us.

oprah44

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Thanks--I%26#39;ll see how that would work. We%26#39;ll be returning the car directly to CDG, so I have to find out if a pick up in Caen and a return at CDG will be more expensive...

Very helpful info about the coast road, thank you!

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%26lt;%26lt;so I have to find out if a pick up in Caen and a return at CDG will be more expensive.%26gt;%26gt;

Train station car rental pickups can be much more expensive if that is your question. Expect to pay a train station/airport surcharge of from 30€ to 60€.

There is no surcharge for drop off at any location; train station, airport or anywhere else.

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Between Paris and Bayeux there are

Giverny

Chateau de Sassy

Chateau Gaillard

Rouen

Jumièges

Caudebec en Caux

Honfleur

Deauville

Lisieux

Caen

to name but a few sites.

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Thanks, I%26#39;ll get out the Michelin and look at all these!

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mmpetite,

I think it matters whether you plan to depart for Normandy upon arrival at CDG or if you plan to depart from Paris itself.

If you arrive at CDG and plan to travel to Normandy first thing, then I suggest you rent a car as long as you seem agreeable to driving (some people aren%26#39;t in a land foreign to them, but you seem OK with it). That would save you having to spend the time, money and hassle of transporting yourself and baggage into Paris to get to Gare St. Lazare.

If you will already be in Paris (not the airport), why not take the metro to the train station and let someone else do the driving? Relax and let the scenery pass you by.

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We%26#39;ll be in Paris first then driving out to Bayeux and then after spending three days there, will drive directly to CDG to return the car before our flight. My husband is the driver and has no problem driving anywhere (has done so before in France, Italy, England, etc.). I know the train has its advantages, and no doubt our son would find it fun, but we prefer the freedom of driving and being able to stop whenever and wherever on our own schedule.

Thanks all!