Thanks so much for visiting my travel webpage! I plan to post about places I have visited to help others effectively plan their own travels. Finding hotels, restaurants, sites and parking can be somewhat intimidating. However, learning from others’ successes (and mistakes) makes a trip so much better! Feel free to leave feedback and ask questions!
So many people who travel to France miss out on Normandy, a region full of world history and French culture. Admittedly, Normandy is off the beaten path. Each time I have been, my group rented a car at the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and made the three hour drive to Bayeux, France, a neat city that served as our hub. WARNING: There are toll stations on the way that don’t accept some American credit cards. I suppose a train would also work to get to a main location, but I’m not sure how you would get to all of the tourist sites without a vehicle.
In Bayeux, we stayed at an AirBnB called Le Relais d’Athos. The owner is an amazing host. She speaks fluent English, is full of good recommendations, and she provides an excellent breakfast. Up to four people can stay in this facility. There is also free parking available.
Military historians would appreciate the World War II sites (listed below). The first time I went, we took a half-day guided tour (60 Euros). It was helpful to hear the stories and learn more about each site than one would see otherwise. However, studying the sites ahead of time would be a way to visit them without paying a guide (some links below).
Finally, Mont Saint-Michel is a fascinating place. Start at the bottom and wind up through the ancient streets and shops all the way to the abbey, where you will get views in all directions. Warning: there are a lot of steep steps at this site. Plan on at least half the day for plenty of time to enjoy the whole place. There is a large parking area with plenty of signs pointing you to it (take your ticket and pay on the way out before you get back to your car). After you park, take the free shuttle from the parking lot to the base of Mont Saint-Michel.
Here are some of my recommended things to see in Bayeux/Normandy:
STEVENS TRAVELS 