driving in Normandy

Bonsoir everyone-- we are now wondering if it would be more economical to drive in Normandy. We aren%26#39;t brave enough to drive from CDG in Paris, but are thinking of taking the train to LeHavre and renting a car there ----then drive down to Bayeux and over to St. Michele and then back again to LeHavre as we are meeting others there 3 days after we arrive in

France.

My question is about cost and what driving is like in the Normandy area. Anyone that has had this experience, or has suggestions, I would love to hear from. Merci beaucoup-----------Wishingutah

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I would get the train to Caen and hire a car there, the car hire place is right next to the station and Caen is only 15 minutes from Bayeux whereas Le Havre is about an hour. Driving in Normandy is very easy - you will be amazed just how light the traffic is. The only time you may hit any real traffic is around Mont St Michel is you are coming in July or August, or around Le Havre - another reason to get the train to Caen rather than Le Havre! That way you will only have to drive there once, to meet your friends.

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Hello, from another Utahn :-)

We rented a car last year and drove all over Northern France and loved it.

By the end of our first day (really only a couple hours) our designated driver learned what the signs meant and we were able to get around well.

If you do it I would pick up a good michelin map for the area you want (we ended up with a big one for all of France- but you wouldn%26#39;t need that- Barnes and Noble might even have one, we got ours online, but we saw some at stores there as well.)

Then use it. The roads are posted, and the signage is great. Sometimes it was just easier following the road signs than trying to figure out the map, but it was essential that we knew where we wanted to end up.

We were hardly ever on the A roads/motorways (like the freeways). We stayed more on the N (kind of like State rte 89 here) and D roads (local roads, think Mirror Lake Hwy only without the mountain).

Having the car allowed us to see the things we wanted which were not on any public transportation route. It also gave us flexibility with time. We weren%26#39;t limited to when the bus or train would leave.

It was expensive and I was thinking I%26#39;m glad we were there last year and not this with the price of gas so high...

Have a great trip.

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Have been back a month after driving 4000km around France. Normandy is very easy. Narrow roads if you don%26#39;t take the motorways, but that%26#39;s the way to see things. You%26#39;ll love it.

We had a Citroen C4 diesel, and while gasole cost up to 1,40 euro per litre, the car did 100km per 5.1 litres, so it%26#39;s not too bad as long as you get an economical car. (We%26#39;re paying almost that much in Australia anyway!)Have a great trip.

Sue

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I have been to Normandy several times, each time driving there from CDG. It isn%26#39;t really that bad: A-1, around Paris to A-13. The traffic can be heavy from CDG and around Paris but after, quite light. However the suggestion about doing the train to Caen and renting there is quite a good one.

You%26#39;ll find driving around Normandy very easy. Not at all a problem.

Enjoy your trip.

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