Hi,
I'll be in France for a friend's wedding in August and was hoping to visit some of the areas that I haven't spent much time in, Bretagne and Normandy.
My plan is as follows:
06 aug rennes
07 aug rennes
08 aug st malo
09 aug st malo/mont st michel
10 aug bayeux/caen
11 aug caen/normandy beaches
12 aug deauville
13 aug back to paris
However I just found out about the Celtic Festival, so I might want to check that out. I'm having trouble because something came up and I have a lot less money then anticipated and I'm not so great at driving a manual car (I can't stop/start on a hill).
I've done some research and found I can take the train from Deauville to Paris (about 2h), Busvert runs between Caen and Bayeaux and between Deauville and Caen. I know it's about a 45 min drive from Rennes to St Malo but I'm a little stuck from there.
So my questions are:
1) Is the area generally flat enough that I should be OK driving? I drove around the Loire Valley without too much trouble but that's because in cities I either slooooowed down when I saw a red light ahead so it was green by the time I reached it or slammed on the gas to speed through (and often end up running the light) to avoid stopping. Should I can the car rental idea? Or if I rent one, where should I get it?
2) If I don't rent a car, can anyone fill in the gaps in my public transit plans?
3) Any recommendations for places to stay in those towns? There's two of us together if that makes a difference.
4) Any thoughts on what I should change? Additions, subtractions, etc? I don't need to be back in Paris on the 13th so we can extend the trip, but cost is a factor.
Thanks so much!
There are a few regional trains from Rennes going via Dol - Pontorson/Mt St Michel - Bayeux to Caen, from St Malo you'll need backtracking to Dol. Current timetable (St Malo-Dol/Dol-Caen): a) 7:50-8:03/9:39-12:01, b) 12:50-13:08/14:56-17:20, c) 18:20-18:38/19:03-21:30. There are less trains on weekends, I think.
Don't miss Dinan. A superb small city north of Rennes. You can just spend a day in Rennes.
I made my post sound unclear, so let me spell it out again: There are trains running both Rennes-Dol-St Malo and Rennes-Dol-Pontorson-Bayeux-Caen. The other 'public transport-gap' in your itinerary is Paris-Rennes, but you'll surely know that there are frequent TGV-trains from Paris 'Gare Montparnasse', don't you?
From Deauville, the picturesque old harbour-town of Honfleur isn't that far and worth a visit (a Bus is going there, I think). Bye the way: Deauville is featuring top-class horse-racing in August, it's a bit of Ascot-in-France, on the 12th the important Prix du Haras de Fresnay Le Buffard / Prix Jacques Le Marois (G I) is run. Race track is close to the city, admission prices are reasonable, check Deauville tourism homepage for more...
Yeah, I'm fine with the Paris to Rennes part, should have mentioned that!
Thanks for the train info, that's perfect!
strawberita,
Any idea how to get to Dinan via bus or train? I'll try to look it up but if you can help with any info...how far from Rennes? Can I sleep in Rennes and spend the day in Dinan? What's there worth seeing?
Thanks!
You can go by bus, (train I don't know to be honest, you can check at www.sncf.com) or hitch hike. Just 45 mns drive from Rennes.
Dinan has superb traditional architecture. Trust me, not to be missed.
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