Le Havre/Etretat/Bayeux

[cruisinginmay]

We will be disembarking in Le Havre in September. Our plan is to get a car service to take us to Etretat from the ship, then drive us to Bayeux. Then we will spend a couple of days in Bayeux, viewing the tapestry, and going to Normandy beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel.  Looking for recommendations for 1- car service to Etretat and Bayeux, 2- Hotel in Bayeux, and 3- Tour operators for excursions to Normandy beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel.  Thanks for your suggestions!

[CruiserBruce]

Villa Lara is a great hotel in Bayeux. Overlord is mentioned and recommended here almost daily for tours. Great company. They book out, so don't waste any time. Overlord starts it's tours less than a block from Villa Lara.

[Hlitner]

Interesting and somewhat far flung itinerary.  Been to all those places (more then once) but never on a single driving trip.  Overlord can certainly handle the request (if they are not booked) but it is going to be expensive.  You might want to ask your driver to toss in a short visit to Beuvron en Auge for something a little different.  Also consider a quick visit to St Mere Eglise (where the paratrooper got stuck on top of the church).   I also think an oft overlooked place in Normandy is the amazing "Peace Memorial Museum" located in Caen.  As to the tapestry in Bayeux, while we found it fascinating, an hour in that building was enough (for us).

 

If you find the cost of your idea a bit steep (it will be) you might want to consider just renting a car.  Driving in this part of France is not very difficult and rather than spending 500+ Euros a day it will cost you about 100 Euros.  

 

Hank

[sleepingcat]

its years since any of our family were there, but it look like the Hotel Lion d'Or is still the classic place to stay in Bayeux, right in the middle and with lots of charm, but nicely updated by the look of the photos on TripA. 

 

[edinburgher]

On 3/24/2024 at 6:21 PM, cruisinginmay said:

Our plan is to get a car service to take us to Etretat from the ship, then drive us to Bayeux.

as Hank has already mentioned, an   "interesting and somewhat far flung" itinerary.  Given that Etretat and Bayeux lie in opposite directions from le Havre, it would add time and more expense to your journey as you would first travel to Etretat from le Havre ,then travel back to le Havre before setting off again in the opposite direction to Bayeux.

 

If you would consider dropping Etretat from your plans, you could travel by long distance coach or train to Bayeux from le Havre, or stick with your original idea of hiring a car service, which would still be costly, but less than it would be if you were to include both. 

Edited March 26 by edinburgher

[cruisinginmay]

Thanks everyone for your input. I do realize that Etretat and Bayeux are opposite directions, but Etretat is only a 30 minute drive north of Le Havre, and who knows if I will ever get back to this area!  I figure getting off the ship at 9:00 leaves plenty of time to visit Etretat, then drive to Bayeux. However, we will readdress our itinerary. Still want to have time for day trips to Normandy beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel (separate days).