|
Post by holger on Jun 20, 2008 10:14:43 GMT -5
;D
Since the March 2009 trip is well in hand and will involve being in Paris for the two weeks and just drifting, there are few plans to make except for restaurants.
HOWEVER, I am now starting to plan the 2010 trip which will occur either in the Spring, likely late April to early May or in Fall, late October to early November, I would appreciate advice.
Currently thinking of around three weeks. Arriving in Paris and staying in hotel for two days, picking up a rental car and driving to Normandy and maybe Brittany. Would like to base part of the time in Honfleur, taking day trips including the invasion sites, then a day or two at Mont St Michel. From there perhaps a few days in one part of Brittany. This part of the trip would likely be ten days to two weeks. Drive back to Paris for a week in an apartment and then home.
I know we would be limited in what we would see in Normandy and Brittany but three weeks and a bit is about all I care to be away from home. Miss my cats too much and by then two of them will be seniors.
Thus any suggestions on places to stay and eat and sights would be appreciated. I have guide books but generally find I get more of a feel about what is a must and what should be avoided.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Jun 20, 2008 11:01:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by holger on Jun 20, 2008 22:33:47 GMT -5
Thanks Anne,
I appreciate the sites.
Any advice on hotels in Honfleur, Mont St Michel and near Carnac would be appreciated. We would prefer small places but comfortable with large rooms and facilities with separate showers.
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Jun 21, 2008 4:20:35 GMT -5
Sorry no recommandations for hotels, we've always rented houses in Brittany . An area that I had forgotten to mention and which is really nice is the Pont-Aven area at the S.E. side of Finistère www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/France/West/Bretagne/Pont-Aven/ . Plenty of quaint little villages (Trégunc, Nevez, Riec-sur-Belon, ...), lovely coast with "abers" or "ria" (Brittany's equivalent of fjords) . Concarneau and its famous "ville close" (a fortified semi-island), Quimper and Quimperlé are not too far away either . BTW, on your way from Normandy to Brittany you should stop for one or two days at Saint-Malo or Dinan (N.E. Brittany) to visit both towns, which are quite close to eachother .
|
|
|
Post by gracejoan on Jun 21, 2008 8:14:33 GMT -5
Barbara,
De-Bricourt-Richeux in Cancale and their 3 star restaurant, Maisons de Bricourt is lovely. Do try for lunch at the restaurant, if nothing else. It is now a Relais & Chateaux member.
I have also stayed near Bayeux at Chateau d'Audrieu..a 1 star.
I have been trying to thin of the delightful place in southern Brittany...I will have to get back to you about it..
Enjoy.......
Joan
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Jun 21, 2008 8:24:37 GMT -5
We stayed in Questembert at Le Bretagne et sa Residence. The rooms were spacious and the town itself made an excellent base for touring the coastline and some pretty towns. We especially liked Quimper. The restaurant is also excellent!The chef owner is also a very talented artist and we enoyed dining under his artworks. www.residence-le-bretagne.com/index.html?PHPSESSID=0943777df7958cd4162b184588af2ecbI'm trying to remember where we stayed in Normandy. It to was very centrally located for the beaches , Bayeaux and Honfleur. Again as we like to stay in the countryside, we usually stay at a place with a restaurant on the grounds. We try different places for lunch but we can have as much wine with dinner and not have to worry about getting lost finding our way back to the hotel in the dark.
|
|
|
Post by holger on Jun 22, 2008 17:35:01 GMT -5
Thanks. have checked these out and am also looking at Champagne. Really want to spend some time in Troyes and Reims, too. Bayeux makes sense as does Carnac.
I have the DK books but they are great on what to see, less useful on places to stay.
It is hard when we don't want stairs more than one flight, want two beds and a stall shower and really don't like chain hotels. Oh well, as we have said many times the planning is fun in itself.
|
|
|
Post by MaisonMetz on Jun 23, 2008 19:06:37 GMT -5
Holger - If you're looking for a recommendation of where to stay in Troyes - a wonderful place to spend a few days, two of my favorite hotels in France are there, side by side. We've stayed in ground floor accommodations in each of them on different trips, albeit when the exchange rate was more favorable than it is now. Le Champ des Oiseaux: www.champdesoiseaux.com La Chapelle is a ground floor room off of the courtyard, but I don't think it has a stall shower, rather a handheld one in the tub. La Maison de Rhodes: www.maisonderhodes.com/ Les Chevaliers is a wonderful ground floor room with fireplace and the largest hotel bathroom we've ever encountered anywhere, which includes a huge walk-in shower. On the website, check the section that provides "a peak at the bathrooms." The bath for Les Chevaliers is partially shown in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and last photo, scrolling from the top to the bottom. If you decide not to visit Troyes this trip, please include it in a future one. There's a lot of see and do there if you enjoy medieval town centers, church architecture and museums. Jo
|
|
|
Post by holger on Jun 23, 2008 20:57:26 GMT -5
Thanks, I have looked at both of these and will contact the hotels. Do you recall the beds? We prefer a king or twins and really must have the stall shower.
I think Troyes is fascinating and just look forward to walking the narrow streets. Will likely also visit Reims.
|
|
|
Post by MaisonMetz on Jun 24, 2008 0:00:19 GMT -5
Holger -
The rooms we had did not have twin beds, but may have been kings. I'm not certain. The respective websites indicate that three of the rooms at Le Champs des Oiseaux and two at La Maison de Rhodes have stall showers. I'm sure they'd be happy to confirm the bed sizes for those rooms if you contacted them.
We've also enjoyed our visits to Reims as well - very different of course from Troyes. Have gone via train several times for day trips from Paris and twice for overnight visits, once a splurge at Les Crayères for a major anniversary and another time at the Grand Hôtel des Templiers.
Jo
|
|
|
Post by Anne on Jun 24, 2008 3:34:05 GMT -5
Holger, if you spend a few days in Troyes, you may also want to do a bit( ;D) of shopping in the huge factory stores (highly reduced price shopping centers which sell clothes or home equipment from last years' collections) . I have never been there, but Troyes is quite famous in France for its factory stores . I second MM suggestion of a splurge at Les Crayères . We had dinner there a few years ago when chef Gérard Boyer was still in charge . The resto has been down to two Michelin stars with the new chef (former chef of Alain Ducasse in NYC), but well, two stars still account for a decent meal ;D ... Didn't sleep at the Crayères hôtel but my mom did and she said that it was gorgeous . It has won several awards throughout the years as the best hôtel in the world/Europe/France www.lescrayeres.com/fr/galerie.htm
|
|
|
Post by holger on Jun 24, 2008 15:48:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the many suggestions of great places to stay. Will let you know as the trip plans begin to solidify. Although we won't be there in 2010 for my 75th birtday which is in June and the trip will either be Spring or Fall, it will be the birthday year so plan on a few splurges.
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Jun 26, 2008 6:26:03 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by holger on Jun 26, 2008 8:57:30 GMT -5
Demarais,
Thanks for the link to the guide. I have not been receiving it but will try to sign up. The Brittany information was helpful.
We leave for Scotland and England a month from today so I am looking for restaurants in Lindon. We have been thinking of returning after 30 years to La Gavroche but the price is staggering.
In Glasgow, several of the meals are part of the conference but am thinking of one dinner at One Devonshire in their Bistro.
Plymouth is where we will be with friends so except for a return to an old favorite ib Gulsworthy, we will either eat at their place or wherever they lead us.
London is the problem as some of our old favorites no longer exist.
|
|