Driving in winter

Sam:

If you access the http://www.sncf.com site, there are train/car promotions.

If you plan ahead, the train can be cheaper than even the gas you'd pay ... and then the tolls!

For a trip to the landing beaches, we prefer to take a train to Rouen, then rent a car and drive from there. While it might be a little more expensive, you eliminate a couple of hours of driving in the Parisian and suburban traffic.

Al, As far as the beaches of Normandy were concerned. that the beaches are the ones of Normandie was presumed by Ellen. I just went on this assumption, but it was never confirmed. This is why we got into other possibilities. The original request only mention "beaches". Yes we do get far sometimes of the original inquiries, bu it is not on purpose, but generally we want to cover all bases. (and sometimes there are just too many bases!)


BP Chuck

Let me chip into this discussion. Only rent a car on the days you expect to be outside of Paris. While you can go out to Normandie and back in a day, that is a grueling trip. Better rent a car on the edge of the city, Porte Maillot is my suggestion, and if you do, take the quick entry onto the Peage on the west side of La Defense. Take along lots of coins/small Euro bills as you have to pay every 10 miles or so until well out of Paris. Do not, I repeat do not, go into the lanes at the toll gates for credit cards. Your credit card doesn't have a "chip (or puce in French)" that the gate will allow you to use, unless you love the sound of horns behind you. Figure on staying in Normandie overnight (say Bayeux, or somewhere in that area), and return to Paris by 3 PM to avoid the Parisian evening rush (no better than any huge US city). A nice place to visit after the traffic dies down in the morning is Rouen, especially if you can see the doors that Monet painted to get the light nuances on the door. As I recall, the parking situation is Rouen is slightly better than Paris, but I can't help you on recommendations for parking - ask Cap10Mike, he lives there.

We were talking about advice given to a lady who wanted perhaps to visit the invasion beaches in Normandy. You two guys have currupted the discussion by taking advantage of a thread just to expand on your own unrelated ideas. Hey, give us a break.

Hey you two BP moderators, as far as I am concerned Rouen is not even in France...
In Rouen, we are Normands first by the grace of God, and French a remote second and by name only because some dam Kings screwed up the landscape...
Normandy was a "Duchy" the land of very independent people, the descendants of the Vikings, the birth place of William the Conqueror (actually William the Bastard) the great warrior that conquered England a while back in 1066 and crowned himself king...
It is also the land of contradictory folks as yours truly that never agrees about anything nor with anyone...
And yes, it snows in Rouen, or at least it used to before the human race screwed up the environment.
Moi, I cannot remember a Christmas without snow...
As far as driving in that stuff, (which by the way was the original post before you all began teaching each other geography), I would not do it... Life is too short as it is.
Mike

Al, when I talk about Northern France, I think of Rouen, etc. The do get sometimes a fair accumulation of Snow. Paris I rather put in the Ile de France cathegory, which is (in my oppinion) not as cold, or snowy.

BP Chuck

True. But in Northern France (and that includes Paris) you'll never know.

If the beaches you're thinking of visiting are the ones in Normandy, expect cold, wind, and probably some rain. The wind especially can be fierce out on the cliffs--not a place I'd want to visit in winter!

Since this is your first visit to Paris, why not just get a cozy hotel room and spend your time exploring that wonderful city? There's so much to see that even five days will only scratch the surface.

I forgot to mention the question of Driving. The question here is not only the weather (in Paris there is practically never any snow over maybe 1/2 ", and that does not last over one or two hour at the most. When you go North of Paris , maybe in the direction of Bruxelles, it may be a different story. In Paris it is a very difficult story, especially for one not familliar with Paris. Most of the smaller streets are one way (allways in the direction you do not want to go!) Trafic jams are anywhere and at any time. Parking spacer are VERY hard to find. Overnite parking is expensive. French trafic laws are different from ours, and unusual (to say the least. My advice, do NOT DRIVE, especially on your first trip.

BP Chuck

shibys, I do have to agree with all the responders who said that this plan is not a good one. You will spend most of your time in Paris commuting from your hotel and the various RR stations. Each day when you come back, you may be able to crawl to bed under your own power, but that it is. Everybody presumes you are talking about the "Landing Beaches", in Normandy, when you mention "Beaches". If you are talking about the Southern beaches in Nice or Cannes, along the Cote d'Azur, it is even less possible as they are so far from Paris. My suggestion, eliminate all the side trips except may be one. The day when you arrive in Paris, will be "shot" mostly anyway, due toi the time differential. The day you depart, the flights from Paris depart before noon mostly. So you have really 9 days in Paris, less your day trips. The best way for these maybe to tak a bus tour, you find brochures for these in all the hotel lobbys. They have one or two day tours for many of the places you want. The bus drivers know the routes, and do not get lost, You on the other hand are liable to get lost as for many of the places you should takke the train, and transfers are required, and even if you are perfect in your French (are you?), you are not familiar with the European habits, and may get lost.

There are so many thing to see and do in Paris alone, 9 days will seam like nothing. I lived, and worked in Paris for 9 (nine) years, and I know that I have not seen many things. Do you have any specific questions?

BP Chuck

Al is right. It sounds like you're using Paris only as a home base from which do to these trips. You won't be able to see much of Paris on this itinerary, but if that's your plan, day trips are do-able. I assumed you meant the Normandy beaches, too. Mont St. Michel is a day trip you might want to consider.

Under 5 days. You've got to be kidding. I assume the beaches you are talking about are the Normandy landing beaches and this can be done in a day trip. For the first time in Paris 5 days is just a tease and I would hardly consider more than one day trip. To do the Brussels deal would be spending the greater time of your vacation going and coming.

Take a look on our Forum under Day Trips from Paris. But stay in Paris and don't bite off more than you can chew.

Shiby,

Welcome to BP Paris!

The train is the best way to go from Paris to Brussels. In fact, go on this forum to Day Trips, then click on Paris to Belgium where there was a fairly recent discussion about just that trip. It's an easy and quick trip.

In general, trains are an efficient and pleasant way to get around France. The rail system is highly developed and trains are clean and usually on time. The number of stops depends on where you want to go; the smaller the town the more stops you may have to make. Rail stations are clean and generally safe.

It would help if you told us which beaches you're going to and as far as the weather, I'll let someone else answer that. And as far as the Paris countryside, trains are plentiful, but again, it depends on where you plan to visit. Certainly a car gives you the most freedom and you're not at the mercy of schedules.

Have a wonderful trip!

Hi,

This going to be my first time in Paris from Dec 22 to Jan 1. What is the best way to get around between Paris, Brussels, the Paris country side and also visit the beaches in under 5 days. I was considering driving but would that be an issue due to the weather (snow, ice or rain)?

Thanks
Shiby