Trip Review - France (Brittany and Normandy)
Discussion
After asking for opinion of where I could take my pregnant wife, outside the dreadful UK, without flying the consensus was a ferry to France after seeing how expensive the ferry to Bilbao was. Many thanks for the tips and advice.
Anyway thought it be fair id give my HONEST opinion.
Drove 3 hours from my hometown in Staffordshire to Portsmouth. Stayed the night in Portsmouth which in all honesty was another depressing, soulless British town.
Caught the Brittany Ferry to Caen (£220 total for 2 adults, car and cabins return which imo was a decent price)
Spent 4 nights in Saint Malo to use as a base to go Dinan, Rennes, Dinard and Mont St Micheal.
Saint Malo - Beautiful little port town based inside a castle walls. Loads of restaurants although very few bars. Reasonably priced food. Saint Malo is a great place to use as a base.
Dinan - Spent about 2 hours though. Lovely, medieval old French town. Well worth a few hours for sure.
Dinard - Drive from Dinan to Dinard. Controversial but we really didn't like Dinard. Seemed a dated, bleak typical UK seaside place. Everything was shut, the restaurants were uninspiring, the beach was just like a UK beach. Wouldn't recommend.
Rennes - Probably my favourite place of the whole trip. It's a lesser known city in France but I loved it. Lots of bars and restaurants, plenty of shops and lovely old buildings. Great day out.
Mont St Micheal - Absolutely breathtaking from a far. Well worth the trip to see it on the outside. Once inside it's reminded me of Hogwarts from Harry Potter.
Then we drove to Bayeux to spend 3 nights there to use it as a base to Honfleur and some of the DDay sights like Omaha beach.
Bayeux - Mmm we both absolutely hated it. Really didnt get the hype with this place, just reminded me of a standard crappy town in the peak district with a nice cathedral. I know it's popular with visitors but we both felt the same. Lack of restaurants and bars, all just a bit tacky. Like a French version of Tintagel in Cornwall. Was regretting booking 3 nights here and was tempted to leave early to go elsewhere but tbh the accommodation we booked on the outskirts in Maison was pretty stunning so decided to bare through it.
Honfleur - Bit of a trek but loved it there. Wished we stayed there then Bayeux as just a nicer part of France with plenty of restaurants, bars and scenery despite its small size.
Went to plenty of beautiful villages along the way. It all puts the UK to shame in all honesty as every Village, town we stopped in for a short period are way more beautiful then any depressing town in the UK.
Other then Bayeux all in all we had a great time. Once the little one is born in a few months, it will still be too soon to fly so plan to do it again but this time drive to Annecy and discover that area of France.
Thanks for all the recommendations.
Anyway thought it be fair id give my HONEST opinion.
Drove 3 hours from my hometown in Staffordshire to Portsmouth. Stayed the night in Portsmouth which in all honesty was another depressing, soulless British town.
Caught the Brittany Ferry to Caen (£220 total for 2 adults, car and cabins return which imo was a decent price)
Spent 4 nights in Saint Malo to use as a base to go Dinan, Rennes, Dinard and Mont St Micheal.
Saint Malo - Beautiful little port town based inside a castle walls. Loads of restaurants although very few bars. Reasonably priced food. Saint Malo is a great place to use as a base.
Dinan - Spent about 2 hours though. Lovely, medieval old French town. Well worth a few hours for sure.
Dinard - Drive from Dinan to Dinard. Controversial but we really didn't like Dinard. Seemed a dated, bleak typical UK seaside place. Everything was shut, the restaurants were uninspiring, the beach was just like a UK beach. Wouldn't recommend.
Rennes - Probably my favourite place of the whole trip. It's a lesser known city in France but I loved it. Lots of bars and restaurants, plenty of shops and lovely old buildings. Great day out.
Mont St Micheal - Absolutely breathtaking from a far. Well worth the trip to see it on the outside. Once inside it's reminded me of Hogwarts from Harry Potter.
Then we drove to Bayeux to spend 3 nights there to use it as a base to Honfleur and some of the DDay sights like Omaha beach.
Bayeux - Mmm we both absolutely hated it. Really didnt get the hype with this place, just reminded me of a standard crappy town in the peak district with a nice cathedral. I know it's popular with visitors but we both felt the same. Lack of restaurants and bars, all just a bit tacky. Like a French version of Tintagel in Cornwall. Was regretting booking 3 nights here and was tempted to leave early to go elsewhere but tbh the accommodation we booked on the outskirts in Maison was pretty stunning so decided to bare through it.
Honfleur - Bit of a trek but loved it there. Wished we stayed there then Bayeux as just a nicer part of France with plenty of restaurants, bars and scenery despite its small size.
Went to plenty of beautiful villages along the way. It all puts the UK to shame in all honesty as every Village, town we stopped in for a short period are way more beautiful then any depressing town in the UK.
Other then Bayeux all in all we had a great time. Once the little one is born in a few months, it will still be too soon to fly so plan to do it again but this time drive to Annecy and discover that area of France.
Thanks for all the recommendations.
Edited by simons123 on Thursday 20th June 16:41
I think Bayeux suffers by being a tourist trap because of the Tapestry, yet not a big enough town to offer much else (too many other coastal villages for affluent second home owners and upmarket tourists, and Caen is the regional centre for business/industry).
Plus, like most places in that region, it needed quite a bit of rebuilding since the 1940s.
Not being a powerful director type, I stayed in a mobile home on the municipal campsite on the edge of town, and it was a nice pleasant stroll into the centre along the river. Also well located for the WW2 sights/sites.
Plus, like most places in that region, it needed quite a bit of rebuilding since the 1940s.
Not being a powerful director type, I stayed in a mobile home on the municipal campsite on the edge of town, and it was a nice pleasant stroll into the centre along the river. Also well located for the WW2 sights/sites.
OP. It’s a really interesting synopsis of your trip. We’ve had a few holidays in Brittany that were most enjoyable and after years of just travelling through St. Malo, ladt year we actually stayed there for a night which was most enjoyable.
I would like to have a trip to Normandy to see the WW2 sites at some stage.
What were your primary reasons for not wanting to holiday in the UK.
I would like to have a trip to Normandy to see the WW2 sites at some stage.
What were your primary reasons for not wanting to holiday in the UK.
We go to Brittany next weekend, via Poole to Cherbourg and then down to Loctudy to the south of Quimper and Pont l’Abbey in Finistere. This will be the 9th trip to the same place. It’s a very residential type of area but that means it’s not so touristy and only a stones throw from a white sandy beach. When the weather’s not so good, it’s a good time to get out and explore.
We love France and have been many many times.
Our normal route after the five and a half hour drive to Folkestone is via Eurotunnel and then our usual first stop would be Honfleur which is lovely.
However, it has become a victim of its own success plus within striking distance for Southerners hopping across for the weekend when it is a bit manic. The restaurants around the harbour aren’t great and a bit of a tourist trap.
A good alternative is Deauville or Trouville just down the road from Honfleur.
We visited Bayeaux but only for the day - we actually thought it was OK but there did seem to be a lack of bars and restaurants.
Dinan was lovely when we stayed there for 3 nights although we haven’t really explored much in Brittany.
Our favourite area is probably the Dordogne which we have visited many times.
You mention Annecy and again we have been there numerous times - it’s beautiful and the lake is stunning. It gets very busy especially with day trippers.
We are due on our Euro road trip in less than 2 weeks and our itinerary via Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is Metz for 3 nights (never been before) then South to Aix-les-Bains for 7 nights (been before and a short drive to Annecy and located on Lac du Bourget (largest & deepest freshwater lake in France) then up to Epernay for 4 nights (Champagne region and been a few times now) before heading back for the return ferry. Heading to Annecy, good stopping off points would be Troyes (lovely old town) or Epernay.
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Our normal route after the five and a half hour drive to Folkestone is via Eurotunnel and then our usual first stop would be Honfleur which is lovely.
However, it has become a victim of its own success plus within striking distance for Southerners hopping across for the weekend when it is a bit manic. The restaurants around the harbour aren’t great and a bit of a tourist trap.
A good alternative is Deauville or Trouville just down the road from Honfleur.
We visited Bayeaux but only for the day - we actually thought it was OK but there did seem to be a lack of bars and restaurants.
Dinan was lovely when we stayed there for 3 nights although we haven’t really explored much in Brittany.
Our favourite area is probably the Dordogne which we have visited many times.
You mention Annecy and again we have been there numerous times - it’s beautiful and the lake is stunning. It gets very busy especially with day trippers.
We are due on our Euro road trip in less than 2 weeks and our itinerary via Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is Metz for 3 nights (never been before) then South to Aix-les-Bains for 7 nights (been before and a short drive to Annecy and located on Lac du Bourget (largest & deepest freshwater lake in France) then up to Epernay for 4 nights (Champagne region and been a few times now) before heading back for the return ferry. Heading to Annecy, good stopping off points would be Troyes (lovely old town) or Epernay.
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Boxster5 said:
....
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
I'm not convinced of this. French suburbs and industrial towns are as grubby as similar places in the UK. Affluent British villages are nice and tidy (and because of our stricter planning laws are less likely to have a factory or supermarket on the edge of the village). As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Could it be that tourists visit the nice places and think that it is representative of the nation as a whole?
Truckosaurus said:
Boxster5 said:
....
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
I'm not convinced of this. French suburbs and industrial towns are as grubby as similar places in the UK. Affluent British villages are nice and tidy (and because of our stricter planning laws are less likely to have a factory or supermarket on the edge of the village). As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Could it be that tourists visit the nice places and think that it is representative of the nation as a whole?
Truckosaurus said:
Boxster5 said:
....
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
I'm not convinced of this. French suburbs and industrial towns are as grubby as similar places in the UK. Affluent British villages are nice and tidy (and because of our stricter planning laws are less likely to have a factory or supermarket on the edge of the village). As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Could it be that tourists visit the nice places and think that it is representative of the nation as a whole?
However, we’ve travelled across the length and breadth of France over many years and I have to say, they are few and far between. Yes there’s plenty of graffiti in the suburbs but litter just doesn’t seem to be a major issue.
Even the quintessential English chocolate box village is not as spotless as most French towns & villages we’ve seen.
I think it’s down to the general mindset of a good sized proportion of Brits - “not my problem” - it’s a cultural thing that has escalated over the last 40-50 years.
Lots of French cities (not all of any great size) have spotless tram systems, something we can only dream of.
Boxster5 said:
We love France and have been many many times.
Our normal route after the five and a half hour drive to Folkestone is via Eurotunnel and then our usual first stop would be Honfleur which is lovely.
However, it has become a victim of its own success plus within striking distance for Southerners hopping across for the weekend when it is a bit manic. The restaurants around the harbour aren’t great and a bit of a tourist trap.
A good alternative is Deauville or Trouville just down the road from Honfleur.
We visited Bayeaux but only for the day - we actually thought it was OK but there did seem to be a lack of bars and restaurants.
Dinan was lovely when we stayed there for 3 nights although we haven’t really explored much in Brittany.
Our favourite area is probably the Dordogne which we have visited many times.
You mention Annecy and again we have been there numerous times - it’s beautiful and the lake is stunning. It gets very busy especially with day trippers.
We are due on our Euro road trip in less than 2 weeks and our itinerary via Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is Metz for 3 nights (never been before) then South to Aix-les-Bains for 7 nights (been before and a short drive to Annecy and located on Lac du Bourget (largest & deepest freshwater lake in France) then up to Epernay for 4 nights (Champagne region and been a few times now) before heading back for the return ferry. Heading to Annecy, good stopping off points would be Troyes (lovely old town) or Epernay.
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Yes we did go to Deuville forgot to mention....it reminded us both of a real life Bicester village at the part where the designer shops are....the beach was the best by far we saw there as well. Liked Deuville.Our normal route after the five and a half hour drive to Folkestone is via Eurotunnel and then our usual first stop would be Honfleur which is lovely.
However, it has become a victim of its own success plus within striking distance for Southerners hopping across for the weekend when it is a bit manic. The restaurants around the harbour aren’t great and a bit of a tourist trap.
A good alternative is Deauville or Trouville just down the road from Honfleur.
We visited Bayeaux but only for the day - we actually thought it was OK but there did seem to be a lack of bars and restaurants.
Dinan was lovely when we stayed there for 3 nights although we haven’t really explored much in Brittany.
Our favourite area is probably the Dordogne which we have visited many times.
You mention Annecy and again we have been there numerous times - it’s beautiful and the lake is stunning. It gets very busy especially with day trippers.
We are due on our Euro road trip in less than 2 weeks and our itinerary via Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is Metz for 3 nights (never been before) then South to Aix-les-Bains for 7 nights (been before and a short drive to Annecy and located on Lac du Bourget (largest & deepest freshwater lake in France) then up to Epernay for 4 nights (Champagne region and been a few times now) before heading back for the return ferry. Heading to Annecy, good stopping off points would be Troyes (lovely old town) or Epernay.
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Interesting....So if we drive to Annecy is it better catching the ferry to Amsterdam then rather then Calais??
Yep everything about France beats the UK. Rennes for example is not even listed as one of the top 10 cities in France but imo it's better then any city I've been in the UK by far....random villages or towns we stopped at for petrol or a coffee that were not on the tourist map beats anything I've seen in the UK.
Overall I would say I much much preferred Brittany to Normandy.
Saint Malo, Dinan, Rennes are all gems of place. Absolutely stunning old, traditional architecture.....found some of Normandy a bit bleak especially by the WW2 beaches / towns and Bayeux especially....however absolutely loved Honfleur whilst Mont St Micheal and Deuville where gems as well.
For first timers driving to France, id definitely spend more time in Brittany.
Saint Malo, Dinan, Rennes are all gems of place. Absolutely stunning old, traditional architecture.....found some of Normandy a bit bleak especially by the WW2 beaches / towns and Bayeux especially....however absolutely loved Honfleur whilst Mont St Micheal and Deuville where gems as well.
For first timers driving to France, id definitely spend more time in Brittany.
simons123 said:
Boxster5 said:
We love France and have been many many times.
Our normal route after the five and a half hour drive to Folkestone is via Eurotunnel and then our usual first stop would be Honfleur which is lovely.
However, it has become a victim of its own success plus within striking distance for Southerners hopping across for the weekend when it is a bit manic. The restaurants around the harbour aren’t great and a bit of a tourist trap.
A good alternative is Deauville or Trouville just down the road from Honfleur.
We visited Bayeaux but only for the day - we actually thought it was OK but there did seem to be a lack of bars and restaurants.
Dinan was lovely when we stayed there for 3 nights although we haven’t really explored much in Brittany.
Our favourite area is probably the Dordogne which we have visited many times.
You mention Annecy and again we have been there numerous times - it’s beautiful and the lake is stunning. It gets very busy especially with day trippers.
We are due on our Euro road trip in less than 2 weeks and our itinerary via Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is Metz for 3 nights (never been before) then South to Aix-les-Bains for 7 nights (been before and a short drive to Annecy and located on Lac du Bourget (largest & deepest freshwater lake in France) then up to Epernay for 4 nights (Champagne region and been a few times now) before heading back for the return ferry. Heading to Annecy, good stopping off points would be Troyes (lovely old town) or Epernay.
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
Interesting....So if we drive to Annecy is it better catching the ferry to Amsterdam then rather then Calais??Our normal route after the five and a half hour drive to Folkestone is via Eurotunnel and then our usual first stop would be Honfleur which is lovely.
However, it has become a victim of its own success plus within striking distance for Southerners hopping across for the weekend when it is a bit manic. The restaurants around the harbour aren’t great and a bit of a tourist trap.
A good alternative is Deauville or Trouville just down the road from Honfleur.
We visited Bayeaux but only for the day - we actually thought it was OK but there did seem to be a lack of bars and restaurants.
Dinan was lovely when we stayed there for 3 nights although we haven’t really explored much in Brittany.
Our favourite area is probably the Dordogne which we have visited many times.
You mention Annecy and again we have been there numerous times - it’s beautiful and the lake is stunning. It gets very busy especially with day trippers.
We are due on our Euro road trip in less than 2 weeks and our itinerary via Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry is Metz for 3 nights (never been before) then South to Aix-les-Bains for 7 nights (been before and a short drive to Annecy and located on Lac du Bourget (largest & deepest freshwater lake in France) then up to Epernay for 4 nights (Champagne region and been a few times now) before heading back for the return ferry. Heading to Annecy, good stopping off points would be Troyes (lovely old town) or Epernay.
As you say, most French’s towns or villages knock anything in the depressing UK into a cocked hat. They just take a pride in their surroundings whilst we seem to have become a bit “third world” in the case of cleanliness and quality of services.
From Staffordshire, I think you’re better sticking with Eurotunnel.
We did Durham to Troyes via Eurotunnel and that was a ten and a half hour drive non-stop so it’s not for the faint hearted.
However driving in France is so much better than the crowded UK - if you’ve time avoid the Autoroutes and find the D roads which give you a much nicer view of the country. Having said that the Autoroutes can really get you through France with minimum effort.
That tour via Troyes was to do the Route Napoleon then staying in Mougins before heading back via Italy, Switzerland then into Alsace with a stop off in Lille (another great city).
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