Marriott d'Ile-de-France this September

[ConejoRed]

We have just received confirmation of our exchange request into a 2 bedroom Marriott Village d’Ile-de-France for September 2nd, 2012. The Request First exchange took about 3 weeks to match with a Marriott DSVII 2 bedroom Thanksgiving week reservation. Given that we had a very narrow check in window (just a single weekend as this will follow a two week AMA waterways European river cruise) we were pleased to see this match so quickly. One of the main sightseeing objectives for DH is the WWII areas around Normandy. I know that this would be a long day trip from d'Ile-de-France, but can those that may have done this trip give me an idea on how long it may take to drive to that area? We will have a rental car as the cruise ends in Amsterdam and we will be driving down to Paris spending a few days in Belgium on the way. Or would it be less stressful to just return the car in Paris and find a bus trip day tour to the area to save doing the driving ourselves (DH is from the UK and is used to driving in London so I would expect that he could handle handle driving in France pretty well)? Are there tours available that leave (or pick up from) from the Marriott to Normandy?

Any other ingisht from other Tuggers is greatly appreciated!

 

[Swice]

tours

We debated and debated about going during our week there (we were there about a year and a half ago).

There were plenty of bus tours available... but if I recall, most of the tours left from downtown Paris. ...That would mean leaving the villa around 5am.

We had a car for part of our week and we simply decided with children, it would have been too long of a day trip. leaving early and getting back late (which would have wiped us out for next day).

WORD OF WARNING: NOTE THE TRAIN SCHEDULES COMING BACK FROM DOWNTOWN PARIS. We missed the last train to the Disneyland stop by a few minutes. At that time of night trains stop running that far. Our train ended several miles away from the villas. Had to call Marriott and they called a cab for us. What an adventure! :whoopie:

We will return to d'Ile-de-France some day!

 

[Pompey Family]

Driving to Normandy from d'Ile De France would take in the region of around 3 hours. It's a very easy drive and I found driving in France to be extremely easy despite living in the UK. I haven't driven in Paris although I wouldn't have any qualms about it, it looks no worse than London.

 

[Bill4728]

Driving in Paris itself is something that you want to avoid. Try to get a rental that you can return in the area around the TS. There were several rental car companies with locations at the disneyland train station

 

[ConejoRed]

Thank you for all of the comments. I thought it may be a rather long day trip to try and do from the resort. DH also wants to visit WWI sites in Belgium (Ypres)/Northern France (Battle of the Somme) so maybe the best approach is just try and do WWII as part of the "drive" down from Amsterdam to Paris (maybe use a route along the coast etc.). It looks like a good place to make the last "overnight" stay is Caen in order to visit the Museum there then drive to the beaches etc. (other suggestions welcome!). We dock in Amsterdam Wednesday morning and have few days (Sunday checkin) to get to the resort so we are not rushed for time in that regard I don't think.

We will then just need to figure out if we return the car (rented in Amsterdam) once we get to the resort, or keep it for other day trips the following week and return it to the airport at the end of the trip. The first part of this grand vacation will be several weeks in London during the Olympics (staying with DH's mum) so I think we are going to be using most of our time at the resort just relaxing after sightseeing overload!

 

[windje2000]

Thank you for all of the comments. I thought it may be a rather long day trip to try and do from the resort. DH also wants to visit WWI sites in Belgium (Ypres)/Northern France (Battle of the Somme) so maybe the best approach is just try and do WWII as part of the "drive" down from Amsterdam to Paris (maybe use a route along the coast etc.). It looks like a good place to make the last "overnight" stay is Caen in order to visit the Museum there then drive to the beaches etc. (other suggestions welcome!). We dock in Amsterdam Wednesday morning and have few days (Sunday checkin) to get to the resort so we are not rushed for time in that regard I don't think.

We will then just need to figure out if we return the car (rented in Amsterdam) once we get to the resort, or keep it for other day trips the following week and return it to the airport at the end of the trip. The first part of this grand vacation will be several weeks in London during the Olympics (staying with DH's mum) so I think we are going to be using most of our time at the resort just relaxing after sightseeing overload!

Sounds like DH may well want to spend a night or even two in the Normandy area as there is lots to experience there. Pointe du hoc is well worth a visit, as is Arromanche and St Mere d'Eglise.

Find and visit a German cemetery -- very different from the Allied sites.

Spend a night in one of the small hotels on Mont St Michel and walk up to the abbey after dinner when the crowds are gone. Have an omelette at La Mere Poulard.

See the Bayeaux Tapestry.

Enjoy the 'hard' apple cider