livetoroam

Driving myself crazy looking at options to get from London to Bayeux, on to Amboise and end at Charles de Gaul. Help me figure out the plan that is the easiest in terms of traffic and hassles and most cost effective.

Option 1- Eurostar to Paris, train to Caen, get rental car and then return rental car at CDG

Option 2- Eurostar to Lille, get rental car and drive to Bayeux etc and drop off at CDG

Option 3 - Eurostar to Paris, train to Bayeux and after sightseeing there, get train to Caen to get rental car, drive to Amboise, then drop car off somewhere outside of Paris and train on to CDG.

any variation of the above or a completely new plan? I’m trying to minimize driving in Paris traffic, trying to minimize lots of transferring between modes of transport. Help, I’m going round in circles. TIA

bilboburgler

Take a ferry?

neckervd

Good idea, bilboburgler! It's just 6 hrs by ferry from Portsmouth to Caen
https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/booking/trip

janisj

I'd also do ferry, collect a car in Caen and drop it at CDG


1.5+ hour train London to Portsmouth -- ferry to France

livetoroam

I’ll look at the ferry. We are traveling on March 31 so not sure if weather is an issue or not at that time of the year?

bilboburgler

With Climate Change weather conditions are no longer similar to historic norms. You'll find a wide range of options into Ouistreham, le Havre or Cherbourg.

hetismij2

They are big, modern ferries. It wold take a lot to stop them sailing, and they are well stabilised. You could take the overnight to Caen and save a hotel night for instance though you would pay for a cabin then, but even on the day sailings a cabin can be nice to retreat to on the longer crossings.