musical

We are travelling from Mont St. Michel to Paris and thinking of over nighting in Rennes. Is this a good place to stop? Any suggestions for hotels?
Thanks

Betty1

Mont Saint Michel to Rennes is only 42 miles, can be driven in 1 hour 6 mins according to viamichelin.com. Rennes to Paris is 217 miles, driving time 3 hours, 20 mins.(mostly by Autoroute). So, no, Rennes does not make sense as an overnight between MSM and Paris. In fact, you don't need an overnight at all if you just want to get from MSM to Paris. If you want to meander and see some more of Brittany, you could see Rennes and/or Fougeres and overnight somewhere closer to Paris. This assumes that you are driving.

Another option would be to drop your car in Rennes and take the train (TGV) to Paris which makes the trip in 2-2.5 hours.

Some more information about your means of transportation and what, if anything, you might want to do between MSM and Paris would help us advise you better.

Underhill

Rennes is not, unfortunately, blessed with memorable hotels, and I think it would definitely be out of the way for returning from Mont St.-Michel to Paris. Why not stop somewhere in Normandy instead? Rouen would do nicely if you want a large city; otherwise one of the picturesque smaller towns along the route would be very pleasant. Or you could drive to Rouen and take the TGV from there to Paris and have extra time in that city.

Christina

It isn't that far from the Mont, as Betty, said, but if you want to take the train into Paris and do want to stop, it makes sense. It isn't out of the way between the Mont and Paris at all, it's pretty much directly south of Mont St-Michel and would be the normal route back to Paris IMO, if you want a major road or the train.

Underhill

Is there something in particular in Rennes that interests you? We didn't find it all that interesting, especially given the charming towns in the vicinity.

musical

I think I could be clearer. We are actually coming from Amsterdam, want definitely to go to Mont St. Michel and spend one night somewhere before we arrive in Paris. I am open to suggestions. Rennes just popped up on the map.
Thanks

RonZ

musical...are you driving a rental car?

Sue4

Why not spend the night right at Mont St. Michel? That's supposed to be the best way to see it, without all the crowds. I wish I had done it that way.

Patrick

Sue4 is right. There are two different Mont St. Michel's. The one is the busy little town jammed with daytrippers from about 10 in the morning until about 4 in the afternoon. The other one is the one you see if you stay over night. Wander up to the top (hopefully there will be a sound and light show), have dinner in a nice little restaurant. Look out from the mount into the moonlight. Beats spending a night in Rennes in my book.

JeanneB

musical: I DO NOT recommend Rennes for an overnight. In fact, I wouldn't bother visiting it at all. We loved the coastal area...St. Malo, Dinard, Dinan.

We were to catch the morning TGV Rennes-Paris and planned to spend the night in Rennes near the station. We disliked it so much we ditched our plans and caught the night train back to Paris...even though we had no hotel reservations in Paris. (It worked out OK.)

If you're driving to Paris, there are many more charming places to overnight.

Underhill

JeanneB is right; there are much better places to stay than in Rennes, especially up along the coast. How about Bayeux or Honfleur? Both are a pleasant drive from Le Mont St.-Michel.

But that raises an interesting issue that I am thinking about for our trip in September: is there any reason for concern about leaving luggage in one's car while visiting the Mont? If so, then staying someplace near at hand might be a very good idea so that the luggage can be left for later pick-up.

jkeljo

all suggestions very interesting. Where would you stay at Mt. St Michel?

klondike

I would definitely recommend staying ON the Mont instead of nearby, which limits the # of hotel possibilities.

We have stayed at Le Mouton Blanc twice and been pleased. Our rooms while large, weren't luxurious (but then it is only a 2starred hotel) and I don't know about AC as we normally travel off season. The rooms do have a lot of character, however, with the beamed ceilings and half-timbered walls. We like the street side view because it is a hoot to watch all the visitors in the afternoon and then watch the early am "restocking" of all the restaurants by hand or electric cart. If you need quiet, I would ask for a back room off the street, which may offer a view of the bay instead.

Le Mouton Blanc's restaurant is quite good, especially for the price. As for the famous Mere Poulard, and their omelettes, IMO they're way beyond fluffy...they've like been homogenized and are too "wet" for my taste. Obviously, others feel differently. Rooms at La Mere Poulard are fancier, but so are the prices.

Have a grand time, and do walk the ramparts in the evening, after the tourists have gone home.

Underhill

How do you get your luggage up to the hotels on the Mont?

Sue4

Underhill, I didn't stay on the Mont - just day-tripped, but the parking lot wasn't too long of a walk up to the area where the hotels are. I think you would just have to carry the luggage. It seems to me that the hotels weren't too high up on the Mont.