more advice about Caen

thank you grosbill. I think we will settle on somewhere around Caen. Looking at cottages. Do you know of any websites for the areas you mention. Also we are based in Holland so would you advise on a train or a bus to Caen and then renting a car. Also because of the low New Zealand dollar we are on a budget so if there are any hints on making our dollar go further it would be appreciated

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If you will already have a car in the Netherlands and are returning there after your visit to Normandy I would suggest driving to Caen. It would probably take you about as long to travel by train from most of the Netherlands, especially as you would have to go through Paris — and change stations as well as trains there. There are many places worth seeing along the wauy if you have time — Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Lille, Amiens and Rouen among others. If there are three or more of you the car will probably be no more expensive than the cheapest train tickets. Rent a manual transmission (cheaper) diesel engined (better mileage. less expensive per litre) car. The only problem will be if you are not returning to the Netherlands with the car. In that case there will likely be a significant repatriation fee for the car. It still might be the better way to go however.

I recall that grosbill mentioned a number of places including Cabourg, Ouistreham and Honfleur I think. If you just google Cabourg tourism, Honfleur tourism and so on you will probably find what you are looking for. If you read French try googling the same but using the French tourisme instead of the English tourism.

For rental cottages you could look at www.gites-de-france.com/fr/gites_ruraux

Good luck!

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why not try holiday-rentals.com ... its a u.k website great places ..we%26#39;ve used it many times

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Another few tips...

Buy your petrol at the big supermarkets, not at the motorway stations. Petrol is about 10c a litre cheaper in the supermarkets

If you are not fussy, you might consider looking at mobile homes on camp sites. These mobile homes are very comfortable and have good facilities.

There are a number of operators including Keycamp and Canvas.

www.keycamp.ie There is a lovely site in Houlgate, which is about 20 minutes drive from Caen. There is another near Mont St. Michel.

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