How to Find Luxury Hotels in Normandy France

France's northern region, Normandy, is known primarily for its architecture. Its cathedrals, castles and abbeys are eye candy for the history buff or the amateur architect. The southern region of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne is known as 'Belle Époque' district for its villas with multi-colored facades. In Normandy, you can visit the beaches where the Allies landed during WWII.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Passport
• Map of Normandy, France
• Computer with Internet access for making reservations
• Valid credit card
• Driver's license

Get to Normandy, France

1. Fly into the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

2. Hop a commuter flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport to any of Normandy's five regional airports. Air France services these routes daily.

3. Purchase a train ticket from Paris to Normandy via the Rail Europe Web site (see below). You'll depart from either Saint-Lazare or Montparnasse in Paris.

Book Luxury Accommodations in Normandy, France

1. Book a room in Rouen's Historic Center to walk to historic monuments nearby, including the Joan of Arc Museum and the famous cathedral where many kings of France were crowned.

2. Book luxury accommodations in Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, one of France's premier spa destinations. Three-star hotels are in abundance here, with the best hotels charging around $300 per night.

3. Stay in Bayeux to see the famous Bayeux Tapestry and a cathedral that William the Conqueror visited just before setting off to invade England. Check the Rue Saint Jean for 3-star hotels at approximately $200 per night.

4. Check out the luxury 4-star accommodations in Honfleur, where you'll have about a dozen options for under $200 per night. Honfleur is considered by many to be the birthplace of Impressionism.

Decide What to See and Do in Normandy, France

1. Enjoy Normandy's world-famous cheeses, such as Boursin, Camembert, Livarot and Neufchâtel.

2. Visit the beaches of Normandy where some of the fiercest fighting of WWII took place. You can still see the enormous floating harbors at Arromanches, now beached and covered with moss.

3. See the medieval castles and Renaissance chateaux that dot the countryside. Rouen, Caen and Falaise have excellently restored former royal residences.

4. To book accommodations in Normandy, France, call Normandy Tourism at 011 ([phone] or visit the link below. If you're calling outside the US, then it would be 00 ([phone].

Tips & Warnings

• Be polite. The French are very kind to one another and expect similar treatment from tourists. The French greatly enjoy the art of conversation and inquiries about your life or plans are meant to be kind and encouraging rather than nosy.

• If you're staying at a spa resort, be aware that your credit card may show a charge for significantly more than you agreed to pay. Often, spas charge more than the amount due to make sure the card has sufficient funds; when the charge goes through, the extra amount will disappear.