Le havre to giverny

[LisabethB]

We will be on constellation on 13 oct 2012 wine cruise and would like to do day trip to giverny. Ship tour only allows short visit to garden and rest of time in Rouen which we have previously visited. Anyone have any suggestions as to independqnt trip to gardens to allow a longer stay.

[Hlitner]

Its easy to do if you simply rent a car and drive the 1 1/2 hours. By train it would take over 2 hours and you still would need to get the last 5 miles from the Vernon train station to Giverny (by bus or taxi).

 

Hank

[John Bull]

Take the Paris-bound train to Vernon, then either the local bus (limited timetable) or taxi about 4 miles to Giverny. Be sure of the bus timings back to Vernon, or arrange for the taxi driver to return for you.

 

Should be cheaper than a rented car.

But you may not consider the journey worthwhile for just Monet's Garden - and a car will allow you to build in another stop or two (sorry, no suggestions)

 

JB :)

[tartanexile81]

We've done the same trip with Celebrity and loved it, although we had been to Giverny before at a different time of year.

 

We seemed to have a good length of time at Giverny, certainly enough to browse round the garden at our leisure. We then had a fantastic lunch at a country mill. The water wheel was working and the setting was just beautiful. We were a bit tired by the time we got to Rouen but all the same we thought it was an interesting town with an historic centre.

[Hlitner]

Take the Paris-bound train to Vernon, then either the local bus (limited timetable) or taxi about 4 miles to Giverny. Be sure of the bus timings back to Vernon, or arrange for the taxi driver to return for you.

 

Should be cheaper than a rented car.

But you may not consider the journey worthwhile for just Monet's Garden - and a car will allow you to build in another stop or two (sorry, no suggestions)

 

JB :)

 

Hi John,

Although we mentioned the train as an option we are not so sure its a great idea. The problem is that most of the trains take nearly 3 hours (one way) except the 9:03am which would be the ideal train since it only takes two hours. But the train ticket is about $2 3a person (using US dollars for the OP) plus the cost of round trip taxis from Vernon to Giverny which I assume would add about 10-15 Euros each way. So when you add it all up it sounds like the trip via train/taxi would cost around $75 for a couple (not much less then a rental car which is faster and gives one more options). If using the train we would take that 9:03 (which costs about $10 more per person) and use the 3:06 return train which would give the OP plenty of time at Monet's house plus some time to grab lunch at one of the nearby restaurants.

 

I would add that we have never been big fans of the SNCF (French railroad) since it seems like that have a grudge against us. Nearly everytime we plan on using French trains they are either on strike or running late :(. That being said, last year we did use the trains between Le Havre and Rouen and everything worked perfectly (it was a miracle).

 

Hank

[John Bull]

Hi John,

Although we mentioned the train as an option we are not so sure its a great idea. The problem is that most of the trains take nearly 3 hours (one way) except the 9:03am which would be the ideal train since it only takes two hours. But the train ticket is about $2 3a person (using US dollars for the OP) plus the cost of round trip taxis from Vernon to Giverny which I assume would add about 10-15 Euros each way. So when you add it all up it sounds like the trip via train/taxi would cost around $75 for a couple (not much less then a rental car which is faster and gives one more options). If using the train we would take that 9:03 (which costs about $10 more per person) and use the 3:06 return train which would give the OP plenty of time at Monet's house plus some time to grab lunch at one of the nearby restaurants.

 

I would add that we have never been big fans of the SNCF (French railroad) since it seems like that have a grudge against us. Nearly everytime we plan on using French trains they are either on strike or running late :(. That being said, last year we did use the trains between Le Havre and Rouen and everything worked perfectly (it was a miracle).

 

Hank

 

Hi Hank,

Although I live just across the ditch from Le Havre & visit friends in Normandy quite often as well as having driven a few D-Day coach tours, I always drive & I'll happily bow to your better knowledge of the chemin-de-fer. ;)

 

JB :)

[Hlitner]

JB,

Would love to hear you say "chemin-de-fer" with a brit accent :)

[John Bull]

JB,

Would love to hear you say "chemin-de-fer" with a brit accent :)

 

Couldn't be worse than french with a yankie accent, Hank :p

 

JB :D ;)

[jwds]

We will be on constellation on 13 oct 2012 wine cruise and would like to do day trip to giverny. Ship tour only allows short visit to garden and rest of time in Rouen which we have previously visited. Anyone have any suggestions as to independqnt trip to gardens to allow a longer stay.

 

Check out:

 

http://www.radiotaxi-lehavre.com/circuits_touristiques-radiotaxi_lehavre-76.aspx

 

For two people it is a little pricey but if you can get four it becomes reasonable.

 

We did the Giverny tour and really enjoyed it. Do know that the driver is not a guide, you would be on you own at the gardens.

[Hlitner]

Check out:

 

http://www.radiotaxi-lehavre.com/circuits_touristiques-radiotaxi_lehavre-76.aspx

 

For two people it is a little pricey but if you can get four it becomes reasonable.

 

We did the Giverny tour and really enjoyed it. Do know that the driver is not a guide, you would be on you own at the gardens.

 

340 Euro (+ tip) for a taxi vs less then 50 Euro for a rental car (Hertz does 1 day rentals for about $60). Plus you have the rental car for the entire day...not just for a 4 hour taxi jaunt. Just trying to keep things in perspective.

 

We have never understood the reluctance of many travelers to rent cars in Western Europe. For fellow Americans, driving in western Europe is similar to driving in the states. The roads are excellent, signage is good, and GPS makes it even easier. Now for our English friends (like JB) it is a bit of a challenge :)

 

Hank

 

Hank

[John Bull]

340 Euro (+ tip) for a taxi vs less then 50 Euro for a rental car (Hertz does 1 day rentals for about $60). Plus you have the rental car for the entire day...not just for a 4 hour taxi jaunt. Just trying to keep things in perspective.

 

We have never understood the reluctance of many travelers to rent cars in Western Europe. For fellow Americans, driving in western Europe is similar to driving in the states. The roads are excellent, signage is good, and GPS makes it even easier. Now for our English friends (like JB) it is a bit of a challenge :)

 

Hank

 

Hank

 

I have no problem in the UK, Hank, where we drive on the left :p

Or in France, where they drive on the right :p

 

The difficult one is Malta.

Where everyone drives on the shady side :D

 

JB :)

[srpilo]

Couldn't be worse than french with a yankie accent, Hank :p

 

JB :D ;)

 

Hey Hey !! I resemble that comment !!!!! :D:):D

 

 

 

Srpilo