UPDATED FEB 2020. Confession: I’m not usually a big Airbnb fan. I prefer hotels most of the time. I like the convenience, comfort, and that it’s so different from regular home life – aka no cooking or cleaning. But, there are some occasions, like the cabin I love in northern Norway and the one I am about to tell you about where the Airbnb experience rivals the hotel experience for me. If you have been wondering where to stay when visiting Normandy beaches in France, here is why I think this Airbnb is the best choice.
Where To Stay When Visiting Normandy Beaches In France
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
The basics
Location: Bayeux, Normandy
Good for: Families, friends, couples
Cost: €90 per night
Bookings: Through Airbnb
Why this is my pick of where to stay when visiting Normandy beaches
I recommend staying in Bayeux because it has a convenient, central location that makes visiting the Normandy beaches easy.
It is just a 30-40 minute drive to reach the main beaches and cemeteries in Normandy.
This Airbnb is just outside of the Bayeux town center so you will enjoy the location but get the peace and quiet of the farmhouse.
Other choices on where to stay in Bayeux
If this Airbnb is booked for your dates, I recommend searching on Booking.com for a place in Bayeux.
I use Booking.com to book most of my accommodation when I am traveling and it always comes through with a good deal.
If you travel often, it’s a good idea to make an account for their Genius loyalty program. This way you can get extra discounts over time – I often use my Genius perks to get 15% off when I book.
Certainly my pick of where to stay when visiting Normandy beaches because of the convenient location, comfortable space, and unique charm.
How to get to Bayeux
For my visit to Normandy, I flew into the Paris Beauvais Airport, picked up a rental car and drove to Bayeux where this Airbnb is located.
The scenic drive was beautiful and took about 3 hours in total.
I recommend using the “Get Directions” link in the Airbnb confirmation email to navigate there. Once you click the link it takes you to Google Maps and has the direct coordinates loaded as your destination.
For easiest navigating, I’d recommend using that link as opposed to typing in the address.
Cute horses near the farmhouse
What else makes this the best place to stay for visiting Normandy beaches
I was visiting with my dad, and when we arrived we were given a tour of the farmhouse.
I was taken aback by the little touches. Fresh cut flowers left in the rooms, coffee pods and milk, a bottle of water and, the piece de resistance, a bottle of locally produced cider which the region is famous for.
Of course, I tried it and it tasted stronger than the average cider, with a strong fermented fruit taste, but still quite refreshing.
It’s always the little things that stand out for me and all of these little touches definitely did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
As I looked around, from the walls to the antiques, everything about this place exuded a sense of times gone by and vintage charm. It’s the perfect pair for an area full of rich history.
The hosts do not speak English but, in one of those heartwarming travel moments where you can communicate with people without the use of language, we were able to communicate everything we needed for checking in quite easily.
Perfect for families
Given the size of the farmhouse, which sleeps 5, it would be a great choice for families who are looking for somewhere to stay when visiting the Normandy beaches.
The kids might also get a kick out of seeing the chickens, ducks, and rabbits there as well.
A note on Wi-fi
The home does have free wi-fi but you have to sit next to one window on the ground floor to be able to use it as it doesn’t connect throughout the house.
If your phone carrier doesn’t have a good roaming plan, I recommend buying a sim card once you arrive in France.
For my visit, I made a spreadsheet prior to arriving that had the places we wanted to visit, address, hours, driving time which was helpful once I got there and didn’t have much Internet access.
Other facilities
There are 2 cozy bedrooms – one with 2 beds and another with 1 bed. The beds deserve a special mention because they are incredibly comfortable.
You will also have a lounge room, kitchen and dining area, and washing machine for laundry.
What to eat in Bayeux
Even though it felt like a rural town, it was actually only 10 minutes drive from the city center.
There is a supermarket in town where you can buy food if you prefer to cook in the Airbnb. I did this for breakfast and bought food to make there before going out exploring each day.
If you’d like to try restaurants in Bayeux, I recommend La Maison Blanche (definitely recommend the Lobster if they have it when you visit) or Restaurant Le Drakkar.
There are a lot of stores and restaurants in Bayeux to choose from.
Overall thoughts on this Airbnb
I recommend this Airbnb highly and have actually returned since I originally wrote this post.
The central location, proximity to food, shops and sights, friendly hosts, value for money, historic charm, and little over and above touches all combined to create a stay that was both comfortable and memorable.
Other guides to help you plan your visit to France
For more information
Visit the Airbnb page to book your stay or contact the hosts
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