Published on Aug, 2024
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the Mont St. Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we were expertly taken care of by our guide Fabris from start to finish. While smaller groups may opt to travel via train, or even stay overnight, we had a packed schedule in Paris that required a different mode of transportation. Booking this with a private van and tour was absolutely perfect for my family of 7, including 2 senior parents-in-law. In a way, it felt a lot more personal to drive across the French countryside, as we got to see parts of France that told a more vivid story of the country's history. There were ample stopovers so the 3-4 hour drive did not seem so tiring, and Fabris regaled us with tales, anecdotes, and stories that kept us informed and entertained. When we got to the Mont St. Michel, there were heaps of people, both locals and tourists, but the tour allowed us a skip-the-line pass which was immensely helpful to cater to a relatively large group with seniors in attendance. (Fair warning: There truly is a LOT of walking and stairs to climb, as the abbey was built against the actual formation of the rock. So, elevation!) Every nook and cranny of Mont St. Michel, even against a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd of people, really felt like you were taken out of time and thrust back into the Middle Ages. Again, Fabris was a true expert in sharing the history and knowledge behind each wall, pillar, and architecture we walked through. You are given some free time to roam and eat as well, before heading back to your drop-off point.
All in all, we were so happy to have had this experience to make family memories in Normandie, and the service was everything promised upon booking. The price may seem steep compared to other packages online, but by head, we rounded up to about €250~ each person. Tallying up the expertise of our tour guide, the comfort of van travel, the skip-the-line pass, and the actual tour of the abbey/monastery/chapel/village, it was well worth the cost! Can't recommend this enough especially if you are unable to take a train to Mont St. Michel, and kudos to Fabris for his kind attention and patience whilst we navigated every picturesque scene, sight, and landmark of Mont St. Michel!