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Normandy
Posted on 10/10/18 at 11:43 pm
Posted on 10/10/18 at 11:43 pm
I’d like to plan a trip to Normandy in June
Any tips? How many days should I allow?
Where to stay?
How much does it cost to view the war memorials?
Thanks
Any tips? How many days should I allow?
Where to stay?
How much does it cost to view the war memorials?
Thanks
6
Posted on 10/11/18 at 12:31 am to kjntgr
Normandy is quite. You can see plenty in a few days. It depends on how much you want to drive. It’s a 4 hour car ride from Paris. My recommendation is to visit as much as possible. Nothing will disappoint. To help with your history, watch The Longest Day before your trip.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 12:48 am to montana
I’m gonna rent and car and hopefully dad and uncle will be with me
Posted on 10/11/18 at 7:39 am to kjntgr
Paris to Caen by train. Rent car there and stay in Bayeux. Very centralized for seeing everything.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 7:44 am to kjntgr
I did this last October, driving from Paris via Giverny-Les Andelys, then on to Bayeux. Spent four nights in Bayeux, using it as a base to visit the landing beaches & associated historic sites. Many of the memorials are free (like the US cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, or the remains of the harbor at Arromanches, or the very somber German cemetery at La Cambe), or just completely out in the open (the gun batteries at Longue-sur-Mer). There are a few organized museums (some just dusty collections of war surplus), but the one at Utah Beach has well curated exhibits, preserved German trenches/reinforcements, and a view of the beach).
Driving from Paris airport wasn’t so bad, but I’d say that sat nav is essential for a trip like this. Coastal Normandy is crisscrossed with farm roads, and having a satellite connected GPS made finding tiny, out of the way spots like the church at Angoville-au-plain very easy. I say sat nav, b/c I just rented in Scotland and got a sh*tty Audi with non-satellite nav, and it was worse than useless....it did not dynamically recalculate if you deviated from the route, it only shouted at you to turn around and go the other way.
Bayeaux is a pretty, charming town, with a large Saturday market, the famous tapestries, and a range of small hotels & plenty of gites/AirBnBs. I stayed in a cool 5th-floor walkup tucked into one of the historic defensive towers once part of the old city walls for less than $100/night (2 BR, full kitchen). The town is full of tourists, but not obnoxiously so. Wide range of restaurants at all price points, and a lovely cathedral & decent war museum in the town itself.
If you have other questions, please post. I got loads of help from this board in planning my trip.
Driving from Paris airport wasn’t so bad, but I’d say that sat nav is essential for a trip like this. Coastal Normandy is crisscrossed with farm roads, and having a satellite connected GPS made finding tiny, out of the way spots like the church at Angoville-au-plain very easy. I say sat nav, b/c I just rented in Scotland and got a sh*tty Audi with non-satellite nav, and it was worse than useless....it did not dynamically recalculate if you deviated from the route, it only shouted at you to turn around and go the other way.
Bayeaux is a pretty, charming town, with a large Saturday market, the famous tapestries, and a range of small hotels & plenty of gites/AirBnBs. I stayed in a cool 5th-floor walkup tucked into one of the historic defensive towers once part of the old city walls for less than $100/night (2 BR, full kitchen). The town is full of tourists, but not obnoxiously so. Wide range of restaurants at all price points, and a lovely cathedral & decent war museum in the town itself.
If you have other questions, please post. I got loads of help from this board in planning my trip.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 9:22 am to kjntgr
Took a train from Paris to Caen, then changed trains to Bayeux. We stayed at the Hotel Tardif. It is fantastic, in town across from the Cathedral. Easy walk to anything in town. We took a tour that lasted all day. For just that we were there 2 nights, partly due to train schedules. The people in Bayeux are great. We went to a bar, and I forget the name, that had currency from all over tacked up behind the bar. There was a $1 with Roll Tide, I had the bartender put a $5 with LSU Geaux Tigers on top of it.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 6:34 pm to kjntgr
I'm planning the same (as part of a larger EU trip).
I will likely be solo so my plan was to take public transport to Bayeux and then do a full day guided tour with Overlord Tours.
Anybody have any feedback about Overlord? I've heard good things, but trust the wisdom of this board. Renting a car and trying to figure things out on my own seems like a disaster waiting to happen. And this is on my bucket list so I want the maximum experience.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 7:52 pm to hungryone
great post. I agree. we stayed in bayeux and drive to all points of normandy. fascinating area for history buffs. go to st mare eglise, Carentan and the landing beaches. Pointe du hoc well worth a visit too.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 8:03 pm to AUFANATL
We used a tour but I do not remember who. But a tour guide will have stories and facts you will not have on your own. Plus worrying about driving.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 8:11 pm to kjntgr
We're doing this too late may/june for the 75th anniversary. Just getting started on the research/planning.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 8:29 pm to AlceeFortier
You were a great help, IIRC.
Re driving, it’s pretty easy. French roads are well marked, and the automated toll booths take US credit cards just fine. Gas is easily found as designated pull offs along the autoroutes, and a car will get you deep into the countryside on your own schedule. If you don’t want to deal with leaving-Paris traffic, rent and return at the train station in Caen. I elected not to do so because I wanted to see Monet’s gardens at Giverny.
Tons of guidebooks cover this area. Some, like the Major and Mrs Holts books, even list the GPS coordinates sites.
The landing beaches stretch for more than 60 miles....if you are on a guided tour, you can’t move at your own pace. I’m sure you can find smaller tours with limited groups, but this is not a see-it-all-in-one-day area, esp if you are deep into military history. Also, certain sites were overwhelming to experience....the US cemetery and walking on Bloody Omaha beach took some time and reflection for me. I would NOT have appreciated being herded back onto a bus with the chattering masses after that.
Re driving, it’s pretty easy. French roads are well marked, and the automated toll booths take US credit cards just fine. Gas is easily found as designated pull offs along the autoroutes, and a car will get you deep into the countryside on your own schedule. If you don’t want to deal with leaving-Paris traffic, rent and return at the train station in Caen. I elected not to do so because I wanted to see Monet’s gardens at Giverny.
Tons of guidebooks cover this area. Some, like the Major and Mrs Holts books, even list the GPS coordinates sites.
The landing beaches stretch for more than 60 miles....if you are on a guided tour, you can’t move at your own pace. I’m sure you can find smaller tours with limited groups, but this is not a see-it-all-in-one-day area, esp if you are deep into military history. Also, certain sites were overwhelming to experience....the US cemetery and walking on Bloody Omaha beach took some time and reflection for me. I would NOT have appreciated being herded back onto a bus with the chattering masses after that.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 10:53 pm to hungryone
I will be reading this post with interest because we are scheduling this same trip for next April. I have my round trip airfare to Paris booked already. We are going to Paris for four days, Normandy for five days, then back to Paris for four days. In Normandy we will stay in Bayeux and visit the D-Day beaches for two days and go to Mt. St. Michel one day. I am definitely looking for ideas and suggestions.
Posted on 10/11/18 at 10:59 pm to geauxpurple
Should be a great trip, direct flights from NYC/BOSTON TO CDG are really low
As low as 145 for a DIRECT FLIGHT (one way)
As low as 145 for a DIRECT FLIGHT (one way)
Posted on 10/12/18 at 9:09 am to kjntgr
I got round trip from MSY to CDG for $550 and was happy to get that. I have become used to paying twice that much.
Posted on 10/12/18 at 11:07 am to hungryone
quote:Did it shout in a Scottish brogue?
it only shouted at you to turn around and go the other way.
Hey ya Jobby, stop bein' a Fud an' git yer Boaby headed right!
Posted on 10/12/18 at 11:11 am to kjntgr
quote:It's gonna be full of high school kids from Canada and the US. I'm taking a group.
I’d like to plan a trip to Normandy in June
Posted on 10/12/18 at 1:24 pm to hungryone
quote:
I did this last October, driving from Paris via Giverny-Les Andelys, then on to Bayeux. Spent four nights in Bayeux, using it as a base to visit the landing beaches & associated historic sites. Many of the memorials are free (like the US cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, or the remains of the harbor at Arromanches, or the very somber German cemetery at La Cambe), or just completely out in the open (the gun batteries at Longue-sur-Mer). There are a few organized museums (some just dusty collections of war surplus), but the one at Utah Beach has well curated exhibits, preserved German trenches/reinforcements, and a view of the beach).
Driving from Paris airport wasn’t so bad, but I’d say that sat nav is essential for a trip like this. Coastal Normandy is crisscrossed with farm roads, and having a satellite connected GPS made finding tiny, out of the way spots like the church at Angoville-au-plain very easy. I say sat nav, b/c I just rented in Scotland and got a sh*tty Audi with non-satellite nav, and it was worse than useless....it did not dynamically recalculate if you deviated from the route, it only shouted at you to turn around and go the other way.
Bayeaux is a pretty, charming town, with a large Saturday market, the famous tapestries, and a range of small hotels & plenty of gites/AirBnBs. I stayed in a cool 5th-floor walkup tucked into one of the historic defensive towers once part of the old city walls for less than $100/night (2 BR, full kitchen). The town is full of tourists, but not obnoxiously so. Wide range of restaurants at all price points, and a lovely cathedral & decent war museum in the town itself.
If you have other questions, please post. I got loads of help from this board in planning my trip.
I agree with all of this. I also would not miss St. Mere Eglise.
And I'd add that if you have the time, go out to Mont Saint Michel. It's a hike, but if you are renting cars is worth it.
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