Dday beaches tour guides?

Can anyone recommend someone other than Overlord tours? They have the best reviews however they have increased their prices substantially for 2010 (from 450 euro to 800 euro!) We are on Oceania in July 2010, docking in Le Havre. Some of us are planning on going to Paris and some to beaches of Normandy. Would appreciate some recommendations. Thanks.

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Helen

Have you considered simply renting a car and driving yourselves to Normandy? There is plenty of information and guide books that cover the area and its a pretty easy drive. You might even have enough time to stop in Honfleur and your way back to the port. A rental car will cost you about $100 for the day (a bit more if you want a large car).

Hank

Battlebus Tours is the other biggy I see mentioned on the Tripadvisor boards.

Have you considered simply renting a car and driving yourselves to Normandy? There is plenty of information and guide books that cover the area and its a pretty easy drive. You might even have enough time to stop in Honfleur and your way back to the port. A rental car will cost you about $100 for the day (a bit more if you want a large car). Hank

Excellent point by Hank. A rental car gives you several options. Driving in this area is fairly manageable and you can do one or two more places than just the wonderful WWII D-Day site with a car. You can also consider some of these options:

GIVERNY: This is a pilgrimage for art lovers in this picturesque village (just east of Vernon where the train from Paris took us and we got our car for our day-trip in this area). It is on the banks of the Seine and was the home of French impressionist painter Claude Monet. Visitors can wander through Monet's spacious house and the exuberant gardens. Near these garden is the famed pond and bridge, the inspiration of his famous water lily series.

BAYEUX: This charming town is built around the magnificent Cathedral of Notre-Dame and is home to the 200-foot long Bayeux Tapestry. This is a world famous masterpiece whose cartoon-like scenes depict the epic tale of William the Conqueror's expedition conquering England in 1066 AD. We had a wonderful lunch at the Lion d’Or, a former coaching inn dating back to 1770. The town/area tourism website is: http://www.bessin-normandie.fr

WORLD WAR II LANDING BEACHES: The largest military landing in history took place in Normandy on June 6, 1944 with 130,000 troops landing that day on the beaches. Monuments, museums and bunkers are a living commemoration to the Battle of Normandy. The American Cemetery is located near Colleville-sur-Mer on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion) and the English Channel. It covers 172 acres and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations. The graves face westward, towards the United States. This cemetery is very moving and is maintained in an incredibly beautiful manner.

MONT-ST-MICHEL (mohn-san-mee-shel) is a unique abbey perched precariously on a 264-foot high rocky islet connected to the mainland by a causeway. Surrounded by over half a mile of massive walls and reached by a steep climb up winding streets, it remains one of the greatest sightseeing attractions in Europe and the second only to the Eiffel Tower as the most visited place in France. Its fortifications enabled the islet to withstand repeated English assaults during the Hundred Years' War. The abbey served as a prison during Napoleon's reign. Restored after 1863, and connected to the mainland by a causeway in 1875), Mont-St.Michel is also known for its tides, the highest on the continent. For more tourist info/options: http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com

Lots of great options to consider and do in this charming and historic area. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Thanks for the replies. Terry, we have a separate port for Mont Ste Michele and will of course be going there. We have been before to Giverny and agree that it is wonderful but: The stop in Le Havre has resulted in my group splitting up: 5 of us want to go to Paris and 3 want to see the Normandy landing beaches. If they rent a car can they hire guides at the sights to tell the stories? Do the sights not require explanation or is the experience enhanced by narrative? We usually like a guide when we travel so that we truly appreciate what we are seeing. Also Battlebus will not pick up in Le Havre.

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Helen

Thanks for the replies. Terry, we have a separate port for Mont Ste Michele and will of course be going there. We have been before to Giverny and agree that it is wonderful but: The stop in Le Havre has resulted in my group splitting up: 5 of us want to go to Paris and 3 want to see the Normandy landing beaches. If they rent a car can they hire guides at the sights to tell the stories? Do the sights not require explanation or is the experience enhanced by narrative? We usually like a guide when we travel so that we truly appreciate what we are seeing. Also Battlebus will not pick up in Le Havre.

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Helen

When we were driving around Normandy (it was in early October 06) we did not notice any guides near the beaches. In fact, when we drove to Omaha Beach we were the only car in the parking lot when we arrived early one morning. We were spared the summer crowds, the venders, etc. We did have a decent guide book and there are plaque at some of the sites that give pretty decent explanations. The American Cemetery is amazing (used in the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan). At the top of Point du Hoc you can actually go inside the bunkers where the ****s reined fire down on the Rangers as they scaled the cliff. Its all quite amazing. One place that is often skipped is the Peace Museum located in Caen (its only a minute from the highway). This museum is an absolute gem and does a great job explaining the history between WWI and WWII that led up to the war. The French who built this museum did a terrific job in looking "inward" as they tried to accurately explain the role of the French in the war (not a pretty picture). Iam sure we will drive back to that region while we are on another driving trip in France.

Hank

We either do our own thing, or a private tour, about 99% of the time. But when we were doing Normandy area, out of a stop in LeHavre, we wanted to do the Normandy Beaches. We just wanted to walk them, see some of the battle sites, and visit the American Cemetary and museum at Caan (listed in "10,000 Things to See Before You Die"). The private tours seemed way too expensive. I am sure they are great and give tons of information, but that is not what we were looking for. So we did a ship's tour and it was very good. The guide was as informative as he needed to be, and answered all questions in more detail for those who wished more information. We would get to a site, he would give us a 5 minute presentation, and then allow us 20 or so minutes to explore on our own. It was a very nice day.

I have a superb recommendation for you -- http://www.normandy-battlefields.org -- Sharon & Edward Parks took a group of 12 of us to Normandy from Cherbourg in April 2009 while we were all on Voyager transatlantic cruise. Their tour was soooo FANTASTIC! They are a British couple who own a chateau (B&B) in Normandy area and take people on tours. He is retired British marine and also plans special military events for the Queen & family. In late August a friend of mine here in TN took her father for trip in England, Scotland & Normandy -- she stayed at their B&B and went on 2 different tours with the couple. When you contact her, tell Sharon that Kay D. from Tennessee said Hello!!! Our ship arrived late that day in the early afternoon, so they had to cut out the french picnic with wine!!! When we learned that our ship was stopping at Cherbourg and that RC was NOT offering a Normandy tour, dear hubby INSISTED I find something, so I googled & sent emails to several tour guides, and this couple was "heaven-sent".