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Visiting the D-Day landing sites. Transportation?

Visiting the D-Day landing sites. Transportation?

Old Apr 27th, 2011, 01:50 PM
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Visiting the D-Day landing sites. Transportation?

During our stay in Paris we want to take an overnight train trip to Bayeux to visit some of the D-Day landing sites and the American Cemetery. We hope to avoid renting a car and don't really want an all-day guided tour. Does anyone have recent experience with the local transportation? We are 65 and 75 years of age and in good health, but I seem to remember that rental cars aren't available to drivers over 75.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.
jrelmore is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2011, 03:35 PM
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I would recommend taking a tour -- there are options that are not full day ones. You will learn so much more information than if you are trying to navigate around.

We used Victory Tours - they have a 4 hour tour - he meets the train at 9am from Paris - the meeting spot is next to the Bayeux train station. He drives a 8 (or 10?) person van around for his tours.

http://lignerolles.homestead.com/

There are also other small companies that are similar. There are so many out of the way sites, I honestly can't imagine public transportation going there, but I could be wrong (its happened before!)

have a great trip!
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 03:50 PM
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I can't help you with tours, but my dad rented cars in France until he was about 82. That said, a single-day car rental is hardly ever a good deal - costs about as much as a 3-day rental.
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 06:01 PM
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Thank you! We'll likely take a half-day tour, stay overnight, enjoy the area and head back to Paris the next day.

Can't wait!!!
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 07:22 PM
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I encourage you also to go see the Bayeux Tapestry. It's a great history, and an amazing work of art and politics.
It is probably about a 1/2 day of your time. You might consider a full day tour at Normandy ... you might not get back there again anytime soon, so spend the day and really enjoy it. There is a lot of American and world history to touch in that spot of Normandy.
Have a great trip!
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Old Apr 27th, 2011, 08:05 PM
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It has been quite a few years ago, but a friend and I hired a private guide for a day of touring the Normandy D-Day beaches. Sorry that I don't remember any of the details, but I remember doing an internet search and finding a retired British soldier living in France who gave tours. He was excellent, with lots of stories one doesn't find in guide books. Unfortunately, his car was broken into while we walked along Omaha Beach, and some important documents were stolen (e.g., my friend's passport!), so we had to cut our tour short and return to Paris and the US Embassy.

DH and I toured the area on our own another time, and we found it fascinating. There is a lot to see - the beaches, some very good museums (especially the one at Caen), the heart-wrenching cemeteries.

Bon voyage!
PA_Kathy is offline  
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