Which company would you choose and why?Private guide for American DDay tour.
Mar 23rd, 2006, 01:35 PM
#1
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Which company would you choose and why?Private guide for American DDay tour.
Battlebus tour company or Overload tour company for a PRIVATE guide American DDay?
Here are my notes.
Cost for a couple: Time:
Battlebus 500E 8:30am-5:30pm
Overload 365E 8:30am-6:30pm
Tour:
Both customize and preplan to our interests.
I have read them all!
Guides:
Battlebus guide can be your driver, called "Step-On guide" or we drive and they navigate. They do not accompany you
into musuems. Buys their own lunch but website suggest that we could.
Overload uses their vehicle, picks you up and drops you off at your hotel. Will accompany us into museums. We buy their lunch (15E) which I included above.
Reputations:
Both have impressive reputations and reviews.
Overload has been around for
20+ years, Battlebus is 5 yrs old.
Personally, We have the knowledge and a good
understanding of these historic events. Looking for a tour guide who will truly bring
this history to life for us.
I've exhausted my research and now it's time for the folks of "Fodorville" to share their wisdom.
So Battlebus or Overload?
Here are my notes.
Cost for a couple: Time:
Battlebus 500E 8:30am-5:30pm
Overload 365E 8:30am-6:30pm
Tour:
Both customize and preplan to our interests.
I have read them all!
Guides:
Battlebus guide can be your driver, called "Step-On guide" or we drive and they navigate. They do not accompany you
into musuems. Buys their own lunch but website suggest that we could.
Overload uses their vehicle, picks you up and drops you off at your hotel. Will accompany us into museums. We buy their lunch (15E) which I included above.
Reputations:
Both have impressive reputations and reviews.
Overload has been around for
20+ years, Battlebus is 5 yrs old.
Personally, We have the knowledge and a good
understanding of these historic events. Looking for a tour guide who will truly bring
this history to life for us.
I've exhausted my research and now it's time for the folks of "Fodorville" to share their wisdom.
So Battlebus or Overload?
Mar 24th, 2006, 10:03 AM
#3
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You really need reviews from people who have done at least one or the other, and that's not me. But, if you want opinions, I guess the obvious thing is to choose the cheaper one if you think they are the same quality of guiding. NOt going into museums with you wouldn't be important to me, and it sounds like you. That is a 135 euro difference per couple (are these priced per couple? why not just state them per person, it would make it easier, if that's what they are), or about 67 euro pp. That's a big differential for a one day tour if it's the same quality, don't you think? Personally, I would be biased against Overload just because the idea of professional tour guides telling you that you have to buy them lunch and telling you the price seems stupid to me. If they want that much more money, why don't they just add that amount to the fee.
Mar 25th, 2006, 11:49 AM
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Cost Breakdown:
Battlebus E250pp
Overload E175pp plus guide's lunch.
I thought it was tactless that they
priced the "guide's lunch" instead of including it into the "private tour". We always give a gratuity and depending on the circumstances, we'll also buy their meal.
When an opportunity presents itself to spend more time with a local in foreign county it adds to the experience.
Once in Capri we charted a small private boat and captain to take us around. Back in port we invited Fiore and his family for drinks at the cafe, it was very memorable.
Yes you read us correctly, no hand holding in the museums. Also we can control the amount of time we spend in each place. Because we are leaving Tuesday open, we can return and spend additional time, and see other
things we couldn't do on Monday's tour.
It will probably come down to the cost.
If anyone has any experiences with the
"private tour" of either company we'd like to hear from you.
Battlebus E250pp
Overload E175pp plus guide's lunch.
I thought it was tactless that they
priced the "guide's lunch" instead of including it into the "private tour". We always give a gratuity and depending on the circumstances, we'll also buy their meal.
When an opportunity presents itself to spend more time with a local in foreign county it adds to the experience.
Once in Capri we charted a small private boat and captain to take us around. Back in port we invited Fiore and his family for drinks at the cafe, it was very memorable.
Yes you read us correctly, no hand holding in the museums. Also we can control the amount of time we spend in each place. Because we are leaving Tuesday open, we can return and spend additional time, and see other
things we couldn't do on Monday's tour.
It will probably come down to the cost.
If anyone has any experiences with the
"private tour" of either company we'd like to hear from you.
Mar 25th, 2006, 11:56 AM
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We have hired PRIVATE guides twice - once in the parking lot of the Bayeux train station, and once at the Vistor Center in town.
Both times, we got very well-informed local guys who seem to really enjoy their jobs, know the D-Day history cold, and have myriad anecdotes told by their parents and grandparents about that tumultuous period.
The price in both cases was less than 100€ for an all-day tour for the five of us - wherever and whenever we wanted to go. We bought lunch in Port-en-Bessins for both guides.
Both times, we got very well-informed local guys who seem to really enjoy their jobs, know the D-Day history cold, and have myriad anecdotes told by their parents and grandparents about that tumultuous period.
The price in both cases was less than 100€ for an all-day tour for the five of us - wherever and whenever we wanted to go. We bought lunch in Port-en-Bessins for both guides.
Mar 25th, 2006, 12:17 PM
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Robespierre:
Did you meet with them a day before, setting a price and explaining what you wanted to do, then they took you the next day?
We'd want to go over our plans with them
just as we have emailed each of these 2 companies in advance.
For Monday, we have a list of what we'd like to do from Utah Beach to Ouistreham. Certain musuems will enhance our tour and others we'll visit when we're alone on Tuesday.
Did you meet with them a day before, setting a price and explaining what you wanted to do, then they took you the next day?
We'd want to go over our plans with them
just as we have emailed each of these 2 companies in advance.
For Monday, we have a list of what we'd like to do from Utah Beach to Ouistreham. Certain musuems will enhance our tour and others we'll visit when we're alone on Tuesday.
Mar 25th, 2006, 01:10 PM
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If you weren't navigating did you think the driver couldh've done it without
your help? Did he have the historical knowledge?
Also, you can communicate in French and I can only do the basics.
your help? Did he have the historical knowledge?
Also, you can communicate in French and I can only do the basics.
Mar 25th, 2006, 02:31 PM
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Oh, sure - he lived there, after all. He knew the roads like the back of his hand.
I would just say, "Let's start at the Mulberry museum in Arromanches" or "[#3 son] wants to see the battery at Longues sur Mer. We'll go there next."
He spoke English for the benefit of my family members who don't <i>parlent français</i>.
I would just say, "Let's start at the Mulberry museum in Arromanches" or "[#3 son] wants to see the battery at Longues sur Mer. We'll go there next."
He spoke English for the benefit of my family members who don't <i>parlent français</i>.
Mar 25th, 2006, 04:04 PM
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While we did not use a private tour guide option, we did use Battlebus in Sept. of 2004. We first met up with Dale of Battlebus (a Brit) on our Rick Steves tour (Paris & Heart of France). He joined our bus for a day's tour as a local guide. We enjoyed him so much, when we got back to Paris we went back to Bayeux for another full day tour - I believe we took the Band of Brothers tour - as we had already covered the main sites on the RS tour. (I really went back for my husband who loves WWII history - but I really enjoyed it too.) He certainly made history come alive. The all day tour was not in a "bus"with a ton of other people but in a minivan with maybe six other people (Dale drove).
Mar 25th, 2006, 07:47 PM
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The Battlebus "American Highlights(1) day group tour", up to 8 people, would be a good alternative. We want to go west to east and end at the cemetery in Colleville for taps and that's exactly
what this one does.
We're just trying to arrange some additional US sights, and some of the
British/Canadien DDay. I thought it was odd that neither of the Battlebus (1) day tours included the Arromanches, only the Mulberry Harbor. Also, the Ranger musuem in Grandcamp-Maisy is closed on Mondays. We'll be returning to see that on Tuesday as no one has that on their group tours and it's of personal interest to us.
Thanks for the thoughts and if anyone has any ideas please let me know.
Di
what this one does.
We're just trying to arrange some additional US sights, and some of the
British/Canadien DDay. I thought it was odd that neither of the Battlebus (1) day tours included the Arromanches, only the Mulberry Harbor. Also, the Ranger musuem in Grandcamp-Maisy is closed on Mondays. We'll be returning to see that on Tuesday as no one has that on their group tours and it's of personal interest to us.
Thanks for the thoughts and if anyone has any ideas please let me know.
Di
Mar 25th, 2006, 08:58 PM
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My sister and I took a couple of Battlebus tours last year and they were absolutely amazing 
. We did the "Band of Brothers" and "Canadian Juno Sector Tour" with Paul and Sean as our guides, respectively.
I would HIGHLY recommend Battlebus, as they truly know what they're talking about. I majored in history in university and have studied WWII exhaustively but I still learned a great deal on their tours. The great thing about Battlebus is that they not only give you the statistics and the basic information, but they also tell you the personal stories of the soldiers that fought and show you things you would never have thought or known to seek out. For example, on our Juno Beach tour, Sean pulled over on a seemingly ordinary street and pointed down at the curb. The 5 of us on the tour looked down, puzzled, to see strange looking notches cut along the sidewalk. Sean went on to explain that the notches were created by tanks rolling through town and that the town, to honour the memory of those who fought, carefully preserved them, even going so far as to remove them when patching up sidewalks and replacing them when the repair work was done. It's those kinds of details that make Battlebus special.
The Battlebus guides also carry visual aids (maps, personal pictures of soldiers, etc.) to help illustrate their stories and make history come alive. The organized tours are also fairly flexible so, if there's time, the guide may throw in extra stops based on what he senses the group is interested in. Paul, the owner of Battlebus and our "Band of Brothers" guide, even went so far as to pull out a book of visual aids from a DIFFERENT tour on the ride home and tell us stories from that tour when he saw how fascinated my sister and I were.
I really can't recommend Battlebus enough.
. We did the "Band of Brothers" and "Canadian Juno Sector Tour" with Paul and Sean as our guides, respectively. I would HIGHLY recommend Battlebus, as they truly know what they're talking about. I majored in history in university and have studied WWII exhaustively but I still learned a great deal on their tours
. The great thing about Battlebus is that they not only give you the statistics and the basic information, but they also tell you the personal stories of the soldiers that fought and show you things you would never have thought or known to seek out. For example, on our Juno Beach tour, Sean pulled over on a seemingly ordinary street and pointed down at the curb. The 5 of us on the tour looked down, puzzled, to see strange looking notches cut along the sidewalk. Sean went on to explain that the notches were created by tanks rolling through town and that the town, to honour the memory of those who fought, carefully preserved them, even going so far as to remove them when patching up sidewalks and replacing them when the repair work was done. It's those kinds of details that make Battlebus special.The Battlebus guides also carry visual aids (maps, personal pictures of soldiers, etc.) to help illustrate their stories and make history come alive. The organized tours are also fairly flexible so, if there's time, the guide may throw in extra stops based on what he senses the group is interested in. Paul, the owner of Battlebus and our "Band of Brothers" guide, even went so far as to pull out a book of visual aids from a DIFFERENT tour on the ride home and tell us stories from that tour when he saw how fascinated my sister and I were.
I really can't recommend Battlebus enough
.
Mar 26th, 2006, 08:33 AM
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Another vote for Battlebus. When they could not run a Canadian tour during our stay, Paul detoured to insert as many Canadian sites as possible for us, as well as sites for the Aussies on an American tour. Also, the visual aides are a big plus in understanding the battles.
Mar 26th, 2006, 08:46 AM
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Still another vote for Battlebus. We took the "American Tour" last Sept. and had Gert for a guide. He was from Belgium and had moved to the Normandy region to study WWII history. There were 7 in our group started at Sainte Mer Eglise and ending at the American Cemetary even stopping at a B & B along the way where we had pre-ordered sandwiches ready for us and eating in the van so we didn't waste any time. It was a great idea.
He took us to some out of the way places with personal stories of the fighting that took place there. His maps and visuals made it easy to understand.
We had planned on staying in Bayeaux for 2 days but ended up staying for 4 because there was so much to see.
Don't forget to visiting the German cemetary - it was quite a contrast to the beauty of the American one.
He took us to some out of the way places with personal stories of the fighting that took place there. His maps and visuals made it easy to understand.
We had planned on staying in Bayeaux for 2 days but ended up staying for 4 because there was so much to see.
Don't forget to visiting the German cemetary - it was quite a contrast to the beauty of the American one.
Mar 26th, 2006, 08:55 AM
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For those who think hundreds of Euro is an awful lot to pay for a verbal presentation of stuff that's in books selling for under $20, google <b>michelin 102</b>
Are "visual aides" some sort of assistants for the blind?
Are "visual aides" some sort of assistants for the blind?
Mar 26th, 2006, 11:58 AM
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Robespierre, the tours we're referring to don't cost hundreds of euros - I believe the cost was 75 euros, which, while not an insignificant amount, was well worth it for an 8-hour tour of hard to reach/find places in a very small group with a knowledgeable guide.
Also, the information presented in the tour was not information that could be found in $20 books, or any books for that matter. The facts and figures can be found anywhere, to be sure, but the Battlebus guides get most of their stories from veterans themselves and take you to places you would otherwise not be allowed to enter (for example, onto a number of privately owned farms and inside the walls of an abbey).
Also, the information presented in the tour was not information that could be found in $20 books, or any books for that matter. The facts and figures can be found anywhere, to be sure, but the Battlebus guides get most of their stories from veterans themselves and take you to places you would otherwise not be allowed to enter (for example, onto a number of privately owned farms and inside the walls of an abbey).
Mar 26th, 2006, 05:30 PM
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I wasn't referring to any tour in particular. There are many ways to go about a D-Day tour, and various people want to do it different ways. There is something to suit every taste and level of historical knowledge.
My only point is that there are price points all over the spectrum. Battlebus charges 80€ per person, the same that the private guides charge for a carload (5, in our case). It's each person's choice.
My only point is that there are price points all over the spectrum. Battlebus charges 80€ per person, the same that the private guides charge for a carload (5, in our case). It's each person's choice.
Mar 26th, 2006, 05:46 PM
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Make that 80€ per person for the American Highlights Tour 8:30-5:30.
http://www.battlebus.fr/tours/page2.html
http://www.battlebus.fr/tours/page2.html
Mar 26th, 2006, 06:48 PM
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DiG- DS and I loved our day with Gert from Battlebus. He went waaaay beyond the basics to point out things we would have missed along the way. He truly seems to love his job.
We wished we had another day available with the company. We'll use Battlebus on our return.
We wished we had another day available with the company. We'll use Battlebus on our return.
Sep 25th, 2010, 04:13 PM
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D-Day Tours www.overlordtour.com
We spent September 12, 2010 touring Omaha/Utah Beaches and the area portrayed in “Band of Brothers” with Mr. Alain Chesnel.
Mr. Chesnel is extremely professional and has a vast knowledge of
D-Day. He is very intelligent, well informed and clearly has a passion for the events of D-Day history and their implication in world history.
We highly recommend his services.
Jim Juknialis
Becky Morgan
Cleveland OH USA
We spent September 12, 2010 touring Omaha/Utah Beaches and the area portrayed in “Band of Brothers” with Mr. Alain Chesnel.
Mr. Chesnel is extremely professional and has a vast knowledge of
D-Day. He is very intelligent, well informed and clearly has a passion for the events of D-Day history and their implication in world history.
We highly recommend his services.
Jim Juknialis
Becky Morgan
Cleveland OH USA
