We've tentatively booked with Chilcott for next week. Has anyone used another tour company with success? Don't want to try this on our own; partly due to laziness but also don't want to miss some of the small but important antecdotes. Thanks

I did the British/Canadian full-day tour with Battlebus (www.battlebus.fr) and loved it. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly and quite funny. They do full and half day tours of the American sector and the British/Canadian sector - but don't do both sectors together due to the distance.

I would highly recommend them - and am constantly looking for cheap ways to get back to Normandy and go on another tour. I was particularly lucky that there were only two of us on our tour, so we were able to ask lots of questions, and were even able to customise the tour a little.

-- Viola

thanks, I'll check them out.

I took a tour from the museum at Caen (you book your tickets when you enter the museum)and it was excellent. I was at the museum all morning and the tour was all afternoon. The guide was very good and full of the anecdotes that make the difference between a self-tour with a guidebook versus a guide with intimate knowledge of the area and history.

We'll be staying in Bayeux - about how long does it take to drive from there to Caen? I think its about 20km but don't know the condition of the roads - definitely not the autobahn.

oh, go with the Colonel! you'll love it. a true historian, and I love the Brit's view of history & their wit. He is a FONT of knowledge.

if you can stay with him, even better. he'll regale you with stories into the wee hours (those are free, they are included with the room cost. ;-) )

Bayeux/Caen - don't recall that it even took an hour. you are right - country roads, many roundabouts. beautiful countryside and don't forget to try creme brulee while you are in Normandy - best I've ever had.

TTT