4 of us are planning to spend 5 nights (4 days) in Normandy seeing D-Day beaches, the tapestery, Honfleur, Bayeux, Caen Memorial Museum, Rouen, Mont St. Michel. We plan to take the train from Paris & not rent a car unless we need to. My questions are
1. Best location to stay & hotel/B&B recommendation (we were thinking Bayeux).
2. Do we need to rent a car?
3. How would you organize the days - what to see each day
4. Tour companies which might offer extensive tours of the area.

Thanks for any info.

Not an expert but we just returned from a trip to the area. We rented a car and spent one night in Rouen, Honfleur, two nights in Bayeux and another night on Mt St Michel.

Of our two nights -- a day and a half -- in Bayeux, we devoted the the first afternoon to the cathedral and the tapestry. I've wanted to see this piece of cloth since I was eight which may perhaps partly explain how much I enjoyed it. As some others have written, though, the mock-up with explanation and the rather clutzy movie which form the introduction can be skipped. You are provided with a free audio guide at the tapestry itself, and it does a very good job of explaining the action.

We waited too long to book a tour of the D-Day beaches and so self-guided in our car, from Arromanches to St Mere Eglise. This took about eight hours round trip from Bayeux, stopping at the batteries at Longues sur Mer, Omaha, the American and German cemeteries and Pont d'Hoc. If you know the story this is fine. There are also guidebooks to fill in the details and information available at most of the stops. In addition to the tours, there is a bus line which visits most of the sites for I think 14 or 15 €.

We stayed at d'Argouges which we attractive and comfortable. It is about a ten minute walk to the cathedral. If you stay at the Churchill or the Lion d'Or you will be a few minutes closer, and in the middle of the restaurant district. They were booked when I called.

This is a good location for a day trip to Mt St Michel but a car would be handy. There are probably bus tours.

Honfleur is a pretty town which you can see in a few hours.

Rouen has a lot to offer -- three major churches, medieval neighborhoods. You might consider arriving there by train and spending the night (the 15 minute light show on the facade of the cathedral is worth it, alone), then leaving the next day for Honfleur. If you rent a car stop at the ruined abbey of Jumieges on the way.

Thx for your info. Would you have preferred the Churchill over the d'Argouges in Bayeux?

Also, how far ahead do you need to make D-Day tours?

"Would you have preferred the Churchill over the d'Argouges"

The d'Argouges worked out well for us. Since you are staying 5 nights, though, the location of the Churchill might be more convenient for you. You won't have to walk as far to find different restaurants.

"Also, how far ahead do you need to make D-Day tours?"

Obviously, farther ahead than I did -- which was last minute. I think most of these operations are fairly small and fill fast. Since you are visiting the Caen Memorial you might consider taking one of their tours. If budget is an issue note that for the cost of 4 individuals on a tour you can rent a car for the time you're there.

Again, thx for the addl. info. We're now talking renting a car -- certainly would give us more flexibility.

A vote for the Hotel d'Argouges in Bayeux. Easy to find, free parking. Only a few blocks from the Cathedral.