Could someone please recommend the best way to see the WWII sites and museums. I've seen recommendations for Battlebus, but one for my sons is nine years old (you must be at least 12 yrs old). Does anyone know of a private tour that would pick us up at our apartment in Paris?
Merci,
biersk97

biersk97- There are many tours for you to choose from. Since you are posting on Fodors, have you checked this site for recommendations? Two tour businesses that we have used for other tours are Paris Vision www.parisvision.com and www.pariscityrama.com. You also might want to ask the company that yu rented the apartment from for recommendations.

We used www.victorytours.com and like Roel very much. I don't know if he has an age limit, but his tours are small van (approx. 10 people ?) tours.

ooops. sorry. Just realized that you wanted to be picked up in Paris. He picks up in Bayeux at the train station - coincidentally, the train arrives about 9am - which is when his pick-up is. There was a family from Paris on our tour which had done a day trip from Paris for exactly that.

In 2006 we did daytrip to Normandy with www.paris-trip.com. Our kids were 10 and 13 at the time. This is the excerpt from my trip report:
We just returned from Paris a little over a week ago. We did our daytrip from Paris to Normandy with www.paris-trip.com. It was the highlight of our two week trip (one week London, one week Paris). Our driver was Lionel and he was excellent! He has travelled all over the world and was extremely knowledgable in French history and current politics. His own family story is quite interesting.

He kept us entertained and informed the entire trip, despite the long drive. They usually only do the trip on Thurs. and Sat. but if you have a group of 6 or more you can schedule any day. We were 6 (my husband and I our two kids (age 10 and 13) and my Mom and Dad), so we scheduled it for a Wed. and were the only ones on the tour. The van only holds 8 people, so that is the max. they can take anyway.

The tour is 160€ per person, not cheap but we felt it was worth it. (The price does include admission to the Caen Peace Memorial, everything else was free). He picked us up right at our apt. and returned my parents there, and then dropped us off at a restaurant not too far away. The most difficult part is getting picked up at 6:30am, we were at the restuarant for dinner a little after 8:00pm.

We saw Ponte de Hoc (Omaha Beach), the new and old memorials, the American Cemetery, Arromanches, and the Caen Peace Memorial. He took us to an incredible lunch at Arromanches with views of the mulberries and the best oysters we have ever had.

I agonized for months whether to do this as a daytrip or wait until another time when we could spend more time there. A month before we left I decided to just go for it. I am so glad we did, as I said, it was the highlight of our trip. I admit, I could have spent more time at the Caen Peace Memorial, but with the kids, I think it was just right.

I am helping friends plan a bit of their trip to Paris and the Normandy beaches...but I've only been to Paris once but have the time to do the research. I have not been to Normandy though...having fun doing this research..it will come in handy for my next trip there!
I am thinking that being picked up at their hotel would be a great thing for this couple...how long is the drive and do you stop anywhere on the way?
The train ride is over 2 hours I understand so the drive must be long and then you have the drive back...just wondering how that works out...if you are tired on a train you can just rest...but if you have a driver...would it make for too long a day together? Just wondering....
Thanks for any information!

I don't recall how long the ride was, someone else might be able to answer that. We did stop somewhere along the way just to get a quick bite to eat and some coffee. I don't recall that we stopped anywhere on the way back. We did not find it too long to be together. Our guide was very interesting and we really enjoyed talking with him, but we also were able to nap in the car - I particularly remember doing that on the way home.

Bookmarking for trip planning, Thanks!

jgg...thanks for that information..I will give them the option of taking the train or the car service/tour...it does help to know someone enjoyed the day that way..thanks!!