I am in the early planning stages for a trip to Paris. One member of our party is very interested in the D-Day beaches in Normandy? Is this a day trip from Paris or would it require an overnight stay? What is the train service like between Paris and Normandy? Any help and/or advice will be greatly appreciated.

This can definitely be done in a day. We (wife and two kids) traveled to Paris last March and visited the D-Day beaches ... traveled in a chauffered van with a few other tourists. As I recall, we left about 7 a.m. and returned at 5 or so. Saw Omaha Beach and other landing sites, along with the American Cemetery and the museum at Caen. Highly recommended. Not sure about train details but imagine you could take the train if you want. Travel by car allows more flexibility though, though bus tours from nearby sites are available, I believe.

If you take the train, you should plan on an overnighter. Take the Cherbourg line from Gare St Lazare. Trains run frequently, it is about 2.5 hr to Caen as I recall. From the Caen station you will then need to organize your logistics to the beaches, i.e. rental car or tour. Personally I prefer the train to driving. If you have the time, also go to Bayeux (next station after Caen), first town to be liberated on June 7 without any damage. Has an impressive cathedral and is home to one of the world's greatest art treasures, the Bayeux tapestry. Bon voyage!

You will definitely need more than a day if your trip takes place in the winter, when days are much shorter. In December and January, it gets dark around 5.00 PM and the sun does not rise until 8:00 AM.

Don't miss Mont St Michel, which is near. I think it is too much to do in one day. Overnight in Caen would make the trip much nicer.

I am taking my parents to Normandy in a week and a half. We will be staying in Paris, but I found out about this company that does tips there, the web address is www.cityrama.com . It's a real detailed guided trip to all of the WWII Normandy places, the beaches, the memorial, cemetary, etc. It is about $120.00 per person, but to be driven out there and taken on a guided tour, I think it's worth it. I'll let you know how it goes. They also do trips around Paris and other places outside of Paris. Good Luck!

There are several ways to see Normandy and the D-Day Beaches. You can drive and do your own tour, you can drive or train and take a tour out of Bayeux (train takes about 2 1/2 hours from Gare St Lazare) or Caen, you can just take a day trip with ParisVisions or Cityrama. You can take a few other tours. Here's information: <BR>------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>Brochures for these two should be at your hotel or if not, just stop in any of the larger hotels and look on the counter or stop by their offices.<BR><BR>Paris Visions<BR>214, rue de Rivoli<BR>75001 Paris<BR>Tel: 01-42-60-30-01<BR>Fax: 1-42-86-95-36<BR><BR>Cityrama<BR>4, place des Pyramides<BR>75001 Paris<BR>Tel: 1-44-55-60-00<BR>Fax: 1-42-60-33-71<BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>You can take a train to Bayeux and take a tour with Bus Fly tours which operates van tours of the Normandy Beaches out of Bayeaux. They offer two tours each day leaving at 8:30 and 1:30. The tours are scheduled for four hours.<BR><BR>Bus Fly Tours<BR>B.P 204. 25, rue des Cuisiniers<BR>14400 Bayeux<BR>Tel: (from U.S.) 011-33-2-31-22-00-08 or 011-33-2-33-39-23-52<BR>Fax: (from U.S.) 011-33-2-31-92-35-10<BR>E mail: [email protected]<BR>Web site: www.busfly.com<BR>----------------------------------------------------------------<BR>You can take a tour called Normandy Tours given out of Hotel de la Gare in Bayeux - right by the train station . They give half day tours (in English). The tours are usually about 5 hours, and only costs 140F. It takes you to Omaha beach, the American Cemetary, Pointe du Hoc, and Arromanche to see the WWII Museum. <BR>Tel: 011-33-2-31-92-10-70<BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>You can take a private driver with a van who will pick you up at your hotel, drive you to Normandy, and give you an all day tour. Speaks perfect English. He takes only cash. Nice guy - say hello for me if you should go with him. He uses a van that accomodates up to 6 people. Charges by the tour, not per person.<BR>Jean-Marie Ceccaldi <BR>44 rue Ginoux <BR>75015 Paris<BR>France<BR>Tel (home) : 011-33-1-45-75-43-12 (from U.S.)<BR>Cellular: 06-09-03-31-53<BR>Fax: 011-33-1-40-93-07-32 (from U.S.)<BR>-----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>You can take a guided tour from the museum in Caen. <BR>------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>You can take a tour by Col Chilcott . He conducts private tours of the Normandy WWII sights. He charges per tour plus the cost of diesel and lunch, for a whole day. The day lasts as long as necessary. He's retired from the British military and owns a 300 year old farmhouse in Bayeux where you can stay also. Contact him at: <BR>[email protected]<BR>Web page: http://www.vrbo.com/vrbo/352.htm<BR>Tel: 011-33-2-31-22-39-09 (from U.S.)<BR>Fax: 011-33-2-31-21-97-84 (from U.S.)<BR>For more Paris information e-mail me - [email protected]<BR>

For some good info. on the D-Day beaches try http://gofrance.about.com/cs/ddaybeaches/