Can anyone suggest an excellent English speaking guide for a day at the Normandy beaches historical area?

See my other postings about Alain Chesnel. He does small minivan tours that are really like a private tour (we had six people), half-day or full day.

We had Col. Michael Chilcott. He's a retired British Army Col. Lives just outside Bayeux. I cannot say how great he was. Just our family of 4 in his mini-van. He will design the tour to suit your interests and we had ours extended by a half day since we took too long at one site and ran out of time on day 1 - no charge!! Let me know if you need more info.

THANK YOU! can either of you supply a contact for these guides and approximately what was the cost?

You can google for Michael Chilcott. he and his wife have a B/B as well. I honestly don't remember the cost - it was a bit higher than the traditional group tours but I would not have done it any other way. He has insights from living in the area for years and I believe his father was in Normandy during WW2.

I found these numbers for the Chilcott's:
tel: +33 (0)2 31 22 39 09

fax: +33 (0)2 31 21 97 84

or visit this website:
http://www.vrbo.com/vrbo/352.htm

Alain Chesnel has a website at www.overlordtours.com.

My husband and I stayed at the Chilcott's B&B in June 2000. Loved the big rambling British-style home.
Rosemary Chilcott was a delightful hostess. We didn't tour with the Colonel. Be aware that he presents from a British perspective and in great detail.

Agreed - he does present a 'british' perspective but we found it refreshing at times. We chose the American tour - did not see Gold, Juno or Sword beaches. Col.Chilcott has an amazing grasp of the small details - I still remember tombstone inscriptions he pointed out to us!

We got a private tour by a fellow we chose at random in the parking lot at Bayeux station.

He had several standard packages, but was willing to modify them to our specifications. We saw everything we wanted to in about five hours.

Total cost for the five of us was &euro;70 (plus I paid for his lunch, but that was my idea of a <i>pourboire</i>, not part of the agreement).