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Day tours of Normandy

If you are going to Normandy and want to make the most of every moment, I would strongly recommend Edward Robinson (www.BattleofNormandyTours.com). Out tour actually started weeks before we left Texas with a request from Ed for what we wanted to see and learn and how much time we had. We had one and a half days and a group of 4. I sent Ed a list of what was on my list in order of importance. Ed wrote back that we could see the American Cemetery and monument on our own since they were self explanatory and well marked. He would take us there on our tour if we wanted him to, but it would mean not making it to all of what was most important on the list. We made those visits on our own on the half day before the tour and were glad we did. Ed picked us up at our hotel and after checking to see if any desires had changed, immediately started setting up the scene as he drove. For the rest of the day he built a picture of what happened, what went into the "why" it happened, and who did what and where.

He provided maps of the area showing which troops landed where, where they planned to be at various times and where they actually got to by those times. Knowing how long it would take to cover each site and what was most important he pushed us to stay on track and on time, but allowed extra time when we wanted/needed it to take pictures or absorb what we heard and saw. He knew where the best picture locations, too. We stopped at an excellent restaurant for lunch that was located so that we did not lose time getting there and he gave a review of the menu to aid our selections. We focused on Omaha Beach with only small deviations outside that area to see things important to that area of the invasion. This was day one and two of 18 and I was ready to give up the next several days to stay and tour the rest of the Normandy area.

I cannot recommend Ed strongly enough. He lectured, joked, included everyone in our group, and got them involved to the extent they wanted to participate. He asked great questions and had the answers if we needed them.

On the way back to our hotel he showed us where the train station we were to depart from the next day was located and assisted in our buying our tickets then so we were ready to go the next day. He also took us to the best ATM so we could get Euros for the next few days.

Posted by
208 posts

Jim, great report on your Normandy experience. I had not heard about Edward when I was in Normandy in 09. I used Battle Bus and was very pleased with it. However, I did not get the personal attention you got with Edward. I took the American Highlights Tour and Band Of Brothers Tour. I think that people, like us, who are interested in that history, could spend a month there and still not get enough. So glad you had a wonderful experience,and sure will keep Edward in mind if I get back.
My dad landed in Normandy in 44, served with Patton through France and Germany, so I have spent lots of hours touring, reading about and watching anything about WWII history.

Posted by
4 posts

Thanks for the report, Jim. Good to know. Perhaps you and Tony can give me some advice:

I'll be in Paris for six days in early October and I'm thinking about a Normandy day trip. It's not ideal, and some day I hope to be able to stay in Bayeux for several days and do a thorough visit. I'm a big Band of Brothers fan and am considering hiring a private guide for a tour. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts - should I just spend a half day at the museum and call it good? Really any feedback will be appreciated -- except the thing that is most obvious = "you need more time!"
Thanks.

Posted by
2 posts

Well, I would say you have at least two choices. You could do the American Cemetery and as many of the museums as you have time for this trip and save Ed for when you have more time. Your second choice would be to contact Ed for a half day tour. The real trick is transportation to and from Bayeaux. We used a car service to pick us up at the airport and take us directly there and we rode the train back.he reason we did not train both ways was the schedule did not fit and the train make lots of stops on some runs and that makes it slower. we were trying to maximize our time on site.

Hope this helps and enjoy the visit.

Posted by
1 posts

This was very helpful. We'll be in Paris this October and plan to visit Normandy and Bayeux. Thanks for all the info. I'll be contacting Ed too.