I am planning a trip with 3 adults to the Normandy beaches at the end of June (after the 80th anniversary commemorations). It's our first visit to the area, so we are planning on 4 nights. We are arriving by car after spending a couple of nights in The Netherlands, so jet-lag won't be much of an issue. Where is the best place to stay as a base? I prefer to stay in one place, as a base, and then drive around rather than switching hotels unless it's better to switch for two nights. We would like to visit all the beaches and hire a guide (Dale Booth seems good) where needed. We also want to visit the Juno Beach Centre, Bayeux Tapestry, Mont Michel, Rouen, and if possible St. Malo. Is this doable? I was thinking of either staying in Caen or Bayeux as the base. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7884 posts
Get started with Google Maps. While I prefer not to change hotels, St Malo and MSM are not remotely "next door" to the D-Day beaches. I found the drive tedious (I personally would not drive to Normandy from the Netherlands), although Vitré, Coutances, and Dinan, plus some estate gardens, were nice visits along the way. We slept 3 nights in Dinard (sleepy, in comparison with St. Malo), and 3 nights in Bayeux, with a rental car. We did not have time for the Honfleur area.
You need to book and pay for famous D-Day guides WELL in advance. Tell them you are coming in a car. We did not use a guide. You will make many stops on a full day near the beaches.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1327 posts
nellacucina1024,
Bayeux, Bayeux, Bayeux. Charming town, the tapestry, cathedral, museum, availability of tours for DDay sights, good choice of hotels and restaurants, lovely old buildings, easy drives to other sights in Normandy. (It was not bombed to death during WWII.) Search on this forum for suggestions and recommendations. If you want to see Rouen (I highly recimmend it), stop overnight there on the way to Bayeux from the Netherlands. It is worth a full day, or equivalent two half-days.
Just my opinion, but I wouldn't want to visit all of the beaches and museums at the beaches. That woud take two full days, at least. Overlord becomes overload. Too much similarity among all the beaches, battle sights, museums, and cemeteries for me. I would do one day for Rouen, two days for DDay beaches, etc, which includes a good half day in Bayeux proper (cathedral and tapestry, and possibly museum), and a day for any other place in the area. Mont St Michel is, IMHO, too far for a day trip from Bayeux. You could drive from Bayeux very early on day four, spend the afternoon and evening on or near the Mont, and leave the next day for wherever you have planned.
Just fyi, check on this forum for advice on renting a car in one country and returning it in another. Big drop-off charges! Better to train, if possible from the Netherlands to say, Rouen, and pick up your car there. Return in France. (Is that where you are flying home from?)
I hope you have a great trip. Search this forum for lots of good advice and suggestions. Bonne chance!
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1227 posts
One base is fine for the WWII sights, and Bayeux is much better than Caen. While Rouen and MSM are each drive-able from Bayeux (app. 1-1/2 hours each way), but it is a long drive to do a round trip in a day along with sight-seeing while there. I have driven both, but each time I stayed in either outlying town the night before each time. The two towns are at almost opposite ends of Normandy.