Please critique our proposed Normandy itinerary

We will be making our second trip to Bayeux in the second half of September! Here are my thoughts:

I'm not familiar with Bayeux Shuttle, but Overlord offers a "Band of Brothers" tour(s) you might enjoy.

On your free day, it might be difficult to get to Omaha Beach without a car.

I made our hotel reservations about a month ago for our September trip. I couldn't get a room at my first choice (Churchill) and we will have to change rooms after one night at our second choice hotel (d'Argouges). So I suggest you make your hotel reservations ipso fasto.

Thank you for your service!

PS - There is no such thing as too much WWII!

I don't know whether it's safe to assume that each tour will be offered every day of the week. I think Overlord's smallest van holds nine people, so they don't need a lot to make a trip practical, but I'd still suggest that you contact each company and ask about its probable schedule in September.

I'd say the same about the Mont-St.-Michel shuttle trip. Check with those folks right away. And I bet that one books up early, because I think it's the most practical way to make a car-free day-trip from Bayeux to Mont-St.-Michel.

Although Sunday trains to Bayeux may be less frequent than on weekdays (I haven't looked at Mon-Sat schedules), I see departures for tomorrow (Sunday) at 8:39 AM, 11:10 AM 2:06 PM and 4:08 PM. The first three trains take about 3 hours; the last, just 2 hr. 11 min. The 11:10 AM train requires a change in Caen. So I don't think limited train service would be an impediment to traveling from Paris to Bayeux on Sunday given that you're not trying to pull off a blitz day-trip.

I don't know how significant restaurant closures are on Sunday in Bayeux. September is still a pretty busy month, so I'm sure there will be places open. Of greater concern to me would be the possible closure of any sightseeing venues you might be interested in on the afternoon of your arrival day, which is currently scheduled to be a Monday. Monday is a fairly common closure day for museums in France. So I'd hit the websites of potential local attractions; the WW II museum in Bayeux is excellent, plus there's the cathedral, the tapestry, and there's a small place related to lace-making. See what days, if any, they are closed during September.

Although it can be more conveniently done if one is staying in Caen (the transportation hub for the area), if Omaha Beach turns out to be too much of a struggle without a car, there are several picturesque coastal towns to the east that can be reached by train or bus, after a transfer in Caen. I liked Cabourg (the closest), Deauville and Honfleur (the farthest--might be a challenge from Bayeux).

Another possibility, a place I tackled by bus from Caen but probably also viable from Bayeux with an early start, is the town of Falaise. There's not much of any historical stuff to see in town (obliterated during the war), but there's a new museum about civilian life during the wartime period. It also covers activities of the Resistance. I found it very interesting; it's very accessible to English-speakers.

Edited to add: Overlord's US-focused tour makes a stop at St-Mere-Eglise at mid-day. Unless you've packed your own lunch (recommended) or just buy a sandwich at the local carry-out and eat it rapidly while sitting on a park bench (hope it's not raining!), you will have a choice between going to the Airborne Museum or eating lunch. You'll want to see the museum, obviously. Note that you are not allowed to eat or drink inside the van.

If you're interested in the history of the D-Day landings, that's not too much touring (IMHO). No matter how much touring I do there, I always feel that more time is needed.

On your open day in Bayeux, you can have a look at the famous Bayeux Tapestry which depicts a much earlier battle. There's also a great WW-II Museum there. Regarding your "walk on Omaha Beach", you'll have to arrange transportation for that, as Bayeux is some distance from the beach. You could also take the train to Caen, as there's a large museum there as well.

Depending on which British / Canadian tour you choose, you may get a chance to visit the Juno Beach Centre as well. Hopefully the British tour stops at Pegasus Bridge.

Thanks for some great replies so far.

To acraven: Bayeux Shuttle does list on their website the exact days that tours are available (or sold out). Overlord will tell you about availability by email, but you are correct, not every tour is available every day. Thanks for all of the other details as well.

To traylaparks: Agreed, there is no such thing as too much WWII

To Ken: I suspect this will be my first of several trips to Normandy.

"There is no such thing as too much WW2." In that case, I recommend the museum in Caen, if you don't mind history over-kill, lots of detail, ...see that too along with the D-Day Museum in Bayeux. The British military cemetery is across the street from the Bayeux Museum.

West of Bayeux are the German cemeteries, two of them , at La Cambe and Orglandes. The Bus #70 from train station used to go to out to La Cambe. It still may.

@ rd...Since you were in Airborne and are interested their role in Sicily and Normandy, I suggest (you most likely are aware of this anyway) as a primary source reading J. Gavin's memoirs, "On the Berlin." written by the youngest man to be promoted general in the US Army in 1944. Also, the work by Clay Blair.

I would suggest going to Saumur, west of Tours, to the Tank Museum...big, and see the numerous WW2 tanks. It's comparable with Bovington, at least that's the impression the website is trying to create. Admittedly, I've yet to go there but Bovington/England is massive in its display of tanks.

You are probably aware of this, but just in case: either on a tour or on your own you might be interested in the Airborne Museum at Sainte-Mère-Eglise. https://www.airborne-museum.org/en/

It doesn't take long, and is very well done.

Finishing one of your WWII days at the American cemetery for the flag lowering/taps ceremony will be memorable.

I was happy to see you are thinking of your wife so she doesn't overload on D-Day! The first time my husband and I went we did a two day back to back tour with Paul Woodage (before he changed his tours and now isn't even doing them). I thought i might want to shoot myself by the end of the second day - instead I was SO fascinated we traveled back another year and took another full day tour with Overlord! The guides are wonderful and the day will go fast - unless it is a rainy one. ;-D I won't be surprised to learn you make return trips. Our second time we stayed a full week with no other side trips - but it is what works for you and your wife. As someone else said, I would not wait another minute to book your tours or your place to stay.
BTW, we are from the Philly area too.

Fred - thanks for the book tips, including the airborne ops in Sicily. Many years ago I met a young lady and I asked her where she was from. She said "an island off the coast of Italy". I asked if that was Sicily by chance. She said it was. We have been married for 3 decades.

rca - the St. Mere Eglise museum is something I will not miss. I spent a lot of training time in and around the St. Mere Eglise dropzone at Fort Bragg, NC

mckendus - we will be making reservations in the next few days

Another vote for the Airborne museum in Sainte-Mère-Église. In fact, if you are interested in Airborne operation, you should spend a lot of time in that town which was the first town secured on D-day (by the 82nd Airborne). That was the epicenter of the U.S. Airborne drops during D-day, and the town truly celebrates the U.S. paratroopers. Apart from the Airborne Museum you should visit the La Fiére causeway where the 82nd Airborne fought a heroic and costly battle on June 7–9 to secure that Western flank. There is also the wonderful, small church in Angoville-au-Plain where two medics form the 101st Airborne created a mini-M.A.S.H. unit amid fierce fighting outside. The museum on Utah Beach (where the 4th Division came ashore with General Roosevelt leading the way, and eventually hooked up with the airborne troopers) is one of the best museums in the whole area IMHO. You could miss the so-called Caen "Peace Memorial" and not miss anything (and gain a lot of time). Totally over-hyped by RS.

Although not related to the U.S. Airborne operations, Pegasus Bridge on the Eastern end of the battle is the site of an amazing and heroic assault on this key bridge by the UK paratroopers. It was one of the first operations at midnight on D-day, and involved crash-landing three huge Horsa gliders within yards of the bridge, which they then stormed and secured before it was blown. Comparable to battle at La Fiére, this secured the Eastern flank of the assault area.

Enjoy your visit, and totally ignore the statement that your itinerary is "Too much WWII." Yes, there is more to see in the area than just the military sights, but you could spend much more time than you planned there and not scratch the surface of D-day. FWIW, I am returning this year for my 8th time (and 7th during an anniversary of D-day), and am still planning on returning for future visits. Finally, thank you for your service.

Phil - thanks for the advice. Good luck on your jump into Normandy this year.