Traveling with 14 in July

I can't help with the exact logistics of moving 14 to Gare de Lazare ... but, organizing travel for my family of 16 to Hawaii 3 times, Alaska once, and Ireland once, along with bus and plane trips for children's choirs - it WILL take an extra 5 mins to move each additional 3-4 people above 4 (to a max of about 30 mins). So for you, I'd pad in an extra 10-12 mins every time you want to move. Or, divide into 3 groups with a well-traveled 'leader' who understands clear instructions and can think for themselves. However, traveling with my now 86 year old mother (picture electric cart, walker and a cane) - it will be more time if you have limited mobility members. Also, smaller vehicles can make mobility devices difficult to manage. Plan well and be flexible! Enjoy having the family together!

Well I’ve only had to organize and move 9 of us ( family and friends ) and al I have to say is “ never again “ it’s awful being the free tour guide !

Anyways since you’ve decided to take this on - yes enlist others to help and divide group up a bit -

A few more details would help - are there children involved ? Does anyone have mobility issues ?
Have you booked hotels ?

From GDG take a taxi to Gare st Lazare . There are a few taxis that take 6 people so hopefully you can get a few of those to ferry your group along . You must only take taxis from the official line at airport - do not listen to any driver that approaches you offering a ride / the official queue is well marked and had a dispatcher .

The price will be a set price ( sorry I forget if it is 55 or 60 euros now ) - but drivers can charge a few extra euros per 4th 5th and 6th person . They also used to be allowed to charge one euro per suitcase - not sure if this is so or not .
You do not need to tip driver .

Where are you staying in Bayeux? When you arrive there you will see that there is no lack of tour companies that provide what you are looking for. Your hotel should be very capable of putting you in contact with a recommended tour company. Be sure to spend at least 1 night there and preferably 2 or 3.

We hired a guide from www.toursbylocals.com which may be of interest to you.

At the American Cemetery we stayed until they lowered the flag. If you speak to the people in charge there before hand they will allow service people to participate in the closing ceremony. I wish I had done that for my dad, but I didn’t know until it was over.

Most (maybe all) of the Bayeux D-Day tour companies use vans for their tours. You might be able to get two 15-person vans, but this is not something you should wait on. Start now by contacting your first-choice company via its Contact Us web link. Many of us have used Overlord for public tours. Others have use Dale Booth. Several other companies have been mentioned as well.

On a private tour you'll have some flexibility about how your time is spent. Th usual stop at the American Cemetery is probably not long enough to see the entire Visitor Center (with museum-like displays) as well as the cemetery itself. You might like to ask for a bit more time there at the expense of another location.

You should ask ahead of time how lunch will be handled. On my Overlord tour, the lunch stop was at St.-Mere-Eglise, which is also home to the Airborne Museum. The stop was long enough for a quickish sit-down meal at a local restaurant (such as a creperie) or for a rushed visit to the museum. It wasn't long enough for both. Some of us took the guide's advice to buy a sandwich at a bakery and eat it on a bench (it was a nice-weather day) and then hot-foot it to the museum. It would have been better if we had realized the situation in advance and brought something with us that could serve as lunch. Probably at least a few members of your group would opt to go to the creperie for lunch but others would prefer to be prepared with their own food. You cannot eat in the van.

The invasion museum on the outskirts of Bayeux is very good. It can keep one occupied for several hours. The British Cemetery is very nearby. For group members who don't feel the need to see another museum, Bayeux has a cute Old Town, a lovely cathedral and the Bayeux Tapestry. The local tourist office does walking tours. There's also a little spot where you can see lace.

Cabs from the airport hold 7; to gare St. Lazare it would cost 53 plus 12 Euro for the 3 people more than 4 so each cab would cost 65 Euro. That is cheaper than taking the train.

You would need to arrange with one of the tour companies like Overlord, well in advance, for a bus tour for 27. I know Overlord has small buses for 14 -- no idea if they could handle 27. But this is something to have arranged many weeks if not months in advance.

If you're a AAA member, they also have travel agents who can arrange large-group logistics.