Guide or no guide in Normandy ?

Personally, I recommend a guide. I am a WWII history buff and spent a quarter in college studying Operation Overlord so I felt knowledgeable - but a good guide can be incredible. Many who have been in operation for some time have picked up stories from WWII vets and are able to relay them in a manner that you won't get from a travel book or history book.

We've done it on our own about 6 times, and once with Battlebus Tours for one day. I think the best way is to do a guided tour and the next day on your own - it's the best of both imo. The guided tour gave us info we never would have known about otherwise (and we know a lot more than the average person) but we felt we were rushed and never had enough time at the sites. Going back and re-visiting the same sites on our own was perfect. Sounds like you may have time for both, but if not, I'd vote for a guided tour.

We booked with Overlord Tours in July, which was formed by former Battlebus employees when Battlebus stopped being an agency. Very good overview for us as we knew very little. We learned a lot.

Fram, I'd highly recommend using a Guided Tour, as you'll learn far more than by going on your own, and it will be a more interesting and richer tour experience. One aspect to consider is that the battle front covered a distance of about 50-miles and extended inland as well. Some of the important sites are in obscure locations. The Guides know the quickest and most efficient route to reach them, which avoids wasting time. The tours are not inexpensive, but I consider them good value and I wouldn't hesitate to use them on my next trip to Normandy. Some of the tours you might consider: www.ddayhistorian.com (this is operated by Paul, the former owner of BattleBus) www.daleboothnormandytours.com (this is operated by Dale, one of the former Guides from BattleBus - he was formerly in the British Army) www.overlordtour.com (I've never toured with them, but I believe some of the former BattleBus Guides are working there so I'm sure the tours would be great) www.ddaybattletours.com/elldi.php (I haven't toured with Ellwood, but I believe the RS tours have used him as a Guide for Normandy in the past). I've toured with both Paul and Dale (U.S. Highlights, Canadian Highlights), and they're both outstanding Guides and incredibly knowledgeable. As someone else mentioned, they often have Veterans on their tours so can provide some very interesting details that you just can't get out of a book. Happy travels!

Thanks, Jeff, for that link. Maj. Holt is a new one on me. Once I work out my way around his distinctly 20th century webpage I believe I may buy that book. Cheers...

Susan in Sausilito is right, do both. We did the Battlebus tour, and I'm a WWII buff, but learned a lot of individual stories. We returned the next day with our car and spent time at those tour stops that we thought were barely touched, especially the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. We spent another 4 hours there and it was very moving. We picnicked along the beach front and spent time in museums along the way, even got to meet a British vet with a chest full of medals who was a real delight. On your own after a tour is the best.
We gathered some sand from Omaha beach for a D Day vet we know from church. When we gave it to him he was thunderstruck and teary-eyed. He said he didn't have time to collect any sand that fatefull day and to this day, that small jar of sand is his most prized possession. There are likely D Day vets near you that would appreciate a dab of Omaha Beach sand. Take some with you and if you don't know any vets, your local VFW or American Legion certainly will. It is after all, hallowed ground.

George, good tip about the sand. We brought some sand back for my Dad who landed at Omaha Beach and he was very touched. We also brought him back a photo of my son (his grandson) standing on Omaha Beach with the words "Thank you Granddad" written in the sand below him. My Dad treasured that photo until the day he died, last year at age 97.