My wife and I will be in Bayeux next week for 2 full days and want to have a guided tour of the D-Day beaches and museums. We do not normally do tours, but don't want to miss anything and don't want a "rip off" price. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Ed, you are going to LOVE Bayeux!! I cannot recommend highly enough Paul and the staff at Battlebus. We did two days of tours with him in 2005 - American Highlights and Band of Brothers, and last summer did the British Highlights. You will get your money's worth and more - these tours are absolutely fantastic. You visit spots and learn things about the invasion you would never be able to find out for yourself without years of research. Go and enjoy!
I'm heading to Bayeux in a couple weeks and have also made reservations for Battlebus - I have read lots of great reviews on them at various sites.
Ed, I would also HIGHLY recommend BattleBus Tours! I took the American Highlights tour (Dale) and the Canadian Highlights Tour (Paul) in Oct. 2006, and both were incredible. These are full day tours, departing from Bayeux at about 08:00 (lunch is "on your own").
As previously mentioned, they provide lots of information that you won't get elsewhere, including facts they've received from veterans (I suspect you wouldn't be able to learn some of these things even with research).
While the tours are a bit expensive, I felt that I really "got my money's worth". The BattleBus Guides are extremely knowledgeable!
There's also a British WW-II Museum in Bayeux, and of course the famous Bayeux Tapestry, and a excellent Museum in Caen. I'm not sure two days is going to be enough in that area - there is SO much to see!!!
One of the most moving places for me in the Canadian tour was the Abbaye d'Ardenne (check the net for the story on this).
Happy travels!
Thanks for all of your inputs.
Ed