Normandy Itinerary

Ani, The best "home base" (IMHO) is Bayeux, as it's easy to get from there to the "usual sites". One question though - will you have a Car or will you be relying on public transporation? If you're planning visiting any of the D-Day sites, I'd highly recommend taking one of the excellent day tours, as you'll learn far more and it will provide a more interesting and rewarding view of the history. If you need information on some good day tours, post another note. One point to mention though is that July is in the PEAK travel season, so it would be a good idea to pre-book tours (it may already be too late to get a booking). Happy travels!

I agree with Ken - Bayeux is a great base.
My family stayed at Hotel de Sainte Croix - nice family room - during our trip in May, and loved it.

Hi Ani, My family of 5 just got back and spent 4 nights in the Normandy area. We LOVED it and wished we had spent our whole 2 weeks there. I'm not sure how old your children are. Mine are 16, 14, and 9. We stayed in a gite that was next to a bed and breakfast. ( Breakfast not included with the gite.) Gites are a great way to go. we paid 291 Euros for the 4 nights for a 3 bedroom that could accomodate 6. It was barely outside of Bayeaux. ( Hard to find... both us and later in the week our guide Dale Booth got lost trying to find it!! So once you hit Bayeux, call for directions!!! Once you know where it is, it is easy.) Here is the trip advisor site for their B & B http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1441350-d1439922-Reviews-Le_Relais_de_L_Aure-Vaucelles_Calvados_Basse_Normandie_Normandy.html Here is their direct site
http://www.relaisdelaure.com/ Christine

Hi Ani, Here is the rest, it wouldn't all fit: On the drive there, we decided to skip the crowds at Caen and went to Arromanches instead. So glad we did. Great town and view of artificial harbor. We spent our first day just recovering at the gite. There is a grass tennis court outside your back door and the kids LOVED that and played a lot that day. We had done London and Paris, the week before. We went into Bayeux to see the Tapestry late in the day. The next day we spent a day exploring the beaches on our own. FUN!! We went to Longes sir mier (sp???), Omaha, Point de Hoc, The American Cemetery viistor center ( everyone's favorite "museum" of the entire trip and we went to about 6 D Day museums), German cemetrary, etc. The next day Dale Booth came and got us and took us on a Band of Brothers tour. AWESOME We We left the next day. No one wanted to leave. We mainly dealt with the man: Rene. He flew for Air France and speaks great English and was so helpful. He was a small child in the area during D-Day and we heard great stories. ( He and hubby talked for hours nearly every day!!!) Christine

Hi Ani, Here is the rest, it wouldn't all fit: On the drive there, we decided to skip the crowds at Caen and went to Arromanches instead. So glad we did. Great town and view of artificial harbor. We spent our first day just recovering at the gite. There is a grass tennis court outside your back door and the kids LOVED that and played a lot that day. We had done London and Paris, the week before. We went into Bayeux to see the Tapestry late in the day. The next day we spent a day exploring the beaches on our own. FUN!! We went to Longes sir mier (sp???), Omaha, Point de Hoc, The American Cemetery viistor center ( everyone's favorite "museum" of the entire trip and we went to about 6 D Day museums), German cemetrary, etc. The next day Dale Booth came and got us and took us on a Band of Brothers tour. AWESOME We We left the next day. No one wanted to leave. We mainly dealt with the man: Rene. He flew for Air France and speaks great English and was so helpful. He was a small child in the area during D-Day and we heard great stories. ( He and hubby talked for hours nearly every day!!!) Christine

One more thing. The gite also had ping pong and 5 bikes that you could use. Two downsides: the washer/dryer combo is tiny and clothes would not dry. I had to put them outside to get them to dry. There is only one bathroom that is handicapped accesible and just one big room. My boys had trouble not getting water over the entire floor!!! About the tours. People are right. You might be too late. Dale said he was booked until August.

I am with Heidi, we thought the Hotel de Ste Croix was fabulous. Really big rooms, beds and bathrooms and they do offer family rooms. Good prices too. We enjoyed strolling all around Bayeux. What a pretty little town this is, with so much architecture from the 1500's and 1600's. http://www.hotel-de-sainte-croix.com/index.php?page=single_article&name=accueil

Ani, The suggestions of using Bayeaux as your base are sound (provided you have your own car). We stayed there a few weeks back and loved the town. We took a day tour with Overloard and it was terrific. Sean and Oliver were our guides and were outstanding. My wife and daughter agreed that it was our favorite day of our 2.5 week France vacation. A stop in Honfleur is worthwhile too. A beautiful town. Tom

We had a car and stayed about 10 miles east of Bayeux in a delightful B&B at a 400 year old working farm. It was about 20 minutes to the D Day beaches and 90 minutes via motorway to Mont St. Michel. Go to www.bandbnormandie.com for details. Renting a car is the best way to drift around Normandy, going where you want, when you want and stopping along the way on impulse to sample local foods, calvados, and shop in the little town grocery stores where you will be the only tourist. WE can't wait to go back.

Hi Ani We were there back in April I really recommend Bayeux. Great town and very convenient to all D-day sites and to M. St. Michel. We stayed at Lion d" Orr and were very happy there. We spent one day in Bayeux just walking to Tapestry and Cathedral, and other sites, and highly recommend The WWII museum in Bayeux as the first stop on your tour. Enjoy Mike
DC

Ani, My wife and I just returned from UK and Normandy(5 days). Anything close to Bayeux is good. We stayed at a wonderful B&B-La Beuffrerie run by a wonderful lady, Jeanne Valec. It is only 15 minutes from Bayeux town center. It is hard to find at first but then easy to get about. Rates good-52 Euros for two. She also serves dinners(usually 4 courses plus wines) for 22 Euros per person. Quiet beautiful country setting in an old house but up to date facilities. Also rec. OVERLORDTour group. Did two days with them-max 8 people and a guide. The people of Normandy still remember Americans fondly. Have fun
Joe C

Ani,
Oops, the spelling for the B&B should be La Beuffererie.

We love staying in Bayeux and have stayed at the Hotel D'Argouges at least 5 times, it's wonderful. It's in RS France guide.