Self Drive The Beaches At Normandy

Easy. A two lane road runs parallel to the coastline. Just follow it and look for the signs.

Jean, if you have a rental car, it's not hard at all to do the area -- very easy drivig, etc.

If you do go, try to do a lot of research ahead of time so that you'll appreciate the history and background of the area. I took along the pages out of RS France that pertaind specifically to the area, although his books emphasize the US areas more than the Canadian, so you may be able to find more elsewhere.

Many here would swear by taking a tour with one of the tour providers for their wealth of knowledge and insight, which I'm sure would enrich the trip. Because of time, we did it on our own and don't regret it at all. You have to do what works with your plans.

Hi Tom & Lauren; I've checked the tours and they're very expensive and I have and do do a lot of researching so will do it on our own.
Many thanks,
Jean

We've been to Normandy many, many times and the first few trips did it on our own. It's very easy, and the driving is a pleasure. Just make sure you have a very good road map.

A couple trips ago, after many on our own, we took a one day Battlebus tour and got a lot out of it. We then went back on our own the next day and re-visited some of the places on the tour b/c we hadn't had enough time at some sights w/the tour. That was a great combo.

We've been to all the museums from the biggest in Caen, to the smallest, and our favorite one is the WWII museum in Bayeux. It's incredibly well done.

Don't miss St Mere Eglise if you don't already have it on your list.

It's fun and easy. Country roads. Get a GPS with the rental car and a book.

I do have a GPS, we used it all over Italy this past May. I've been told by the French & Belgium Consulates that I don't need an International Drivers Licence for these Countries but the CAA & AAA say yes we do??? I did get the AAA to admit that at this time you do not need one for these Countries but they recommend it...Why, is this just a money grab by these two agencies???

Jean

You don't have to have an international permit for France. I think CAA/AAA may be recommending it as a "just in case." They basically just translate your DL into the appropriate language of the country you visit.

You can read more on this site at: Plan Your Trip / Travel Tips / Transportation / Driving in Europe

(We did get one for driving in Italy, where it's required. It's a little booklet with your info on a back fold-out page that lines up with several different translations.)

I also suspect you can read French better than the average American tourist, so you'll be able to tell more quickly what the speed limit is, where not to turn, etc. My high school French and RS instructions got us by, though!

I just posted this a few minutes ago for another thread but it is applicable here too.

You might be interested in the book The Canadian Battlefields in Normandy : a visitor's guide, by Terry Copp, copyright 2008. It includes suggested touring routes should you decide to do it yourself, but would be interesting even if you decide to go with a tour group.

If your local library does not carry it ask for it through Interlibrary Loan.

Its published by the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies and co published by the Canadian Battlefields Foundation. As such I would think it would be readily available to you from somewhere in Waterloo but if not I know Oshawa Public Libraries own it and will send it out on InterLibrary Loan.

Thanks Lauren; We did get an IDL for Italy this past May as it was mandatory but I do think the CAA & the AAA want to make money on the photos & licences for Countries that don't require it by recommending them; They should really tell you when it's not required rather than telling you it is mandatory after all these Countries do speak and read English.

Thanks Andrea for recommending the Canadian Battlefields in Normandy I'll check my local library for it.

Cheers all,
Jean

We spent a few days in tha part of France by taking a TGV to Caen and renting a car there. Driving to the beaches is very easy and we continued to Pontoroson (sp?) to see Mt St Michele and returned the car in Rennes.

A GPS to me is a required part of traveling.

That part of France is easy to drive through and enjoy.

We paid no tolls.

Gas stations are not as plentifull as in the USA.

Roundabouts will be confusing as here in the US there are signs leading up to and then directing you to a road. There I found them to be either sparse or located so close that you can miss them easily.

You go at your pace and can stop off to see the countryside, the Tapestries, local markets and stay or leave when you want to.

The USA cemetary has a very moving museum and your eyes will not be dry there.

What I also enjoyed was how the area is respectfull of the history and the dead by not turning into a crappy playground of minature golf and bunjee jump rides with tacky tourist trap glitter.

The Rick Steves guide book for France has info on scenic drives to take .

Thanks Paul; we are used to roundabouts here in Canada and they also had them in Italy so am sort of used to them by now. Yes a GPS & a Map are necessities for travel especially in Europe where the street signs are on buildings not the street signs that we're used to here so we rely on the GPS to turn starting out at 800m down to no meters....and we turn and most times do not see a street sign. Thanks for the tip about gas stations as we'll keep the tank full. We are staying 3 night is Bayeux before heading to VIMY and Bruges, so will hopefully see it all including Mont St. Michele which I understand you don't have to note the tides as there is a bridge???
Cheers,
Jean

Jean,

You can drive your car atraight into a parking lot at Mt St Michele without worry of tides. It is very easy to find as you can see the site from miles away. When we drove to Mt St Michele the road we were on had hotels, eateries, food stores for water and snacks and gas stations. We rented an Opel Astra which was a diesel with fantastic fuel mileage. What you will notice is that unlike the US and Canada, there will not always be a service station at each exit.

We enjoyed Mt St Michele so much that we dropped the kids at the hotel when we were finished and returned to see the lights come on. This was very late since it would get dark around 10:30 PM in late June. It is a most serene experience to walk around the base of this massive structure at low tide on the sand with barely a wisp of sound in the air or from the water.

Be prepared for a lot of stair climbing and exploring with fantastic views from the top of the surrounding area. Rick Steves guide book is well worth carrying with you and we found people in every city , every day carrying his book on our trip

That whole area of France is worth driving and enjoying at your leisure instead of hurrying to get to the next hotel.

You will never regret taking large capacity memory cards for all of the pictures you will be taking.