Hello Friends, This trip to Europe we are planning to stop by Paris for four days (mid-Sept). I have been there a couple of times but this trip we want to head to Normandy. I am having a bit of trouble scheduling train reservations on my own (on the web). I can find tours to purchase but are a bit pricey.
My questios are; How much time should I schedule for Normandy? One day or should we plan on two days?
Is it better to find my own way to Normandy or purchase a tour?
Thank you and safe traveling, Brian
Posted by
TN/USA
208 posts
Brian, would not think you would need a train reservation from Paris to the Normandy area. I would highly recommend staying in Bayeux and doing a one or two day tour with Battlebus. You must stay in the Bayeux area to book with them. They have several tours available, American, British, & Canadian. Check them on the web. I will be there the 2nd week of Sept and am doing a two day American tour. Several other options available but Bayeux is my suggestion for best WWII tours. There are many trains daily from Paris (Gare St.Lazare) station.
Also some great hotels in Bayeux.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Question- when you write "Normandy", do you mean the sites of the D-Day invasion, or the larger Normandy region itself?
Posted by
Lincoln, Nebraska
20 posts
Tony -
A quick question for you please.
We will be there the first week in Sept. We will land at CDG. How are the trains from there to Gare St.Lazare?
I am not so worried about getting to Bayuex but am worried about getting back to CDG. We have an afternoon flight to Dublin. Any idea how long it takes from Bayeux through the connections back to CDG?
thank you all for any help
Posted by
Tucson, Arizona
42 posts
We took a 7:30 AM train from Gare St Lazare station and arrived in Rouen at 9:00. We walked across the street to the Hertz car rental and were on our way to Bayeux by 9:45. It took us about 2 1/2 hr to get to Bayeux. We spent the next 2 1/2 days touring the beaches and towns using Ricks self guided tour of the area.
Posted by
TX
515 posts
Depends on what all you want to do in Normandy. If for WWII and D-Day sites, here is what we did. Last summer, we spent 4 nights in Bayeux at the Hotel Churchill. Wonderful, and just across the parking lot from where the tours depart for the D-Day sites. We took the morning train from Paris St. Lazare station, and we did buy tickets in advance, and spent that afternoon seeing the Tapestry and the lovely cathedral. Then we toured with Battlebus for 3 days, and wandered the lovely streets of Bayeux in the evenings. Absolutely the best. We took the two day Battlebus American Experience tour, followed by the Band of Brothers tour. If we had it to do again, we would stay and add the British tour and the Canadian tour, so we could spend more time hearing more remarkable stories and seeing more memorable places. Just can't say enough about the men that lead these tours. Sure, you can rent a car and drive around, but never would you know all the little out of the way places where something remarkable or heroic took place. These guys have spent years visiting with veterans and telling their stories...locating battlesites and hedgerows, churches and villages, paths and fields. Check out the Battlebus site and see where they will take you..all the places you expect, but you will also go to many places you likely have never heard of. Every moment was a highlight. If you decide that Battlebus is what you want, contact them asap. They book well in advance.