Out of Battle Bus, Overlord and Victory Tours, has anyone done more than one and have a recommendation?
We'll be going to Normandy at the end of September and are trying to decide which one to book. We're Canadians and not interested in any one beach over another, we'd like an overview of all the beaches and aren't that keen on the American cemetery (no offense - seriously).
Can anyone suggest one tour over another?
Battlebus does offer a Canadian Experience tour. Have you checked that one? We did the 2 day American Experience and would really like to the Canadian and the British Experience tours. Their Band of Brothers tour sounds good too.
We were quite moved walking through the British Cemetery in Bayeux. The musuem there is also excellent.
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.
We would really like an overview of all the beaches, not any one in particular.
I just meant that we aren't looking for the American experience. Or British or Canadian. We'd like to get a tour that includes a bit of it all, without neglecting or focusing on just one country.
I've only done Battlebus tours (American Highlights and Band of Brothers) and they were great. Whatever you decide, decide quickly. The Battlebus tours fill up quickly. We went last September (last week)and made our reservations in the Spring and could not get our first choice of tours.
In fact, if I were you, I would contact each company to see what is available before I wasted any time trying to decide.
I took the two-day Battlebus American tour last year and thought it was fantastic. Battlebus also offers a Canadian tour, a British tour, and a Band of Brothers tour; next time I am in the area I'd like to go back and take some of the ones that I missed.
When I was at the hotel, I met a Canadian couple who had taken the Canadian tour and they also raved about it. Their tours fill up, so write them ASAP to see what they have available. You do need to stay in Bayeux the night before.
I know you mention that you'd like an overview of all the beaches. Keep in mind that the Normany area is quite large so it would be challenging to visit all of the beaches in just one day.
What about the minivan tours from the Caen-Normandie Memorial? Would this be worth our while instead?
From what I have read, all are very good. We have only used Battlebus...wonderful. But with only a month, you just need to see who has an available date.
We're thinking of just doing the minibus tour with the Memorial Museum in Caen.
After researching the other companies they seem to emphasize either American or British/Canadian with not enough middle ground. The Museum entrance is included in their tours, which is appealing.
Yes, the minibus tour from the Memorial de Caen is superb! I took this tour and the guides are fantastic! Having a guided tour of the museum was more than worth the ticket, too. They give you lunch before you head out to the beaches, etc. That was excellent, also!
