My old college friend and I (late 60’s) would like to tour ww2 sites. I see a bunch of canned tours with fixed itineraries and buses. I also see Eurail suggests WW2 sites but nothing for trip details like hotels and guides at the sites. We are looking for assistance in putting together something like the Eurail locations but need recommendations or a travel agent to book hotels, tours, and other things to see along the way. I could not even find a guide book oriented toward this type of trip. We prefer flexibility but recognize the value of a local tour guide. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Washington DC
28050 posts
What parts of Europe are you planning to visit? There are WWII-related sites and museum all over the place.
I don't know anything about Eurail suggesting WWII sites. Can you clarify?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16537 posts
Welcome to the forums, Scott -
I have no experience with any of these but something like them may be what you're looking for?
https://www.normandyamericanheroes.com
https://www.kensingtontours.com/travels/tours/europe_wwii
https://www.phoenixcustomtours.com
Do be aware the customized private tours usually cost much more than pre-set group tours, and you will be expected to do some of the research yourself to identify what you want to see. As mentioned above, there are sites all over Europe, and Europe encompasses a lot of ground so you're going to need to be selective. Given the specific nature of this trip and details you want handled, I sure wouldn't go to just any garden variety travel agent to help you put it together.
The suggestions on the Eurail site you'd mentioned about are likely these. Eurail is just a rail-pass company, and rail/ those passes won't get you to all WWII locations.
https://www.eurail.com/en/plan-your-trip/trip-ideas/suggested-itineraries/10-days-europe-world-war-ii-sites
Posted by
Chicago
1134 posts
I’m confused as you state “self-guided”, but the proceed to ask for booking help for tours and hotels.
You can DIY with a bit of research. As an example of self-directed planning, consider a tour plan of the D-Day landing sites. Many rent cars to see the area. If you don’t want to drive, it’s still possible to tour by train and specialized day tours.
Train, self-book using the SNCF app from St Lazare in Paris to Caen or Bayeux as a base.
It is very easy to book a hotel in Caen or Bayeux - research on Tripadvisor, AAA, Booking.com, or other hotel sites, then go directly to the hotel website to book.
From either Caen or Bayeux, there are numerous day tours with different itineraries of Normandy WWII sites. I found the Overlord Tour I choose exceptional. You can research on Tripadvisor where you will find many tour providers, also search this RS website as there are a number of discussions and recommendations of tour providers. Book through the tour company’s website.
Both Caen and Bayeux have fine WWII museums - some spend an entire day at Caen's Memorial. The towns are about 15 minutes apart by regional train. Bus/tram or taxi access to the Caen Memorial from the train station or central Caen.
If you like the sites you found highlighted by Eurail, you can do the same quick checks of train access and hotels. Many of the museums and sites will have access info with train or bus details on their websites.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9218 posts
I think you need to decide what kind of WW2 sites you want to visit. If it is in Normandy, there are several excellent tour companies that can provide 1-3 day tours staring in Bayeux. Then you could travel to Berlin perhaps and do some WW2 tours there. Some people want battlefields, others want museums, and others want 3rd Reich oriented tours that may move onto Holocaust memorial tours or visiting Concentration Camps.
Everything is easy to book on your own, from hotels, to train travel to private tours. You just need to decide what interests you the most.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7878 posts
When we went to Normandy's coastal WW II sites (it's better not to say, simply, "Normandy"), we had no interest in "Sargeant Rock" and his laminated photos and highly skilled guiding. We had a rental car, and went independently, sleeping in Bayeux. The fact is that many posters on this board LOVED their "canned" (your word) tour by a skilled guide. That does not mean that independent travel is wrong FOR YOU. Note that Normandy beach tours have to be prepaid, and book up months in advance for the summer, and for anniversary seasons.
Use of the word "Eurail" often indicates erronious assumptions and flawed internet searching by a newsboard poster, but it is not necessary to discuss that further. A source is a source. Some are good, some are bad.
We relied, first, on a Rick Steves book that specifically covered the beach area. Note that there are special considerations for Canadians.
Second, (out of print?) Fodor's Short Escapes in France, Second Edition (1996), by Bruce Bolger and Gary Stoller ISBN 0-679-03071-9
Third, Frommer's France's Best-Loved Driving Tours (1997), ISBN 0-02-861569-7
Note that you are never going to rely on hours or admission prices in any book, even if it was printed yesterday. Your public library (remember them?) may have a host of just as good, older tour guides. These sights don't change a lot.