Gatwick-Normandy-Barcelona Questions

[Bill S]

We will be going on a 14-day E. Med Cruise in November, Barcelona to Venice. We are thinking of visiting Normandy before we head to Barcelona. I found great air fares last night on kayak.com with routing from Las Vegas to Gatwick, then a few days later from Gatwick to Barcelona. However, we are wondering if it is feasible to skip returning to Gatwick and just take a train from the Normandy area to Barcelona? So here are some questions we need help with to make decisions:

1. From Gatwick, with 4 suitcases, what are the recommended ways to get to the Normandy area–rent a car, use rail, etc? What are the practical, reasonable choices?

 

2. Which British and French ports are best/most reasonable to select for ferry transits? Any suggestions as to which ferries to consider?

 

3. If we decide to forego returning to Gatwick from Normandy (for the flight from Gatwick to Barcelona), is there train service between the Normandy region to Barcelona? If so, how long of a train ride is it in hours? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

4, Any recommendations on where to stay in the Normandy region for 2-3 nights? How many days does it take to see the Normandy landing beaches, cemeteries and coastal areas/towns? Is it easy to rent a car there-what is required? Are there local tour guides/companies? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[bigwally]

If you're going to use the ferry, it used to be that Transmanche were very affordable. However, they sail between Newhaven and Dieppe, and Newhaven is probably going to be tough to reach without a car.

[eldercruser]

Can't help with any of your travel questions, but can recommend, unequivocally, John Flaherty of Handmaid Tours. http://www.handmaidtours.com

 

We used his services off the Rotterdam in 2005 - excellent one day tour of the Normandy beaches. However, he offers multi-day tours of the Normandy area and also runs a B and B. He may also be able to answer many of your travel questions.

[Bill S]

Thanks for the suggestions! We have done a bit more research on the internet and it looks like going to Normandy from Gatwick and back would be a logistical obstacle with ferry times and length of crossing, so we are re-thinking at aspect, are looking at flying from here to Paris and then either renting a car or taking a train up to Normandy and renting a car there. I will check out the tour guide, though. Thanks, again!

[daiB]

Thanks for the suggestions! We have done a bit more research on the internet and it looks like going to Normandy from Gatwick and back would be a logistical obstacle with ferry times and length of crossing, so we are re-thinking at aspect, are looking at flying from here to Paris and then either renting a car or taking a train up to Normandy and renting a car there. I will check out the tour guide, though. Thanks, again!

 

 

 

I think you have made the correct choice as the savings you would have made flying to Gatwick would soon be eaten up with the ferry to France and the extra car hire. If you have the time you could fly to Paris hire a car, then do Normandy and then drive to Barcelona.

 

The journey time would be about 10 hours and all on motorway. You would have to be keen on driving to do this although if you had an overnight in say Bordeaux you would see a lot of France with 2, 6 hour drives to get to Barcelona.

 

Here is a link to a route finder.

 

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/ItiWGPerformPage?E_wg=210504146lS16J504145010412995715ITIWG5o10133gbr005c103q101r10111l101e1103EUR000cZ2F0ZXNoZWFk0aZW5nbGFuZA00100911419jt100131q10111k101d1103EUR000abmV3YnVyeQ0aZW5nbGFuZA0abmV3YnVyeQ1100012010010072004145039.004-1.00110001001001001001001003gbr011&stat=ambiguous_iti&strDestChoice=0

 

 

This gets you and your luggage direct to the ship without the hassle of the Paris Barcelona flight.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

[cmb1216]

Thanks for the suggestions! We have done a bit more research on the internet and it looks like going to Normandy from Gatwick and back would be a logistical obstacle with ferry times and length of crossing, so we are re-thinking at aspect, are looking at flying from here to Paris and then either renting a car or taking a train up to Normandy and renting a car there. I will check out the tour guide, though. Thanks, again!

 

We are the Disney curise this June and are taking the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona http://elipsos.com/htm/default.htm?lang=3. Good luck with your travel plans.