Normandy..Tour to both AMERICAN and CANADIAN beaches

[GoVolsTB]

We have convinced our Canadian friends to join us on next years Transatlantic cruise on the Constellation. We will need to arrange a tour to both the American and Canadian beaches at Normandy. Has anyone done this? Is it possible to do it on an organized tour or would it be better to rent a car and tour on our own? Any advice will be appreciated.

[mary cruise]

We used a tour company called minibus tours from le Havre and really enjoyed our day in normandy. we hired a private driver from le Havre. The going rate was 600E for a six-passenger van. If you share the cost, it's comparable (if not cheaper) than the ship's tour, and far more efficient since you're not loading and unloading 40 people at every stop. he used a very nice 8 passenger van and was a very good driver.

try on google: "shore excursions havre"

Happy cruising,

[olderpilot]

We have booked John Flaherty of Hand Maid tours for our tour next summer. He includes the British and Canadian beaches and museums in his tour or will customize to your desires. Euro 550 for four from Le Havre. http://www.handmaidtours.com

 

Jerry

[Jacqueline]

We just came back on Friday from our cruise. The highlight was our tour of the d-day beaches.

Our guide was tops- Jacques Perreau ! He has an exhaustive knowledge of the subject. Not only does he have note books, clippings photos etc, but he has also met with veterans over the years and interviewed them. you can stand in a spot and he recreates exactly how it was at the time thru maps and other tools. You will also feel like a celebrity as he is greeted everywhere.

Not only did we see the beaches - we also went to the Pegasus bridge, the American cemetary, Point de hoc, an actual museum of a german bunker (at a small town near the Canadian beaches) where you could use the actual viewfinder the germans did, fixed pill box positions and more (honfleur)

He knows everyone and can quickly get into full parking lots, into areas of the cemetary roped off to mere mortals and so on.

I found him thru previous recommendations on this board.

[Lisa Waverley]

He will also customize your tours to do what suits you. He also included the towns of Honfleur, a mrket, the tapestry at Bayeaux for us as well as the D-Day sites. I can't believe how much we fitted into one day.

[olderpilot]

Jacqueline,

 

Welcome back. Hope you enjoyed your cruise on the Westerdam. You may remember we had planned on arriving in Athens on the Rotterdam the same day as you. We had to cancel when both daughters told us at Christmas they were expecting in August. Both babies arrived on 12 Aug - so glad we didn't miss it!

 

Any way we have re-booked the Rotterdam for next summer so will be anxious to hear about your experience.

 

Jerry

[pamkev]

So how can you find out more about Jacques? Does he have a website? Pam

[packerpatriot]

We used Normandy Tours and were happy with them. They will customize for you. The only concern I would have is if you will have time to do both the American and the Canadian sites. It took us 8 hours to do just the American sites with a quick stop in the German cemetary.

Cristin

[Jacqueline]

Gerry- how exciting is that ! Congratulations. You can always take a cruise.

The website for the Normany tour guides is-

http://www.normandy-tours.com/index.html

[GottoCruise]

We have booked John Flaherty of Hand Maid tours for our tour next summer. He includes the British and Canadian beaches and museums in his tour or will customize to your desires. Euro 550 for four from Le Havre. www.handmaidtours.com

 

Jerry

Hi Jerry - Interesting that you posted that you have reseved John Flaherty for Summer 2005 - When will you be stopping at LeHarve - We will be stopping on Aug. 9 (Golden Princess July 31 cruise) and have also reseved him for the day....However, noted that he quoted us 625€ for the day (4 Pax) ??? from Le Harve. :confused: Hmmmmm ---- Appreciate your comments???? Thanks. GotToCruise (Renee)

[alcman]

We used Colin McGarry and saw all the beaches, Bayeux and Honfleur. He was very knowledgable, willing to customize and did not chage extra for the stop in Honfleur depite the fact that we were already nearly 11 hours into the tour. Would use him again in a heartbeat. His web site is:

 

http://www.cpmac.com/~cmcgarry/normandy/normandy.php3

 

Jerry (a different one)

[katisdale]

I also used John Flaherty in May 2004. We were so impressed. It was the best tour we have ever taken! He is both knowledgeable and personable. We highly recommend this tour guide.