Would like to plan a tour of Normandy leaving and returning to London, possibly one way by ferry and the other way by Eurostar.
Can anyone suggest whether we should plan our own transportation and rent a car when we arrive in France? Are there any organized tours run out of London? How many days should we allow to visit Mont St Michel, St Mere d%26#39;Eglise, and some of the American sites? Is there a good central place to base ourselves during this time?
Also how would the weather be in mid-March?
Any comments would be most appreciated.
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I am not sure about organized tours from London. For a rental car, check various websites of the rental companies or brokers such as Autoeurope and compare their prices. Make sure you include the insurance coverage and other charges to ensure you are comparing apples to apples.
I suggest you arrive at Mont St Michel right before sunset and just see it gradually getting darking. When the lights get turned on, the view is spectacular. Stay around MSM and then the next morning, the view is completely different. Spend the time to tour the Abbey and walk the streets. You%26#39;d be done before lunch on the second day.
For D-Day beaches visit, most recommend Bayeux as your base, with Caen being the second choice. If you have your own car, one full day should be enough to explore the stretch. Allow 2 hours at the American Cemetery. You can walk on Omaha Beach as well. Pointe du Hoc was ok but there actually isn%26#39;t much to see so perhaps 45 minutes.
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Half a day for Mont St-Michel should be adequate, as you%26#39;ll be there out of prime tourist season.. I would definitely suggest renting a car on arrival in France; that will give you the freedom to go where you want when you want.
For the WWII sites, you might take a tour with Battlebus from Bayeux. Having a guide makes for a much better experience than just going on your own. You will probably want to visit St-Mère Eglise and St-Lo, if time permits, and also the peace museum in Caen. Base yourselves in Bayeux, but don%26#39;t miss seeing the port of Honfleur; the town has many interesting sights, not least of which is the wood church of Ste-Catherine.
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Weather in March could be wonderful spring sunshine or bleak and wintery! It%26#39;s a factor to bear in mind for a ferry crossing, which could possibly be cancelled if there are very rough seas. There are a few crossings from Portsmouth (which has very good rail links with London) direct to Normandy - the main operator is Brittany Ferries http://www.brittany-ferries.com/ but I think there are others.
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I made this run several years ago from London. I took a Friday PM train to Portsmouth and the overnight ferry to Cherbourg. (Not sure if that route still runs) I had made arrangements with the owners of La Ducrie (see reviews of them on TA) to pick me up at the ferry. After a hearty breakfast, Joe took me on a one day comprehensive tour of the American beaches in Normandy. Having a guide is really necessary if this is your first time as there are many small museums and memorials that are in out of the way places. I was planning on taking the Sunday afternoon fast cat ferry back to Portsmouth but it was broken down and I had to catch the early Sunday boat. Again, Joe delivered me to the ferry. I spent Sunday afternoon at the old shipyard in Portsmouth before returning to London.
You should be able to rent a car at the ferry terminal. I recommend La Ducrie as a good central location. It will take a full day to see the D Day beaches and another full day to go to MSM. If you want to take the Eurostar back to London, you can get a train into Paris from Bayeux.
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Honfleur is indeed a wonderful little fishing town and I recommend it as well. The seafood is very good as well. The wooden church, while simple, is quite unique.
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Hi Mom%26amp;moo,
We just did a very similar trip last March - 2007. We took the eurostar from Waterloo station in London to Paris. We rented a car in Paris and drive to Bayeux. It was a perfect central location to visit all the D-Day museums and sights. We stayed in a B%26amp;B farm house for 2 nights. It was a treat for this urban family with 4 kids!
Driving in Paris proper wasn%26#39;t too bad. I am used to crazy Chicago traffic, but Paris is full of one way streets and idiots on motorbikes. I should/could have run over several!! Driving outside of Paris was like driving on the interstate through Wisconsin. Who knew France and Wisconsin had so much in common! All the signs are easy to read and well marked (I don%26#39;t even speak French!) There are tolls to pay along the way so be prepared!
Driving in the Normandy area was fun. Little winding roads that are well marked and easy to navigate - especially if you have a good map and a navigator who is interested in reading the directions to you - I don%26#39;t recommend my husband!!
If you do a bit of reseach this is a very easy trip to do on your own. I don%26#39;t recommend the ferry option. It takes too much time and if the weather is bad it could make things even more delayed.
Our weather in March was beautiful - light jackets and jeans. It did rain the full 3 days we spent in Paris which stunk big time!!
I recommend having the rental car only for driving to and from Normandy. You will not need or want a can in Paris.
Have fun!
Email me if you have more questions.
Claudia
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Cosmos Tours have a one week tour from London, taking in Normandy amd Mont St Michel.
cosmostourama.co.uk/product-detail/1122/15/0
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