Preferred rail service in France . . .

[fc2spyguy]

My experience in France. While in Paris I didn’t need a car. Definitely recommend it for Normandy. I would make sure the car has a nav system. I stayed in both Bayeux and Caen. I would recommend Bayeux over Caen. The museum in Caen was nice and I would recommend it. Also, get one of the jars for sand. I didn’t, and I regret that. In fact, if you pick up an extra jar that had Omaha beach labeled I’ll toss you some money to send it to me. It’ll look a lot better than the random one I’ve got.

If you have T-mobile you won’t need to do anything with your phone. It’ll be fine with data. As far as google maps, download offline maps before you go so you don’t have to waste data.

Additionally, st Michelle is apparently awesome, I didn’t make it there as I had also spent time in southern France in Dijon doing the wine tours and such.

France is awesome, enjoy it!

 

[webmaster]

We rented a car in Paris and drove down to Bayeux. There are quite a few off street public parking lots. We got a nice Airbnb in the heart of Bayeux and enjoyed walking around and each of the three restaurants we went to were better than Paris.

We did the overlord band of brothers one day tour. It was fine for my buddy and I since we are history nerds but our wives checked out in the afternoon. Probably should have done the two day tour.

https://www.overlordtour.com/

As for data I purchased an Orange SIM card. And just kept topping it off as I toured Europe. Worked like a champ.

https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Holid...ords=orange+sim+card&psc=1&smid=AJ7281WMH2EGA

 

[Jim123]

We rented a car in Paris and drove down to Bayeux.

But did you see the tapestry?

 

[webmaster]

I ate a piece of sole meuniere in Bayeux for dinner at a place called La Rapiere

Also recommend this restaurant. One of the three we ate at, it was excellent!

Le Pommier and L’Alchimie were also excellent.

 

[webmaster]

But did you see the tapestry?

Yes. There is a nice pub across the street that has a tasty pint of Guinness there also.

 

[Scimitarze]

Yes. There is a nice pub across the street that has a tasty pint of Guinness there also.

If you're going to be over there you might as well load up on the good Trappist beers since they're half the price there than here in the US.

 

[webmaster]

If you're going to be over there you might as well load up on the good Trappist beers since they're half the price there than here in the US.

I was not impressed with any beers in France. Kronenburg is crap also. I loved the beers in Dublin, Munich and Salzburg.

But the French champagne was magnifique! Moet Chandon by the case was consumed while we were enjoying our Airbnb in Paris.

 

[Sonog]

I can't recommend Caen enough as a town to stay in for Normandy sight seeing. It has a lot of WW2 history that tends to go overlooked by Americans and the only surviving structure from pre-WW2 is an amazingly well preserved Norman castle.

Also recommend looking into what time low tide is before going to Omaha. Seeing the beach at high tide doesn't have the same effect (its been very, very developed with shops and houses at the base of the bluffs for most of the beach).

 

[Pags]

I can't recommend Caen enough as a town to stay in for Normandy sight seeing. It has a lot of WW2 history that tends to go overlooked by Americans and the only surviving structure from pre-WW2 is an amazingly well preserved Norman castle.

Also recommend looking into what time low tide is before going to Omaha. Seeing the beach at high tide doesn't have the same effect (its been very, very developed with shops and houses at the base of the bluffs for most of the beach).

Concur on checking the tides, when I went to Dog Green the tide was up and it was disappointing. I'd also recommend coming up with a prioritized list of things you want to see as the Normandy area is pretty big and once you get off the main road it's all little country roads. For instance, the American airborne drop zones are way to the west of Omaha and Utah so trying to hit up the American cemetery and the airborne drop zones on the same day could make for a long day of lots of Norman farmland and cows. For instance, I stayed in Cabourg (got a good price on a beach front hotel) and it was an all day trip to get to the American cemetery, Omaha, Point Du Hoc, and back. And there weren't a lot of places to grab a bite or a pint in between.

 

[Griz882]

Don’t forget Sainte-Mère-Église, the bridges along the Merderet River and then down to St. Lo. If you are looking for a neat aviation twist head up to a little place called Poupeville, it was the first landing area for L4 artillery spotter aircraft.

 

[robav8r]

Thank you all - I have learned a ton and will need your advice.

 

[hooflys]

Piling on some of the advice already given, but went last fall and rented a car at CDG and drove to Bayeux; lot of fun driving through the French countryside. Did the Overlord Tour Webmaster mentioned and was very happy with it. Normandy-44 Tours came highly recommended as well but they were booked up (www.normandy44-tours.com).

Somebody may have mentioned it already, but if you do rent a car Mont-Saint-Michel is worth the trip.

 

[robav8r]

Question for the group: any reason why I can't rely on Google Maps / Waze on my iPhone? I'm ATT and have an international day-pass option. I do have a Tom-Tom with European maps already loaded which we used for our Ireland trip, but like the iPhone GUI. Thoughts?

 

[Griz882]

Question for the group: any reason why I can't rely on Google Maps / Waze on my iPhone? I'm ATT and have an international day-pass option. I do have a Tom-Tom with European maps already loaded which we used for our Ireland trip, but like the iPhone GUI. Thoughts?

I never had a problem using my US phone and iPad when it came to maps. Yes, I paid a day rate, but it was worth it.

 

[Pags]

Question for the group: any reason why I can't rely on Google Maps / Waze on my iPhone? I'm ATT and have an international day-pass option. I do have a Tom-Tom with European maps already loaded which we used for our Ireland trip, but like the iPhone GUI. Thoughts?

I didn't turn on an international plan but did downloaf Google maps for the areas I was in. Between that and WiFi in the hotels I was able to do use Google maps for day to day nav. Our car also had a nav system which we used and cross referenced with the phone. My father in law had an international plan and used his phone just like normal. I think you should be fine with the resources you have.