In France, Americans land on Normandy beaches again, now on deluxe private Normandy D-Day tours
April 29, 2008
D-day anniversary is still celebrated each year as France welcomes back thousands of Americans to Normandy to remember and learn about WWII
On June 6, 1944, 150,000 American, Canadian and British troops landed in rough seas along a 60-mile string of sandy beaches on the French coast at Normandy. The liberation of France and Western Europe was under way. It will soon be 64 years since U.S. troops stormed the beaches at Omaha and Utah in Normandy and fought in places like Saint-Mere Eglise and St. Marie du Mont to liberate northern France. And while some complain of strained relations between the US and France, in Normandy, the French welcome Americans on their soil now just as they did June 6, 1944. US veterans with their grandchildren, military history buffs and fans of WWII movies all flock year-round to this meaningful and beautiful location so pivotal to the fortunes of both the US and France. With good planning, Normandy can be reached as a day trip from Paris, making it a popular destination for Americans wishing to tour the Normandy beaches. But many tourists find it complicated to rent cars in France or navigate their own way through a foreign country, wasting valuable time. At the same time, they don’t want to be part of a cattle-car-style bus tour full of strangers that doesn’t afford any flexibility to explore Normandy at their own pace.
The solution? A private Normandy beaches tour by hired car or van. Visitors can re-experience D-Day with a Normandy beaches tour, complete with their own knowledgable English-speaking guide, all in about 12 hours door to door from their own Paris hotel. Free of the responsibility of driving, they can relax and take in the sights of the Norman countryside along the way, enjoying the company of friends or family instead of poring over a road map.
One company offering a quality and competitively-priced version of this service is Best of France. Their full-day Normandy beaches tour covers all the most important stops and still has you back in Paris in time for dinner. Best of France offers a very reasonable two-day tour as well, with an overnight in Normandy. The first stop on the Best of France Normandy beach tour is the 82nd Airborne museum at Sainte Mère Eglise, followed by a drive along Utah beach and a stop at Pointe du Hoc, where American Colonel James Rudder and his US rangers scaled the cliffs to achieve a heroic and near-impossible mission. The Normandy D-Day tour continues with a drive along Omaha Beach and a visit to the American cemetery, invariably a moment of intense emotion and contemplation for US visitors. Unlike big bus tours, Best Of France tours can be customized for those with special interests. A visit to the Bayeux Tapestry or the Canadian Sector, including Juno, Gold and Sword Beaches or Pegasus Bridge in Benouville can be worked in to the Normandy Beaches tour at the request of guests. As there is plenty to see and do in Normandy, Best of France even offers a Normandy guided tour that doesn’t include D-Day-related sites, focusing instead on other beautiful historic and cultural spots in Honfleur, Deauville and Rouen. At lunch, why not enjoy a glass or two of good red wine, or the strong apple Calvados, the classic “trou normand”? After all, you’re not driving! Each of the Normandy guided tours from Best of France can accommodate from one to 15 people and guests can choose from a range of vehicles to suit their groups. Prices are amazingly reasonable for the value; full-day tours range from 170 euros per person on a shared tour organized by the company to around 1700 euros for groups of up to 15. Overnight 2-day tours are also available and are an even better deal. Already in France but haven’t booked? It’s not too late! Smart travellers can snap up amazing bargains with Best of France’s last-minute deals on private tours to Normandy.
Now Americans of all ages can return to Normandy or experience it for the first time without either stepping behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car or joining a large, impersonal cookie-cutter bus tour. A Normandy beaches tour from Best of France gives the American liberators and their loved ones a well-deserved welcome to the place that forever symbolizes the relationship between the US and France.
Best of France is a tour company specializing in private full and half day tours in Paris and France for individuals and small groups.
Services
- Normandy Beaches D-Day Tours
- Private tours of Paris and Versailles
- Fascinating day trips from Paris
- Visit Champagne and Burgundy
7 passage Foubert
75013 Paris
Tel : 01 45 89 51 82
Fax : 09 55 79 23 45
Web : http://www.best-of-france.net
Contact: info@best-of-france.net
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