How to arrive in the heart of Normandy ?
- Freeway
A 13 to Caen (Tolls can be paid by credit
card)
- Trains
from Paris/St Lazare train-station to Caen or Bayeux
(the most centrally located)
– Plenty of trains (no TGV) it takes about 2
hours
- Important
! do not forget to tick your ticket in the
yellow
machines before boarding your train (or you could be
fined)
- By
private plane to Caen/Carpiquet airport
Radars
Beware ! They keep adding
more & more of these ugly treacherous boxes...some flash
you when passing them or after (from behind !) you
will not escape the heavy fine (depending at
which speed you are driving...) because if you are
in a French rented vehicle: it will be debited
from your credit card !
Tipping
American clients are favorites of waiters
in bars & restaurants as they are
(overly) generous…
No need to tip as much as in America
as there is a 12 to 15% service-charge included in the
bill
( as well as a 19,6% Tax) but it is customary
(if service was fast & friendly) to leave a
few euros on the table when you leave.
Landscapes
The
purpose of your visit is probably to see
the sites of the D-Day Landings
but you will be pleasantly surprised
by the beauty of the scenery, the chateaux, fortified
farmhouses, flowers everywhere, good roads...
and you will wish you had decided to stay longer but I
am sure that you will come back
again if you can !
Camembert,
one of the 3 most famous cheeses of Normandy and
fresh oysters & sea-scallops from Isigny/Grandcamp |
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How is the weather ?
April/May: “Spring
is in the air …” still cool but nice
in the sixties temperature range. Apple-trees are
blooming.
June: A
special month with commemorations, festive atmosphere in
the
Landing Beaches sector. Better reserve in advance !you
will be surprised how long daylight last. Lots of flowers
everywhere.
July &
August:
High vacation time, lots of families in Augus–
summer weather in the eighties °
higher prices & reservations have to be made early.
Beware that very few places have air-conditioning but we
do not need it for very long in Normandy …
Sept/ October:
Uncrowdy, still nice days getting shorter & cooler.
Sometimes “Indian summer” in October ! (70° to
60°)
For the rest of
the year, have a wind-breaker, umbrella, warm clothes but
Normandy beeing bordered by 375 miles of coast line, the
climate is quite mild with only a few days of snow &
freezing temperatures
| To
convert temperature Celcius to Fahrenheit ° : C
X 2 + 32 - Exemple: 20° C becomes 72° F |
| Please
note that the best bank cards to have when
traveling to France is not American Express but
Visa or Mastercharge ! also there are plenty of
ATM to retrieve cash but make sure that you
indicate a sufficient maximum amount to your bank
before departure and also know your pin code !!! |
Landing
Beaches
UTAH,
OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, SWORD
Only 45
miles long but to do a full tour, you would need at least
2 full days,
3 days if you also want to go in the footsteps
of the Battle of the Gap (end of Battle of
Normandy near Falaise)
In one day you can see the most important sites of the US
sector
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