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OVERNIGHTS IN NORMANDY

WHY NOT STAY OVERNIGHT IN FRANCE - THERE'S MUCH TO ENJOY

The people of Normandy are very friendly and proud that the liberation of Europe began in their front yard. They welcome visitors. The locals are descended from Vikings - mostly Danes - who settled around the mouth of the River Seine over 1000 years past and gradually took over what is now known as Normandy. The name comes from the Scandinavian word 'Nordman'. Within three generations they learned how to build in the local honey stone and eventually took this skill to England. Canterbury Cathedral and the White Tower at the heart of the Tower of London are built from stone quarried around the city of Caen - one of the D Day objectives. ********* An eighteenth century gem, the small city of Bayeux is home to the world famous tapestry 960 years old and depicting William Duke of Normandy's victory over King Harold of England at Hastings in 1066. There are fine shops and an astonishing number of restaurants and bars along the charming main street plus a traditional street market during summer.

The River Aure flows through the centre of downtown Bayeux AN IDEA..........LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE IN OUR CARE We have storage space for luggage at the airfield. We can deliver you to Gatwick and Heathrow airports within 30 and 60 minutes. And we can work around your trans-oceanic flight times. We gladly arrange Continental hotel accommodation and Barry Hyatt, our agent, has an enviable knowledge of where to stay. Let's suppose that you decide to fly as a group of six and spend two or three nights in Normandy. Our quote covers - all road travel in England, cross-Channel flight and flying tour of the landing grounds and invasion beaches, road touring in Normandy and D Day sites, all museum tickets, all meals away from the hotel, your guide in the sky and on the ground, your flight home and delivery to a London Airport or West End hotel. We can also fly you to destinations on the Continent. Compare our quote with the room rates and cost of meals when staying the same number of days and nights in Central London - before you dine on pizza to feed the family at reasonable prices! ************ You can make enquiries and arrange a trip by e-mail, fax or telephone to our representative – Air & Marine Travel Limited of Brewster, New York or to our UK Operations Desk.

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A few days touring in Normandy for a group/family costs more than our flying day tour though no more than staying in Central London for the same number of nights. The major cost in a flying tour is the aircraft. However, we have a very good arrangement whereby we can enjoy the flying tour over the landing grounds and invasion beaches, land in France and make a longer ground tour - the aircraft returns to pick us up next afternoon, or if you wish, two or more days later.

The best local hotels are very comfortable with delicious food, good wine and excellent staff. These hotels offer amazing bargain compared with prices in Central London. Take a look at the room rates in any top hotel in Central London! And because you're spending more than a day in our hands we give you special rates for the aircraft and touring.

Why not give yourself time to see many places that are just that little bit too far during a single day tour.

Treat your family to a trip of a lifetime during a couple of days in Normandy, rather than giving yourself the hotel bill of a lifetime by staying longer in Central London.

The American Airborne Museum at St.Mere Eglise

Utah Beach

Staying overnight also gives an opportunity to see the World famous 1000 years old Bayeux tapestry depicting William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066 and made shortly afterwards. During summer there is a traditional street market along the city main street and an open air café almost every few yards.

On the cliffs at the big gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer there are superb views of the remaining caissons of the Mulberry Harbour off Arromanches - and along the coast towards Cherbourg Peninsular giving an idea of the scale of the D Day landings through the unforgettable panorama. 

                                                    The big gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer

For groups staying two or more nights in France we can head for the eastern beaches and see where the British and Canadians waded ashore, the drop zones and landing grounds. We also see the Pegasus Bridge captured by gliders landing virtually on the bridge, the famous Pegasus Cafe, and the excellent new British Airborne Museum. 

                                          Pegasus Bridge over the Orne Canal             Pegasus Cafe - first house liberated in Occupied Europe

During 2004 the French authorities, both the central and local governments, put a great deal of effort into improving the museums, facilities and roads along the whole Liberation Coast. There are some new and excellent museums, indeed too many to see during a few days. 

                                                Sid Riley showing granddaughter Lauren the dunes from where he exited Gold Beach

                                                                        after landing with the first wave on D Day

Further along the coast is the beautiful and very moving American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer directly the sands of Omaha Beach. A new American Normandy Visitor Center opened on the 6 June 2007 alongside the cemetery and provides the first official museum at Omaha Beach. Not far away is the Pointe-du-Hoc where the Rangers scaled the cliffs to capture the German gun battery – still somewhat battered after attention that morning from the main armaments of the USS Texas and USS Arkansas.  

                                                  All along the coast you find remnants of the Atlantic Wall

After your tour we fly wherever you wish in France or back across the Channel. You arrive back at your London airport or hotel doorstep about two-and-a-half hours after leaving France. These extended tours make possible a close-up of both the modern and earlier invasions in both directions. Our French colleagues are able to offer some quite excellent additional trips for those who would like to learn more about this fascinating and very lovely part of France.

We can also meet you in France.

                     All our tours with overnight stays are offered by Chunnel, ferry and plane.  We have a very comfortable bus with lots of luggage space for tours by ferry and road which start in Britain. The high speed ferry link has been restored between Portsmouth and Cherbourg although we recommend returning via Calais and visiting Dieppe, Crecy and Agincourt along the way.

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Please feel welcome to contact us for quotes.

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