Bike Tour Reviews  Coastal Normandy And WWII History


Coastal Normandy and WWII History

COUNTRY: France

5 nights
4.5/5 (2)
Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours
Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours

4.5/5 (2)
5 nights

Self guided from EUR € 1810

Self-guided:
Daily: year-round, 2024

Description:
From Caen to St. Mere l' Eglise, embark on a WW2 memorial tour of Normandy, cycling along the beaches where the famous landings took place and through towns brimming with moving history. Beginning with a visit to the WWII Peace Memorial in Caen, you'll…

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  • Coastal Normandy and WWII History
    (4/5) Brendan June 21, 2017

    Extraordinary Adventure

    Disclaimer: I wanted to show my kids the Normandy battlefields and we did just that. And my youngest child, an eight year old rock star, was on this trip which is not normal. But it also made it extraordinary. She biked every mile on the route btw! But buyer beware! This may not be the trip for you!

    The positive points:

    1. Good hotels. Especially Le Grand Hard (near St.Marie du Mont); it is extraordinary and you won't want to leave. It's a 15 minute bike ride from Utah Beach. That is not the case for the other hotels.

    2. Good bikes and service. Dropping off the bikes on the first night, David was prompt, professional and made the fitting fun and easy. All the bikes performed as advertised.

    3. The countryside is extraordinary - even without the famous and inspiring battlefields. Each beach is different and each day is different. I definitely recommend going from east to west!

    4. Some concerns: the GPS and route maps are almost worthless considering the technology on your phone. Google Maps, especially, had
    better bike routes than what the guidebooks were describing. The GPS units are way out of date and I would NEVER suggest this trip without a working phone with Google Maps! It saved the day often - especially for side trips and accurate mileage and arrival times. The tour company should get updated with current technology ASAP!

    5. The return trips to Caen and Bayeaux take away from time at battlefield museums and introduce unnecessary busy roads. There are closer hotels near the beaches. Bayeaux was lovely and the tapestry a highlight but the mileage was too unbalanced.

    Everyone at Biketours.com was super friendly and helpful. Food was good. But bring your phone with a good data plan! Because without it, you will be lost and probably going the wrong way. Lots of beautiful little country roads in Normandy. You will be tired every night!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 11-17
    How many tours have you completed?
    More than 10/First for family
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    • Photo 1 (photo by Brendan)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Brendan)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Brendan)
    • 3/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Crewdog10 April 4, 2016

    Great way to visit the Normandy coast and see first hand where it took place.

    The hotel accommodations were great. Everyone that we came into contact with were wonderful .

    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    • Our last day on the tour. Wonderful .. (photo by Crewdog10)
    • I was very impressed . (photo by Crewdog10)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection