Hi All
I'm organising a trip to the Normandy Beaches for Easter 2011 and was wondering if anyone knows of some first hand experience of places to stay (B&B's, campsite etc) that are reasonable. Don't mind staying out of town and then riding in.
Also, anyone ever "been there, done that" and can give some tips.
This is my first European jaunt and also for the friends that are coming with so all advice gratefully accepted.
Thanks in advance
Phil
Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Hi Wonkyd, welcome to the forum. I'm sure someone here will be able to offer you some help with your trip. 
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Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Hi Phil, welcome to ABR.
I was over there last year, stayed in Arromanche.
Camping is the best option as it makes Euros last a lot longer. Plenty of good sites available so no need to pre-book.
Caught the Portsmouth-Le Harve ferry, some good deals can be found for ferry trips, interwebs ya friend there.
Give yerself plenty of time as there is so much history to explore over there with plenty of nice riding in the area, an added bonus is the biker friendly French motorist, a revalation.
Enjoy then write up with ya pics on here.
I was over there last year, stayed in Arromanche.
Camping is the best option as it makes Euros last a lot longer. Plenty of good sites available so no need to pre-book.
Caught the Portsmouth-Le Harve ferry, some good deals can be found for ferry trips, interwebs ya friend there.
Give yerself plenty of time as there is so much history to explore over there with plenty of nice riding in the area, an added bonus is the biker friendly French motorist, a revalation.
Enjoy then write up with ya pics on here.
Contact email [email protected] or pm.
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
i took my (then)10yr old son with me on the varadero for a jaunt over there a couple of years ago, to see the beaches and take in a few museums. portsmouth to le havre overnight ferry, over the (very windy)pont du normandie to (very nice)honfleur for (very expensive)brunch, stayed overnight in the caen etap. caen is ok, etap because its cheapish and clean.
batterie du longues was worth a visit, if youve been to HMS belfast in london, she fired the first shots of d-day, the coastal battery at longues was what she fired at, quite well if the big holes are anything to go by!
sunken vehicle museum was good, pegasus bridge and museum, the beaches each have a few remains of defences and some sort of memorial, and there is the remains of mulberry harbour still there. you can see most of it on google earth to plan a trip.
as for going over there and riding around, no problems. its truly more hassle (and money)going to the isle of wight. the roads are generally better, signs and speed limits are more or less the same, and drivers are much more bike friendly and patient with mistakes than over here.
get over there and enjoy it mate
batterie du longues was worth a visit, if youve been to HMS belfast in london, she fired the first shots of d-day, the coastal battery at longues was what she fired at, quite well if the big holes are anything to go by!
sunken vehicle museum was good, pegasus bridge and museum, the beaches each have a few remains of defences and some sort of memorial, and there is the remains of mulberry harbour still there. you can see most of it on google earth to plan a trip.
as for going over there and riding around, no problems. its truly more hassle (and money)going to the isle of wight. the roads are generally better, signs and speed limits are more or less the same, and drivers are much more bike friendly and patient with mistakes than over here.
get over there and enjoy it mate
Dave
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
cheers chaps.
I'm hoping the weather stays good and i think that camping will be the order of the day. would rather spend the euro's on food and fuel than give it to a hotelier
I enjoy pics and will definitely do a write up when been and will also put up the costs etc once I'm done.
All advice is gratefully received so keep it coming.
Phil
I'm hoping the weather stays good and i think that camping will be the order of the day. would rather spend the euro's on food and fuel than give it to a hotelier
I enjoy pics and will definitely do a write up when been and will also put up the costs etc once I'm done.
All advice is gratefully received so keep it coming.
Phil
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Hi there, been there, done that a couple of yrs ago, funnily enough Fiona and myself are heading for Normandy on the last week of May with a few other XRV folk!
Ok, we camped at a friends house when we were there but as said, there's plenty of campsites around. We took the Portsmouth to Le Harve as well, overnight sail, stayed a week which gave us time to have a good look around. We're looking at taking the chunnel this time, the ferry's pricey. Certainly worth a look for sure. We might see some of you folk over there, not sure about bikes yet, Fiona's thinking aout changing her GS before summertime and I'm waiting to see this new Tiger! II'll let everyone know what I'm using nearer the time.
Enjoy mate, piece of cake!
Here's the tale of our last visit;
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/ride-repor ... -meet.html
Ok, we camped at a friends house when we were there but as said, there's plenty of campsites around. We took the Portsmouth to Le Harve as well, overnight sail, stayed a week which gave us time to have a good look around. We're looking at taking the chunnel this time, the ferry's pricey. Certainly worth a look for sure. We might see some of you folk over there, not sure about bikes yet, Fiona's thinking aout changing her GS before summertime and I'm waiting to see this new Tiger! II'll let everyone know what I'm using nearer the time.
Enjoy mate, piece of cake!
Here's the tale of our last visit;
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/ride-repor ... -meet.html
Honda, the power of dreams.
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Camping as said is easy and number one option,however it has been known to rain at times in Northern France so take a list of the cheap travellers hotels like Formula One etc which will get you out of the rain for a night if need be. Credit card entry so you can turn up anytime. Have a good trip B)
The secret of a long life is knowing when its time to go.
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
LD lines ferry was £70 return for bike+2, cabin comes extra if you want one book early. we had the reclining chairs but kipped on the floor on lilos from the £ shop and old pillows from home, all of which went in the bin when we got up. with a group of lads i have slept on the seats in the bar before, it wasnt rowdy because everyones got to drive in the morning.
that is something to warn you about, cops are few and far between and generally nice enough blokes, mostly seen fast asleep in their cars on the side of the road especially after the compulsory 2hr french working lunch, but you could see elaborate speed traps on the roads coming away from ferry ports and breathalyzing every driver is a matter of routine. bike cops ride very well and like to have a little follow for a few miles coming out of towns, dont be tempted to play with them, fines are big and on the spot, as in "im keeping your bike till your mates give you a lift to the nearest cashpoint, pool all your withdrawal limits and supply us with 600euros ta very much"
the etap was 28euros per room per night, maybe too much for a whole week but for one night like we did its a clean comfy bed and ensuite bathroom, imagine etaps and ibis' as the next step up from a formule1 (which to be honest, is plenty good enough for a group of lads. two seperate beds so room sharing halves the cost. (breakfast is pants though, no wonder they never win any wars eating fairy cakes and dry toast for breakfast). when mates and i camp over there for anything longer than a weekend we often have the last night in an F1, after a week under canvas its luxury!
B&Bs are all over the place, 1st stop should be the local tourist office in any village or town, let them phone around for you and they can usually get you a much better deal from their referral than you will with your pidgeon french.
but it sounds like you want camping, which is easier over there than here being a lot cheaper, if you move around any landowner is usually happy to let you doss in a field for a night, as long as you leave as you find, but for a few ammenities most villages have municipal campsites with a toilet/shower block and little old lady that comes round collecting fees. old fashioned "crouchamatic" toilets too, always fun the first time!
no village, no matter how tiny, will be without a bakery, grocers, charcuterie, tabac, bar and cafe. if you see a sign for "tabac" with a beer sign too, then its pretty much a newsagents, cafe, and bar in one. if you want a slap up cheap 3course lunch i recommend "le routiers" but any transport caff will be a revelation, look for rows of trucks with drivers asleep in them.
blimey, did i really type that lot? main thing is wonky, enjoy yourselves. dont worry about all that wrong side of the road rubbish, if you ride here you can ride there
that is something to warn you about, cops are few and far between and generally nice enough blokes, mostly seen fast asleep in their cars on the side of the road especially after the compulsory 2hr french working lunch, but you could see elaborate speed traps on the roads coming away from ferry ports and breathalyzing every driver is a matter of routine. bike cops ride very well and like to have a little follow for a few miles coming out of towns, dont be tempted to play with them, fines are big and on the spot, as in "im keeping your bike till your mates give you a lift to the nearest cashpoint, pool all your withdrawal limits and supply us with 600euros ta very much"
the etap was 28euros per room per night, maybe too much for a whole week but for one night like we did its a clean comfy bed and ensuite bathroom, imagine etaps and ibis' as the next step up from a formule1 (which to be honest, is plenty good enough for a group of lads. two seperate beds so room sharing halves the cost. (breakfast is pants though, no wonder they never win any wars eating fairy cakes and dry toast for breakfast). when mates and i camp over there for anything longer than a weekend we often have the last night in an F1, after a week under canvas its luxury!
B&Bs are all over the place, 1st stop should be the local tourist office in any village or town, let them phone around for you and they can usually get you a much better deal from their referral than you will with your pidgeon french.
but it sounds like you want camping, which is easier over there than here being a lot cheaper, if you move around any landowner is usually happy to let you doss in a field for a night, as long as you leave as you find, but for a few ammenities most villages have municipal campsites with a toilet/shower block and little old lady that comes round collecting fees. old fashioned "crouchamatic" toilets too, always fun the first time!
no village, no matter how tiny, will be without a bakery, grocers, charcuterie, tabac, bar and cafe. if you see a sign for "tabac" with a beer sign too, then its pretty much a newsagents, cafe, and bar in one. if you want a slap up cheap 3course lunch i recommend "le routiers" but any transport caff will be a revelation, look for rows of trucks with drivers asleep in them.
blimey, did i really type that lot? main thing is wonky, enjoy yourselves. dont worry about all that wrong side of the road rubbish, if you ride here you can ride there
Dave
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Phil, done Normandy a few times and have stopped at the Premier Classe at Honfleur. This summer it was 40 something euros a night, but split between 3 people a room makes it affordable. Breakfast was about 3 euros for eat as much as you dare baguettes/yoghurt/jam/cake/coffee/cereals. Bargain!!! The other bonus is that the hotel is walking distance into Honfleur (beautiful little ancient harbour) so after a days bimblin' park the bikes up in the secure car park and wander for beverages. Places to see include Cafe Gondree at Pegasus Bridge/Museum, Arromanches for museums and Mulberry Harbours, massive US cemetry Omaha Beach near St Laurent s/mer, Bayeux is a nice town with a bit of cross stitching. Once you are full of WW11 memorabilia then head inland to the Suisse Normande or over the big bridge at le havre (Pont de Normande) and head up the coast to Etretat/Fecamp (cliff top roads).
Hope this helps, have a great time
Fatlad
Hope this helps, have a great time
Fatlad
Re: Normandy Beaches - Easter 2011.
Hi wonkyd,
I can recommend these two B&Bs,not as cheap as camping,but the weather can be as iffy as the UK at easter so could come in very handy,i have used them both this sept,very good too, however, normandy beach b&b in Arromanches is very popular with riders from the UK and fills up quickly so you would need to book well in advance,the other one normandy vacations is south of Bayeux but still close enough to the landing beaches,both establishments are owned by Brits and are lovely people
they have plenty of secure off road parking too, highly recommended to all
Good luck have a great time
www.normandybeach.co.uk
www.normandyvacations.com
I can recommend these two B&Bs,not as cheap as camping,but the weather can be as iffy as the UK at easter so could come in very handy,i have used them both this sept,very good too, however, normandy beach b&b in Arromanches is very popular with riders from the UK and fills up quickly so you would need to book well in advance,the other one normandy vacations is south of Bayeux but still close enough to the landing beaches,both establishments are owned by Brits and are lovely people
they have plenty of secure off road parking too, highly recommended to all
Good luck have a great time
www.normandybeach.co.uk
www.normandyvacations.com
