While day trips from Paris to Normandy are feasible, keep in mind that travel time is significant (about five to eight hours round-trip depending on traffic and the tour operator). Visitors who want to spend more than a couple hours at the Normandy beaches should consider staying the night. Also, always be sure to check whether lunch will be served on the tour, and if you have an interest in one particular area (example the beaches where the British or Canadians landed, instead of the Americans) confirm these details first.
Minibus tour operators such as Paris Trip operate by picking guests up at their hotels and then driving them in small groups to Normandy, and back to Paris by the end of the day. The major advantage with these trips is door-to-door pickup and smaller groups. While all reputable Normandy tours should cover the basics, with Paris Trip for example, guests can expect to visit the American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, Omaha Beach, remaining vestiges of the battle, and the Caen war memorial. Minibus tour operators can require a minimum number of passengers, which can pose a small problem for individuals and couples. Minibus tours typically leave Paris early in the morning and return about 12 hours later (leaving around six hours in Normandy). As of February 2010, the cost of a Paris Trip tour was 175 euros per person (with slight discounts for veterans and children).
Paris Trip --
2, cite de pusy
75017 Paris, France
01.56.79.05.23
http://www.paris-trip.com/tours.asp?id=7
Bus tours differ from minibus operators in that they do not provide door-to-door pickup. Instead, guests must travel to a meeting point in Paris, where tour buses take them to Normandy. These tours should generally be cheaper than door-to-door tours, although included meals and admission to more museums and memorials might erode some of those savings depending on the operator. Paris Cityrama is one such tour company. As of February 2010, its tour of Normandy from Paris costs 167 euros per person.
Cityrama
2 rue des pyramides
75001 Paris, France
Although no train will take you directly from Paris to the Normandy beaches, it's possible to hop a train to the nearby city of Caen, and then join an organized tour from there. The major advantage with taking the train is that travel time to and from Paris is reduced because the trains travel faster than buses, and there's no need to worry about snarling Paris traffic. Trains to Caen depart Paris from Gare Saint-Lazare, and local tour operators should be able to return guests to the train station in time for the last departure to Paris.
