taxi to Normandy beaches from LeHarve

[mysaddlebred000]

What would be our chances of finding a taxi at the LaHarve port and taking us to the beaches and museum? if possible, any idea what the cost might be?

 

thank you

[Hlitner]

What would be our chances of finding a taxi at the LaHarve port and taking us to the beaches and museum? if possible, any idea what the cost might be?

 

thank you

 

You will very likely find some taxis waiting at the port...and looking to be hired for a long tour. As to the cost, we think you are looking at several hundred Euros to go to the D-Day beaches. You are talking about more then 200 miles round trip (just to Omaha Beach) not to mention all the waiting time. Taxis do not work cheap in France. And a majority of the taxi drivers will speak little to no English. You can certainly pay them the big bucks to get you to Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, etc. but do not expect them to be a professional guide. We often rent a car (for less then 100 Euros). A shared private excursion is another economic way to get to the beaches and perhaps you can find a few others on your CC Roll Call.

 

Hank

[John Bull]

Taxi drivers at Le Havre will welcome you with open arms. And they will know the places that you want to visit & make a pretty good fist of driving you around. How good their historical knowledge or their command of the English language are a matter of pot-luck, but there's plenty of staff and signage at the various sights

But that's a very very expensive way of doing it - same as throughout Europe, simply hailing a taxi is OK for a short A to B journey, but uneconomical for a day-long tour. This isn't the Caribbean or SE Asia.

 

If you want a car and driver, get on the internet for quotes. This will avoid heart / wallet palpitations on the day, guarantees your transportation, and guarantees that the operator will do their best to assign a driver most likely to suit your needs.

 

Alternatively, book a rental car.

The driving, parking and navigation are pretty easy.

I can dig out some suggested maps & routes from previous threads - for that tell us your nationality (eg are you most interested in US or Canadian or UK sights), your day-of-the-week and arrival/departure times in port, and any particular sights or special interests.

Via your ship's RollCall you should be able to find potential sharers with similar aspirations.

 

Or use one of the specialist D-Day tour operators such as Overlord Tours.

They use vans, but I'm not aware of any who offer seat-in-bus from Le Havre, so to get decent value you'd have to put together a group via your RollCall.

 

Or have you checked your RollCall to see if anyone's already looking for folk to share a car+driver or a rental car or tour?

 

JB :)

[LondonTowner]

I would hire a car. Driving in Normandy is very easy. We take our British car to France 3 or 4 times a year and never have any problems.

 

In addition to DDay beaches you may also have time to visit Bayeux and Honfleur.

[haleindia]

John,

We are Canadian and hoping to rent a van (group of 6) and drive to the Canadian sites. Any insites would be most welcome. I am just starting my research. Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Hlitner]

John,

We are Canadian and hoping to rent a van (group of 6) and drive to the Canadian sites. Any insites would be most welcome. I am just starting my research. Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Not John (although we do consider him a friend) but we will offer one suggestion. Book your van far in advance (you can always cancel if your plans change) as there are only a limited number of vans available for rent. If your driver cannot drive a stick (manual transmission) make sure to specify that you must have an automatic.

 

Hank

[John Bull]

John,

We are Canadian and hoping to rent a van (group of 6) and drive to the Canadian sites. Any insites would be most welcome. I am just starting my research. Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

All the sights are from about an hour to the west of Le Havre, using the impressive Pont de Normandie over the Seine (this is the only toll you'll encounter, probably €6.80 for your vehicle, and the fast A13 to Caen

 

Here are some suggestions for an itinerary

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/49.4787867,0.1269564/49.2424047,-0.2742012/Juno+Beach/Arromanches-les-Bains,+France/Normandy+American+Cemetery+Visitor+Center,+Colleville-sur-Mer,+France/Abbaye+d'Ardenne,+Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe,+France/Honfleur,+France/18+Avenue+Lucien+Corbeaux,+Le+Havre,+France/@49.319893,-0.3521755,10z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2675261!2d49.2404795!3s0x480a667c4bdf4a13:0x1fdb052c82556947!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x480a58c8ce54c08d:0xd3f21873403f5a7b!2m2!1d-0.4525844!2d49.3357502!1m5!1m1!1s0x480a55dae15101c5:0x40c14484fbcfd00!2m2!1d-0.622415!2d49.339021!1m5!1m1!1s0x480ba82115e77193:0xdc6e1b4af3a56914!2m2!1d-0.8514512!2d49.3586702!1m10!1m1!1s0x480a43364f97744f:0x7a14fb687d66584c!2m2!1d-0.4150896!2d49.196874!3m4!1m2!1d0.2167345!2d49.3615831!3s0x47e1ccd5693675e5:0xc0f89cc8a3ff5800!1m5!1m1!1s0x47e033a5e30f5dc5:0x40c14484fbceaf0!2m2!1d0.233262!2d49.418762!1m5!1m1!1s0x47e02ef98de28c6d:0x3db2acca4194fa84!2m2!1d0.1262789!2d49.4786286!3e0

 

I suggest you pump the rental agency address into the van's GPS, and check the estimated journey time back to it from time to time during the day.

 

I guess your primary site will be Juno Beach and the Canadian Centre behind it, at Courseulles-sur-Mer. Worth 60 to 90 minutes.

 

If you have the time, go there via Pegasus Bridge at Benouville, the eastern flank of the landings, then the D514 through the coastal villages.

 

From Juno continue west along the coast for about 15 minutes, still D514, to the important D-Day town of Arromanches. Just before dropping into the town, a 360 cinema & vantage point overlooking the town & Mulberry Harbour. In town, a good little seafront museum (worth 30 minutes plus) and selection of shops, bars & cafes.

 

Check the clock - if you have the time continue west, still D514, for about 30 minutes to the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Worth a bare minimum 90 minutes.(just off the route from Arromanches, if time permits check out the guns at Longues sur Mer).

 

Whenever you decide it's time to head back take the shortest route to the fast A13.

 

Being Canadian you'll probably want to drop off at l'Abbaye d'Ardennes, just off the A13 Caen ring road. Probably worth 30 minutes plus - but that's a guess, I've not been there.

 

From here the theoretical journey time back to Le Havre is little more than an hour, but give yourselves at least two in case of a major delay. At commuter time the Caen ring road may be very slow for about 9km, but will clear once you cross the Orme River.

 

If you are not delayed, consider dropping in to the quaint fishing harbour of Honfleur for a beer. It's less than half an hour from Le Havre. Avoid any GPS directions to Honfleur via country lanes - set your GPS to Le Havre & turn for Honfleur at the roundabout before Pont de Normandie.

 

That's a long and fairly packed day and you may not fit it all in. If there are other places you want to visit such as Bayeux or Pointe du Hoc it would have to be at the expense of some of those other places.

If l'Abbaye d'Ardennes is a must-see make that your first stop, followed by Juno Beach.

The A13 is a fast road, but there are speed cameras so don't bust the limit.

Ships usually sail mid to late evening from Le Havre, but do check out the latest time you can return the van.

 

Hope this gets your research off to a start

 

JB :)

[haleindia]

Thank you. All wonderful info!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[flames9]

Thank you. All wonderful info!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Canuck here...We used label West to see the Canadian site and had a great tour.....https://www.label-west.com/ Saw many of the sites John Bull mentioned.....great tour

[Culaccino]

Thrilled to find this thread. John and Hank- thank you so much for sharing your insight. You’ve solidified our plan to rent a car.

(Hank- I replied to you in another thread about renting a car in Marseille.)

Do you have specific names/locations of the rental agencies you used?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[lamchops]

Thrilled to find this thread. John and Hank- thank you so much for sharing your insight. You’ve solidified our plan to rent a car.

(Hank- I replied to you in another thread about renting a car in Marseille.)

Do you have specific names/locations of the rental agencies you used?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Another Canuck who has followed John’s and Hank’s advice on driving to the Canadian sites from Le Havre. We drove to Bayeaux to see the tapestry, Juno Beach for the Canadian museum, Beny-sur-mer Canadian cemetery, and stopped for a fly by at the Pegasus bridge. It was a full day and well worth the car rental. All the sites are self explanatory so no real need for a guide. Follow the speed limit as photo radar is everywhere or you’ll get a souvenir ticket like me.

I’ve rented/ booked cars twice in Le Havre, first time from Europcar in town as it was a Sunday and the second time on the dock with Rentacar or something that sounds like that. We found jumping into the car and dropping off dockside was worth the extra cost in giving us another 45-60 minutes of road time.

[Culaccino]

We are from outside of Boston and not Canadians, but the sparks Hank and John have ignited are great! Do you gentlemen have a link/other thread to a similar itinerary for Americans. Our boys are phenomenal history buffs.

Dockside is a great tip. I appreciate efficiency. There’s something to be said for spending a little more when time is short.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Hlitner]

Regarding the Le Havre rental car situation, there are a few reasonable choices. The most convenient is the "Rent a Car" France location right at the port. If you can get a decent price (not always possible) and are OK with their insurance options, than this is very convenient. Otherwise we like to rent from Sixt, which is outside of the port (about a 25 min walk). Europcar used to have a location close to the port (near Sixt) but we no longer see this on their location map. Here is the link to the "Rent a Car" site for the port:

https://www.rentacar.fr/agences/le-havre/540-le-havre-terminal-croisiere

 

That site is in French and if you try to use the English option (at the bottom right) it will likely take you to a different web site. So, if you have trouble with the French simply install Google Translate or use a translator option within your browser (its a feature we like with Opera). If using this company do double check the insurance coverage (we previously mentioned this issue) and also make sure your rental gives you enough mileage for your day (rent a car usually includes a limited number of kilometers with additional options for more kilometers).

 

Also, for those not familiar with renting cars in France (and Europe) you might keep in mind that many cars come with a standard (stick) transmission. If you must have an automatic you will usually pay a big premium....if there are any available.

 

Hank

[Culaccino]

Great tip about translation and mileage. I would not have thought of that at all. My husband is from the Midwest and has no trouble with a manual transmission. I learned way back when, but it has been so long!

Do you happen to have a D-day itinerary for American sites?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[John Bull]

Great tip about translation and mileage. I would not have thought of that at all. My husband is from the Midwest and has no trouble with a manual transmission. I learned way back when, but it has been so long!

Do you happen to have a D-day itinerary for American sites?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

American sights can more-easily be visited from Cherbourg.

From Le Havre you don't really have time for Ste Mere-Eglise or Utah beach. If you have a special interest you can visit them, but you'll have precious little time for anything else. Should you ever port at Cherbourg on a future cruise you can visit them then - with a full day in port you could visit both them and Mont St Michel.

 

So this suggestion doesn't include Ste Mere-Eglise or Utah.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Le+Havre,+France/Cimeti%C3%A8re+Allemand,+Les+Noires+Terres,+La+Cambe,+France/Pointe+du+Hoc,+France/American+Cemetery+in+Normandy,+Colleville-sur-Mer,+France/Arromanches-les-Bains,+France/Le+Havre,+France/@49.2963458,-0.7974586,11z/data=!4m63!4m62!1m5!1m1!1s0x47e02f2395218b7d:0x5bc1867aaf33af12!2m2!1d0.107929!2d49.49437!1m5!1m1!1s0x480b0ab59c4ac25f:0x906c81cd37549291!2m2!1d-1.026389!2d49.341944!1m5!1m1!1s0x480b0a35f1069ef9:0x7636a3776c92f0cb!2m2!1d-0.9892703!2d49.3971886!1m5!1m1!1s0x480ba82115e77193:0xdc6e1b4af3a56914!2m2!1d-0.8530792!2d49.3557472!1m30!1m1!1s0x480a55dae15101c5:0x40c14484fbcfd00!2m2!1d-0.622415!2d49.339021!3m4!1m2!1d-0.4860468!2d49.3392781!3s0x480a585cc7f692d7:0xe8bc48d7abd772ed!3m4!1m2!1d-0.4022702!2d49.3315297!3s0x480a5f052a71c645:0x9d5da8270b5f9417!3m4!1m2!1d-0.31613!2d49.300337!3s0x480a60c33bc389e5:0x50c3334ed819670e!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2524656!2d49.2805208!3s0x480a6406fa17f5bb:0x32d52d8a7eb6c6b4!3m4!1m2!1d-0.201694!2d49.193926!3s0x480a6f8e4f3f77fd:0x776e26ab25b9c8ab!1m5!1m1!1s0x47e02f2395218b7d:0x5bc1867aaf33af12!2m2!1d0.107929!2d49.49437!3e0

 

From Le Havre to the furthest point, then work your way back along the coast. Keep an eye on the clock, & frequently check your GPS for the time required (fastest route) back to Le Havre. Do check the latest back-on-board time and, importantly, the latest time you can return the vehicle. Allow yourselves an extra hour for delays. You may have to forgo the last place or two, but from anywhere along the coast you can head inland for about 15 minutes to pick up the fast A13 to get you back to the ship.

 

- 1hr 20 mins from Le Havre to the German cemetery, close to the main A13 divided highway at La Cambe. Worth mebbe 15 mins & might seem a strange choice, but it contrasts starkly with the American cemetery at Omaha.

- 15 minutes on a side road to the coast at Pointe Du Hoc. Heavily fortified, heavily shelled, worth mebbe 30 minutes.

- 20 mins east on the coast road to Omaha (several monuments along the beach) and the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer. Worth 90 minutes+

Check your timing.

- continue 20 mins east on the coast road to Longues-sur-mer, a two-minute diversion to the heavy guns of the Longueville battery (worth 5 mins to 20 mins)

- continue 10 mins to Arromanches & the remains of its Mulberry Harbour. Shops, bars, restaurants, museums. Only a small town but the biggest you'll be visiting.

Check your timing.

- continue 45 minutes along the coast past Gold beaches to Courseulles-sur-mer (Juno) and thro little villages to the car ferry at Ouistreham (Sword, the easternmost end of the D- Day beaches) then up the Orne River to cross the river & canal on Pegasus Bridge (first point taken on D-Day, by Brit glider-borne), This avoids a possible commuter-time bottleneck where the main A13 crosses the Orne at Caen.

- You are now about 1hr 10mins from your ship.

- In about 50 minutes you'll see the Pont De Normandie bridge directly in front of you. If you've given yourselves time in hand but not been delayed, consider taking the ramp at junction 3 to Honfleur. a fishing / tourist town less than five minutes off-route. At Honfleur you're about 25 minutes from your ship.

 

Don't be tempted to take the coast road from Pegasus Bridge thro Deauville/Trouville to Honfleur - it's quite pretty but very slow.

The A13 is fast, but stick to the speed limits - there are speed cameras.

 

JB :)

.

[Hlitner]

We would agree with most of what JB says...and we know he has experience as a professional driver so you can take his route info (and timing) to the bank :). I will tell you that the first time I drove the Normandy (we were on a land driving trip where time was not a big issue) we focused on Omaha beach and the nearby Pointe du Hoc (you can still walk inside the German bunkers) as well as the amazing American Cemetery (this was used in the opening shots in "Saving Private Ryan". Although not close to the beaches we also think highly of the Peace Museum which is just outside Caen. While the Peace Museum is generally not included in most port day itineraries (because of the lack of time) the place does an amazing job explaining why the Peace after WWI failed...and also gives a tough (for the French) perspective and WWII.

 

On our first visit to the beach area we only went to Omaha ....but have now been to all the beaches (Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juna and Gold). To us, Omaha is the most interesting of the lot...but then again, we are not Canadians who will often have a profound interest in Juno. To be honest, as a lifelong student of WWII I still cannot understand why the planners decided that it was a good idea to storm Omaha.....which was heavily defended from the high ground. It still makes me tear-up (and also makes me very proud to be an American Vet) to think of those Rangers climbing up Pointe du Hoc....while taking fire from above and the flanks. Unreal! When DW saw that terrain her comment was "what can make a man climb that cliff while under fire." The only answer is that these were very brave men who understand that no cost was too high....in order to win. Compare that to many Americans today who would burn or spit on the flag :(.

 

Hank

[kctwinmommy]

We had a great time on our private tour through Operation Overlord. They were awesome! They run the cruise ship tours too, but we booked a private one. It came out to like 300 Euros for the 3 of us, there were 8 in our tour. We found others through our CC roll call. I wrote about it in my review (in my signature). The tour guide was so informative and we were able to do the tour we wanted, see the things we wanted, and it was a nice pace. It was truly the highlight of our trip!!

[Culaccino]

Hank and JB- this is absolutely priceless information and you have my heartfelt gratitude.

 

Kctwinmommy- thank you for offering another option. I will look into that as well.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[LocoLoco1]

We did what kitwinmommy did, Operation Overlord Tour outfit. Driver was Wonderful and informative. If we wanted to stop he stopped. Took the pressure off driving for all of us. Think seriously about it.

[Culaccino]

We had a great time on our private tour through Operation Overlord. They were awesome! They run the cruise ship tours too, but we booked a private one. It came out to like 300 Euros for the 3 of us, there were 8 in our tour. We found others through our CC roll call. I wrote about it in my review (in my signature). The tour guide was so informative and we were able to do the tour we wanted, see the things we wanted, and it was a nice pace. It was truly the highlight of our trip!!

 

 

 

How do I locate your review? I’d love to read it. I find these forums a little tough to navigate.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Culaccino]

Heading to the airport now! Thanks again gentlemen!

 

Carolyn

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Culaccino]

American sights can more-easily be visited from Cherbourg.

 

From Le Havre you don't really have time for Ste Mere-Eglise or Utah beach. If you have a special interest you can visit them, but you'll have precious little time for anything else. Should you ever port at Cherbourg on a future cruise you can visit them then - with a full day in port you could visit both them and Mont St Michel.

 

 

 

So this suggestion doesn't include Ste Mere-Eglise or Utah.

 

 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Le+Havre,+France/Cimeti%C3%A8re+Allemand,+Les+Noires+Terres,+La+Cambe,+France/Pointe+du+Hoc,+France/American+Cemetery+in+Normandy,+Colleville-sur-Mer,+France/Arromanches-les-Bains,+France/Le+Havre,+France/@49.2963458,-0.7974586,11z/data=!4m63!4m62!1m5!1m1!1s0x47e02f2395218b7d:0x5bc1867aaf33af12!2m2!1d0.107929!2d49.49437!1m5!1m1!1s0x480b0ab59c4ac25f:0x906c81cd37549291!2m2!1d-1.026389!2d49.341944!1m5!1m1!1s0x480b0a35f1069ef9:0x7636a3776c92f0cb!2m2!1d-0.9892703!2d49.3971886!1m5!1m1!1s0x480ba82115e77193:0xdc6e1b4af3a56914!2m2!1d-0.8530792!2d49.3557472!1m30!1m1!1s0x480a55dae15101c5:0x40c14484fbcfd00!2m2!1d-0.622415!2d49.339021!3m4!1m2!1d-0.4860468!2d49.3392781!3s0x480a585cc7f692d7:0xe8bc48d7abd772ed!3m4!1m2!1d-0.4022702!2d49.3315297!3s0x480a5f052a71c645:0x9d5da8270b5f9417!3m4!1m2!1d-0.31613!2d49.300337!3s0x480a60c33bc389e5:0x50c3334ed819670e!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2524656!2d49.2805208!3s0x480a6406fa17f5bb:0x32d52d8a7eb6c6b4!3m4!1m2!1d-0.201694!2d49.193926!3s0x480a6f8e4f3f77fd:0x776e26ab25b9c8ab!1m5!1m1!1s0x47e02f2395218b7d:0x5bc1867aaf33af12!2m2!1d0.107929!2d49.49437!3e0

 

 

 

From Le Havre to the furthest point, then work your way back along the coast. Keep an eye on the clock, & frequently check your GPS for the time required (fastest route) back to Le Havre. Do check the latest back-on-board time and, importantly, the latest time you can return the vehicle. Allow yourselves an extra hour for delays. You may have to forgo the last place or two, but from anywhere along the coast you can head inland for about 15 minutes to pick up the fast A13 to get you back to the ship.

 

 

 

- 1hr 20 mins from Le Havre to the German cemetery, close to the main A13 divided highway at La Cambe. Worth mebbe 15 mins & might seem a strange choice, but it contrasts starkly with the American cemetery at Omaha.

 

- 15 minutes on a side road to the coast at Pointe Du Hoc. Heavily fortified, heavily shelled, worth mebbe 30 minutes.

 

- 20 mins east on the coast road to Omaha (several monuments along the beach) and the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer. Worth 90 minutes+

 

Check your timing.

 

- continue 20 mins east on the coast road to Longues-sur-mer, a two-minute diversion to the heavy guns of the Longueville battery (worth 5 mins to 20 mins)

 

- continue 10 mins to Arromanches & the remains of its Mulberry Harbour. Shops, bars, restaurants, museums. Only a small town but the biggest you'll be visiting.

 

Check your timing.

 

- continue 45 minutes along the coast past Gold beaches to Courseulles-sur-mer (Juno) and thro little villages to the car ferry at Ouistreham (Sword, the easternmost end of the D- Day beaches) then up the Orne River to cross the river & canal on Pegasus Bridge (first point taken on D-Day, by Brit glider-borne), This avoids a possible commuter-time bottleneck where the main A13 crosses the Orne at Caen.

 

- You are now about 1hr 10mins from your ship.

 

- In about 50 minutes you'll see the Pont De Normandie bridge directly in front of you. If you've given yourselves time in hand but not been delayed, consider taking the ramp at junction 3 to Honfleur. a fishing / tourist town less than five minutes off-route. At Honfleur you're about 25 minutes from your ship.

 

 

 

Don't be tempted to take the coast road from Pegasus Bridge thro Deauville/Trouville to Honfleur - it's quite pretty but very slow.

 

The Aq13 is fast, but stick to the speed limits - there are speed cameras.

 

 

 

JB :)

 

.

 

 

 

This was a highlight of our trip. We followed your advice to the letter. I cried through the entire museum. Had lunch when we stopped to see Port Winston at a great brassiere. Even made it to Honfleur for gelato, macaroons and a nice stroll. Thank you 1000 times over.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums