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World War Battlefields: 2008

This June 6th marked the 60th anniversary of World War Two's D-Day landings in Normandy. This summer was the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One. Both wars engulfed Europe for years and traces of the battles can still be found. What evocative European sights have you discovered that bring these two conflicts to life?

Victory Tours - Normandy
I agree about Victory Tours! We are are family of 4 (2 teens) and Roel took us on a fabulous half-day tour in September 08. His knowledge was great, his commentary informative and entertaining and we fitted a lot into the tour! He also recommended places for lunch. This was our first holiday in Paris; Normandy was a side day trip and was the most memorable part of our holiday. Thanks Roel!
Karen Mitchell <email>
Brisbane, Qld   Australia  Mon 12/29/2008

Normandy Guides
Victory Tours in Normandy is #1. I attempted to Book with the other two companies but they couldn't accommodate me. Luckily, Victory Tours was and Roel is a class act. He's very informative and just a fun person to be around. I’m looking forward to seeing him again someday. You get so much more from a guide than you would from a book.
Tom <email>
Savannah, GA   USA  Sun 12/07/2008

Battlebus tours Canadian sites
The Battlebus tour of the Canadian battles starting at the beach my Dad came ashore to the 18th stop following 6 days of fighting was impressive. Dale knew the history and had heart wrenching stories from hero's all. We were moved by his telling of the battles knowing what devestation had taken place. Our November 11 tour could not have been better. thank you so much Chris and Iola Ingersoll
Chris and Iola Ingersoll <email>
Napanee, ON   CDA  Mon 11/24/2008

OVERLORDTOUR
Ken and I were accompanied by Phillipe on Nov 3 for an overlord tour of the american sites. We were so impressed by phillipe's knowledge of the area and history. We have been changed in a way we did not expect. We will forever watch history about WWII with a different eye. Not only did we get a lot of french perspective but he challenged our thinking and got us to look at overlord from a fresh viewpoint. It was one of the highlights of our trip to europe. Thank you so much! Rochelle Symons
Rochelle Symons <email>
USA  Sat 11/15/2008

Battlebus Normandy Tour
We did the Aerican highlights tour with Battlebus and it was great!! I highly reccomend a guided tour and Battlebus did an exceptional job. Sean our tour guide went above and beyond helping me research a family member who died in a plane crash in Europe during WWII. Thanks again to Battlebus and a HUGE thankyou to Sean our guide.
Dan Bergman
Sacramento, CA   USA  Thu 10/30/2008

BATTLEBUS TOURS
On June 2nd and 3rd, we took the battlebus tour (american sites), we cannot describe what a wonderful experience that was !! I`m a french native, married to an american and returning to France pretty much every year to visit my parents and we visited most of these sites on our own but, we never could have found or learned what we did without the help of our wonderful guide Julian who, despite, the miserable rainy and cold weather, never lost his enthusiasm and energy. Being originally from France and familiar with french history, I learned as much than my husband did ! I know that everyone in our group felt the same way ! Thanks again, Julian. Fifi & Jim Maloney Illinois, USA
Fifi & Jim Maloney
Eureka, Il   USA  Wed 09/24/2008

Don't miss it
This is specifically for the younger backpackers crowd. If you don't take the time out of your trip to visit Normandy or any World War II sights you are truly missing out. The pubs and museums and clubs will always be there.

When we were in Paris we took the time to go out to Normandy. We had done some research, but were just kind of winging it. The French trains are the worst in terms of correlating with the time tables that the Eurail pass comes with. The first bit of advice is if you are making it a day trip, get to the station early. If you aren't out there by 9-1PM then you will miss the tours.

The tours are a MUST, and are really affordable. They make or break the time that you spend out there.

If you are planning on doing it yourself without the tour, get off the train in Bayeux and take the bus (it was only 5 Euros for a round trip) out to the cemetery and beaches.

We visited 13 different countries and saw TONS of sights, but my favorite by far was Normandy. We owe the people that fought and sacrificed on those shores more than one visit could ever help me comprehend. However, remembering what was done there is the best way to honor those heroes.
Ryan
Provo, Utah   USA  Wed 09/24/2008

D-Day Beaches Tour
Roel Klinkhamer's Victory Tours (victorytours.com)in Normandy is well worth the time and money. All the books I have read about D-Day came to life. Definetly make time for the all day tour. To get an earlier start and the whole experience plan on spending a night or two with he and Pia at their chateau (Chateau de Lignerolles). Our group even enjoyed the tour in the rain just like D-Day.
Harold Reed <email>
Hurst, TX   USA  Sun 09/14/2008

Visit Normandy for one day!
Please consider spending one day in Normandy (or more if you have time!). Take the early morning train to Bayeux, and Roel of Victory Tours will meet you at 9:30 AM. We spent a very memorable day with him as our guide (www.victorytours.com)...it was the highlight of our 2 week trip to Paris! If you can spare another day, also visit the WW2 museum in Caen.
Marilyn Stolz <email>
Enumclaw , Wa   USA  Sat 09/13/2008

Overlord Tours
Overlord Tours, D-Day beaches and Band of Brothers tours - a fantastic, informative day with an excellent guide. A complete novice to the subject, I have come away from this tour interested and inspired to learn more. Exclusive access to amazing areas vital to the story due to the long standing trust between the tour company and the land owners gives an intimate insight into the normally unseen battlegrounds. We couldn't have asked for a better guide in Olivier, although his colleagues have different specialities, and we will certainly be returning to sample their tours given the level of commitment and knowledge shown by Olivier. I would unreservedly recommend this tour.
Louise McManus
Stoke-on Trent, Staffs   UK  Thu 08/28/2008

Normandy Tour
VictoryTours.com !! Roel's knowledge and enthusiasm for the events of the Normandy invasion make for a great day tour. I could listen to his stories of actual events for hours. He knows every nook and cranny of Normandy. He told us things that can only be told first hand, from his vet friends. Very personable and plays to the (small) crowd. Very comfortable ride. This tour is worth more than he charges. Take the train from Paris and spend a day with Roel. You won't regret it!!
Nick Schultz <email>
Dallas, TX   USA  Tue 08/26/2008

Overlord Tour - Normandy
My dad arranged for our family to take the Overlord Tour in Normandy, and it was fantastic! Alain, our guide, has a clear personal passion for studying the events in Normandy that made his tour interesting and powerful. It is wonderful to be taken around by a guide who clearly loves his job. We all described the experience as haunting and talked about it for days.
Alexandra Taylor
Charlottesville, VA   USA  Sun 08/24/2008

Battlebus-Normandy and Ardennes
We traveled with Battlebus on the full-day American Highlights tour and the full-day Band of Brothers tour. They were two of the most memorable days I ever spent. Our guide, Alan, was terrific -- extremely knowledgeable, and very personable. It saves a great deal of time to have them drive you around rather than getting lost by yourself, and they take you places you couldn't find on your own anyway, such as Brecourt Manor. They can tailor a tour to your needs and to any audience. I'd love to go back and take the 2-day American battlefields tour. They also provide tours to the British and Canadian beaches, but we took a day to visit those on our own. Not to be missed is Pegasus Bridge and the new museum there, and Arromanches with its view of the mulberries.

If you want to tour the area of the Battle of the Bulge, contact Henri Mignon in the Bastogne area at 'Henri_mignon@swing.be' We spend an entire day with him in the Ardennes, and felt comfortable with him from the start. He will also tailor your tour to what you want to see, and show you plenty that you would not find on your own. He is a military expert and was a small child in the Bastogne area during the war and can tell you what it was like.
Anne Moiseev
Springfield, NJ   USA  Wed 08/20/2008

Overlord Tours - Normandy
I am late in posting this as we went to France last September but I must chime in that Overlord Tours was FANTASTIC and Alain was just amazing. I honestly had no real interest in the tour and just went along with my husband to keep him company but by the end of the tour I was so impressed and moved and amazed. You can not go wrong with Overlord Tours and we are already planning to take our daughter back for home school when she is old enough to appreciate and understand.
Karen
Washington DC, DC   USA  Tue 08/19/2008

A Tour in Normandy
To Overlordtour Just to say a big thank you to Overlord tours for such a fantastic day. It was my son Toby's 10th birthday surprise, and it will be a day that he or I will never forget.

Philippe was a great tour guide with a very deep knowledge of the whole campaign who brought those days over 60 years ago vividly to life. Everywhere he took us, he was able to answer any question, no matter how small, which can be quite trying when you have a little boy asking little boys questions!. Add his humour to the mix and we could not fail to have an instructional and enjoyable day.

Best regards,

Bob and Toby Colehan
Bob and Toby Colehan <email>
USA  Tue 07/29/2008

Tour with Overlordtour
Hello Alain –

We have just returned to Houston and wish to take a moment to thank you for

your excellent tour services during our visit to Normandie.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Omaha / Band of Brothers Full Day Tour and deeply

appreciated your knowledge and explanations of the various sites as we visited

each of them. We shall not hesitate to introduce our friends and relatives to you

as they make plans in the future to visit Normandie.

With best regards –

Darrell G. Summers

Chairman

Global Transport Organization ( GTO )

World Headquarters – Houston, Texas USA
Darrell G. Summers <email>
Houston,, Texas   USA  Thu 07/24/2008

Overlordtour
I had the privilege of taking the Omaha / Band of Brothers tour with you on June 10. So far, that tour has been the highlight of my stay in Europe.

As a passionate amateur student of D-Day, I marvel at your professional knowledge of the event and commitment to its memory. As a Virginian, I appreciate your connection to the 29th Infantry Division.

To prospect customers reading this guestbook entry, I heartily recommend Alain's tours if your interest in the American action on D-Day ranges anywhere from passing to expert. Alain truly takes his tours to out of the way historical spots on private property that you could never visit on your own.

Alain - thank you very much.

Donnie Edgemon Sterling, Virginia, USA
Donnie Edgemon <email>
Sterling, VA   USA  Thu 07/24/2008

Normandy Beaches
We would highly recommend Overlord Tours. We had the pleasure of an excellent tour in April 2008. We now have a much better appreciation and understanding of D-Day. Our group was amazed at the knowledge our tour guide which he shared with us that day. It definitely was a reminder of how precious our liberty is today. Thank you Overlord tours for a tour of a lifetime.
Ruth Slusser
Bay CIty, Mi   USA  Thu 07/24/2008

Overlord Tours, Normandy
We returned to the US just a week ago after an unforgettable tour of the Normandy D-Day beaches with Alain Chesnel of Overlord Tours. His knowledge, experience, and ability to make history come alive for us made this a unique and memorable tour. We highly recommend Overlord Tours to people of all ages!
Thelma and Nelson Stevens <email>
Barrington,, IL   USA  Thu 07/24/2008

Normandy Battlebus Tour
In May 2008, we took a two-day tour of the American sector of Normandy with Dale Booth of Battlebus as our guide. What an educational experience!! First off, even if you don’t choose Battlebus, by all means, get a guided tour. This area is much larger than it appears! If you do this on your on, you could waste hours going in circles on the narrow country lanes. There are just too many “goodies” to see to waste time in transit. When Battlebus puts it all together, this chapter of history just jumps off the page. To my amazement, even the women in my party ooohed and aaahed. This experience turned my daughter into a WWII fanatic, too. From the history I have read, it looks like Battlebus have a pretty good handle on the actual military situation as it was in 1944. We spent 12 days in Europe. This was the highlight of our trip! It was well worth the extra expense.

Rocky Wright from Louisiana, USA
Rocky Wright <email>
Many, LA   USA  Tue 07/15/2008

Battlebus Tours of the D-day beaches
In March 2008,I completed the American and British Experience tours as well as the Band of Brothers tours with Battlebus. An avid militarian historian, I spent 8 months preparing for my trip, and did considerable reading and map research. I expected to be fully prepared, but was sincerely impressed by the depth of knowledge, courtesy,sensitivity, and professionalism of my guides, Alan, Stewart and Dale. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend Battlebus tours for anyone who is searching for a high quality D-day tour experience.
Jon <email>
Baxter, MN   USA  Sun 07/13/2008

D Day Tours
My son & I just spent a long week-end visiting the Normandy beaches. We used a couple of tour companies but the most outstanding was Overlord (Omaha & Band of Brothers one day tour). We were in a small group and Alain, our guide, had a superb knowledge and understanding of the momentous events surrounding D-Day. He told stories and anecdotes that he had received first hand from veterans of the campaign and these brought the day alive. My father landed with the British forces on D Day and thankfully survived but we need people like Alain to keep alive the memories of all those brave servicemen.
Tim & Matt Leaver
Plymouth (UK), UK  Sat 07/12/2008

Victory Tours and the Chateau Lignerolles
My husband and I along with our two friends, Bonnie and Wally just got back from 4 days at the Chateau Lignerolles. We spent one day touring the D-Day Beaches with Victory Tours. The whole experience was outstanding. Roel personalized the tour by sharing many stories. Pia was a gracious host and made us feel at home. We would highly recommend both the tour and a stay at the chateau.
Chris
Gilford, NH   USA  Fri 07/11/2008

Band of Brothers Tour (Battlebus Tours)
Last weekend I took my family including my 3 sons, to a Battlebus Tours Band of Brothers Tour. The knowledge and passion with which Dale, our guide, talked and drove us through the Normandy episodes of this series was impressive, and increased our appreciation of the series in general. Thank you Battlebus, we'll be back.
Martin
Malta  Fri 07/04/2008

Battle of the Bulge tour
If you are interested in a personal Battle of the Bulge tour, contact Mr. Martin King. The two days we spent with Martin driving through the Ardennes, Bastogne, Noville, Houffalize, Malmedy, and so many other locations, were absolutely amazing and memorable. He leads tours only part time and is a true professional. Our days with him will be forever etched in our memories. http://users.skynet.be/fa531049/home/index.html
Sharon <email>
Texas   USA  Fri 07/04/2008

Battlebus Tours
After careful reading and research, we chose to tour Normandy with Battlebus, and it was a fabulous decision. We spent two remarkable days with Paul Woodadge of Battlebus, on the American Experience tour. The stories, the sights, the places we visited are memories for a lifetime. Our group of 8 was mesmerized by Paul's knowledge, insight, and humor. We decided to add another tour, so we also took the Band of Brothers tour with Allan. This was also a very special day. See Normandy with a Battlebus guide and you will not be disappointed. Indeed, you will be entranced and moved by the experience.
Sharon <email>
Texas   USA  Thu 06/26/2008

Victory Tours and Lignerolles Chateau
Three of us just spent 3 nights and 2 days with Roel and Pia. The accomadations were very comfortable and Pia's cordiality was greatly appreciated. The 2 days of tours were outstanding. Roel brings knowledge, enthusiasm and emotion to the tour that included many interesting out of the ordinary stops .
Lew Blackwell
La Quinta, Ca   USA  Tue 06/24/2008

OVERLORD TOURS=expertise
Hello Alain

Now we: Kjeld, Jacob, and Anders, are back in Denmark from our motorcycle trip to France.

We want to say A BIG THANK YOU for a fantastic day in company with Olivier!!!

We surely will recommend Overlord Tours to all the people we know.

Once again, THANK YOU for the tour, a day we will NEVER forget!!!!

Regards Kjeld, Jacob, Anders
Anders Andreassen <email>
Køge, Denmark  Thu 06/19/2008

Victory Tours and B&B Chateau de Lignerolles.
We spent 3 wonderful nights at Chateau de Lignerolles, with the full day tour of the D-Day sites. Roel's knowledge of D-Day history is astounding. Most Ph.D history professors would be challenged to know a portion of his knowledge about D-Day. In addition, he is a master storyteller, and he brings alive the events of that pivotal day and the heroes involved. The tour was an unforgettable experience.

Roel and his wife Pia were the most gracious of hosts. The Chateau has to be seen to be believed! The room was spacious, beautifully furnished, and comfortable. Pia's breakfast was topped only by her warmth and hospitality.

We hope to return someday...
Tony Gadaleta <email>
Oxford, OH   USA  Sun 06/08/2008

Battlebus Tours - FANTASTIC
We took the Battlebus American Highlights tour (one-day) on May 22. Our guide was fantastic; he'd been studying D-Day for over 20 years (his passion). I now regret never paying attention in history classes throughout high school and college. If I could offer one piece of advice, watch Band Of Brothers before going to Normandy. Our guide kept referring to this series over and over; and everyone else on our bus had seen the series and said it helped them with the own Normandy experience. It was an 8-hour day that flew by. Highly recommended!
Dolores
USA  Thu 06/05/2008

Canadian Juno Beach, Battlebus Tour
This Canadian Tour is unbelieveable! We toured 5 countries and we definitely left the best for last! Stuart Robertson made History come alive with his vivid accounts of those days and he tells each with such passion that you feel what pain and suffering those soldiers must have went through. I never was much into History but I learned more on this Tour than all my years in school. I was totally impressed with the Tour and would recommend it to anyone. In fact I have to everyone who asks me about my trip. It was definitely the highlight!I just wish everyone could take this Tour because I'm sure they would come out with a greater appreciation for the soldiers of yesterday and those of today who so bravely gave up so much. We even got to see the Juno Beach Centre where we have a brick for our Dad who served 4 years overseas but Thankfully made it back home. It was made extra special to see that on mothers day since our mom couldn't make the trip with us, and to have a wonderful guide like Stuart Robertson was fantastic. We couldn't have asked for better! He made the Tour! Thanks for an amazing experience
Sheila Gallant
Charlottetown P.E.I., Canada  Sun 06/01/2008

Overlordtour D-Day Beaches/Band of Brothers Tour
Hi Alain,

I am hoping you will be able to print this email and pass it along to Oliver. My Dad and I were with him on tour yesterday and are both very, very pleased. Great tour, great guide, vehicle… We loved it!!! Also, thank you so much for picking us up at our hotel in Caen. Oliver was also kind enough to drop us off directly at the Bayeux train station, which saved us from getting soaked by the rain.

Another wonderful thing was the “extra” stop at the German cemetery at La Cambe. We really appreciated this. Oliver asked me to help him translate the poem on the mass grave at the center of the site. I did a moderately decent job with the on-site translation, but have reworked it. Below is the original German, followed by the English:

"Dunkel wölbt sich der Hügel Über dem Grab der Soldaten Dunkel steht Gottes Gebot Über den Toten des Krieges. Hell aber leuchtet der Himmel über den ragenden Kreuzen. Heller noch leuchtet ihr Trost: Gott hat das letzte Wort."

“Dark is the mound that arches Above the soldiers’ grave Dark stands God’s commandment Over the wars dead. But bright are the heavens Above the looming crosses. Brighter yet, shines their solace: God has the final word.”

Hope this helps, and thank you and Oliver again for a wonderful day through history.

Douglas O’Donnell
Douglas O'Donnell
Trier, Germany  Sun 05/25/2008

Overlord Tours
This is an email I sent to Alain Chesnel of Overlord Tours: Alain: I would like to thank you for the great tours that you provided for our recent visit to Normandy. We were with Phillipe for a tour of Bayeux and the William the Conqueror tour, and he was incredibly knowledgeable and informative. We also had him as our guide for the Mont St. Michel trip. He is a wealth of historical knowledge.

The D-Day tour with you and Oliver was outstanding. We learned so much, and had all of the story brought to life through your narration and photos. This is a tour everyone should experience. We could not have asked for a better tour or tour guides. You are true professionals.

Best wishes, Donna Russell Portland, Oregon
Donna Russell
Portland, Oregon   USA  Fri 05/23/2008

Overlord Band Of Brothers/Omaha Tour
We wanted to add our comments to the many already on this page, thanking Alain and Oliver of Overlord Tours for going over and above to bring history alive. It was a cold, wet, windy day, but, we hardly noticed, we were totally captivated by the sights and stories our guides presented to us for over eight hours. It was obvious that these men don't just do this to make a living, they are truly commeted to the memory of those who gave their all that day. We felt that the tour was worth every cent and more, you won't regret it!
Peter & Sarah Wartena <email>
Green Valley, AZ   USA  Thu 05/15/2008

Overlord Tours = Excellent!
I highly recommend Overlord Tours. Alan and Oliver were excellent guides taking you to major as well as minor sites in Normandy. We did the Omaha/Band of Brothers tour and it was perfect. They use pictures and maps, so you know what went on in that area and stand the exact spots that events happened. Alan and Oliver's knowledge and enthusiasim shows in the tour and they are happy to answer questions from the group. The tour feels personal and is very moving. It was definitely the hightlight of our trip to France.
Wes <email>
Dover, DE   USA  Tue 05/13/2008

Battlebus Tours
If you are looking for a great tour of the D-Day Area try Battlebus Tours!! We took the American Highlights tour with Dale and had a fantastic time. He was very knowledgable and fun. The day went by way too fast!!!! Battlebus is worth every cent!!! Ed Gainesville, Fl USA 04/14/2008
Ed Mignone <email>
Gainesville, FL   USA  Tue 04/29/2008

Tour in NOrmandy with Overlordtou
To OVERLORTOUR Thanks you for the amazing job you did today on the "Omaha/ Band of Brothers tour" tour. "Today's tour in Normandy was very moving. Over 40,000 British and American soldiers gave their lives to defeat the Nazis in operation Overlord - they affected not only their contemporaries but also impacted generations across the World. We owe them. Our tour guide, Alain, was excellent. He has dozens of stories on the war and as he's showing you certain locations he has pictures of GIs at the same locations in 1944. I had goose bumps a few times - we'll use his services again." Thanks, Emmanuel Huna
Emmanuel Huna <email>
San Francisco, USA  Fri 04/18/2008

Vicotry Tours
Our family of 4 including 2 boys ages 12 and 10, did a half-day tour with Roel of Victory Tours in April. For the boys and me who love the subject and even for my wife who is just casually interested, everyone was provided with a fascinating experience with places and events of this fatefull day. Roel has the knowledge as well as photographs and stories from his years of guiding veterans to these sites. Plenty of time to look, ask questions, climb on/run around and, importantly, reflect on the sacrifices made. Roel is a gracious, enthusiastic and knowledgable host...with "better artillery sounds then even me" according to our 10 year old. Don't forget to stay in Bayeux and take the time to see the tapestry. It will add greater historical dimension to your WW II visit.
Mark W
Minnetonka, MN   USA  Tue 04/15/2008

Victory Tours and the B&B Chateau de Lignerolles
Our family enjoyed visiting the American D-Day beaches with Roel of Victory Tours and our stay at his and Pia's charming B&B Chateau de Lignerolles in August 2007. They were friendly, unassuming hosts. Roel was knowledgable and passionate about WWII and the D-Day invasion. We learned a lot in a short period! Note, Roel takes families with children for half day tours. The B&B's facilities were comfortable, spacious, peaceful and artistic. The breakfast was top quality and generous: like Sunday brunch every day. Note: Parents of young children may not feel as relaxed here as the decor is in white and all is so perfectly clean - our older children were very careful. That said, Roel and Pia raised a family of boys and are kid-friendly and happy to make breakfast hot chocolate according to kid's taste. Plus, we enjoyed a rainy hour(2) designing paper airplanes to fly from the very high second floor landing down to the large entry hall. Bring kids' activities & supplies. One must drive into town (Bayeux ~ 10-15 min) for other meals and laundry. Bayeux is a charming town with historically important sites and relics. Also, if you're in London check out the Imperial War Museum for great WWII exhibits.
Nancy B.
Seattle, WA   USA  Mon 04/14/2008

Battlebus Normandy Tour
We chose the American Highlights one-day tour for our visit last August. Our guide was Dale Booth and he was great! He took care to give us a compelling mix of tactics along with the human side of the invasion. Dale was organized, efficient and engaging. What we saw was so interesting we would happily do the same tour over again and not be bored. (although a two-day tour would be even better - if only we had the time!) Our 15-year old son was as fascinated and moved as the rest of the adults. This tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Great work, Dale!
Cynthia
IN   USA  Sun 04/13/2008

Normandy Tour - Victory Tours
On March 25th, 2008 my wife, two teenage daughters, and I enjoyed a full day tour with Roel of Victory Tours. What an excellent day we had. Roel's knowledge, humor, and respect for the events of June 6th, 1944 made this a highlight of our 3-week five country European experience. Even our 17 and 14 year old daughters found the day exceptional. The both requested renting the various Normandy movies as soon as we got home. Roel brought the events of that day 64 years ago to a very human level and I thank him very much for the experience. Please consider a full day with Victory Tours.
Dave Sherman
Solon, IA   USA  Fri 04/11/2008

D-Day Battlefield Tour
My party of 5 toured Normandy from Pegasus Bridge to Utah Beach over two full days (March 31 and April 1, 2008)with Philipe Guerin of Overlord Tours, a virtual living history book. No one could do it better.
Norm Baldwin <email>
Penfield, NY   USA  Thu 04/10/2008

OverlordTour
Our party of four had an excellent day laid on for us by OverlordTour. The itinerary was very comprehensive and informative, and went at just the right pace to maximise the time without feeling rushed. I'm so glad I opted for an organised tour as Phillipe's knowledge of the subject and the area made the day very special.
Mike <email>
Walsall, W.Mids   UK  Thu 04/03/2008

BattleBus Tours - Dale
The commitment to the Invasion experience is clearly evident with BattleBus tours. Traveling out of season has it's rewards and our small group (3 people) plus the lack of large crowds at the sites were ours on this trip. The more intimate group gave us a much more personalized tour than a bus of 40 people and a microphone. It also brought all the knowledge, depth and feeling to a more approachable level. For those who really want to understand what happened in June of 1944, I cannot imagine a better tour group or a guide with more knowledge, sincerity, humor and respect than Dale. He had a perfect combination of tactical information and personal experience to keep me interested each minute.
Steve <email>
Atlanta , GA   USA  Mon 03/31/2008

Battlebus Tours- Sean
My family and I just returned from a Spring Break vacation in France. While there we took a Battlebus tour and found it to be very memorable. Our guide Sean was full of enthusiasm and information from the time he picked us up at 8:30am until he dropped us off after 5pm. All my e-mail contacts with Battlebus were great. Sean had an endless knowledge about D-Day and I particularly liked that he talked about the small skirmishes as well as the big landings. Standing on the beaches gave me a whole new perspective on D-Day and ending our tour at the American cemetery was extremely moving. At our stop at the German cemetery I found a distant relative was buried there. Great TOUR! Would highly recommend to everyone!
Robert and Kathy <email>
Missouri City, TX   USA  Mon 03/24/2008

Overlord Tour
Last week, I had a tour with Philippe from Overlord Tour and I felt it was very entertaining and covered the necessary points in detail. I did not feel like anything was rushed or missed and appreciated the time to take photos. Also, his knowledge of the events were evident throughout. I now feel more educated on the events on D-Day. Thank you for a great tour!
James T
Traverse City, Mi   USA  Thu 03/13/2008

Tour with Overlordtour
I just want to let you know that we had two really lovely days with Phillippe. Thank you for making the arrangements for us. Regards, Susanne
Susanne E Cannon <email>
Chicago, USA  Tue 03/04/2008

Overlortour
We participated in Band Of Brothers tour with Phillip on September 29th as part of our visit to the Normandy beaches and surrounding area. Our tour was the highlight of the three days we spent in the Normandy area.....mostly because Phillip was so knowledgeable of the area and what took place there and where. We definitely recommend Overlord Tours to everyone that plans a trip to Normandy - and will tell them to ask for Phillip.

The Campbells from Minnesota and South Dakota - Jim, Diane, Joyce and Tom
Campbell <email>
USA  Tue 03/04/2008

D-Day Tour
I took a Battlebus tour in late January and found it to be very memorable. Our guide Sean was full of enthusiasm and information from the time he picked us up at 9 am until he dropped us off around 5. I found all my e-mail contacts with Battlebus to be delightful---these people have a great sense of humor! Sean had an endless treasury of anecdotes about D-Day and I particularly liked that he talked about the average soldier and not about the famed commanders who were watching from afar back in England. Standing on the beaches gave me a whole new perspective on D-Day and ending our tour at the American cemetery was extremely moving.
Dean A. Hoffman
Columbus, OH   USA  Thu 02/21/2008

Victory Tours
I highly recommend Victory Tours in Normandy. I was there in late September 2007. I was on the full day tour with 3 other friends. Roel's knowledge of the area and its history is outstanding.
David WORKMAN <email>
CHICAGO, IL   USA  Sun 02/03/2008

Excellent Tour from Victory Tours
I was in the Bayeux area for a few days in mid-January 2008 and took a tour of the D-Day sites with Victory Tours. Roel's extensive historical knowledge and fascinating accounts of personal encounters with D-Day veterans combined to make this tour an unforgettable experience. Although it was only a half-day tour, it was still quite comprehensive. The pace was never hurried and there was plenty of time at each site to visit and make pictures. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and recommend Victory Tours in the strongest possible terms.
Jeff R. Gardner
Forked River, NJ   USA  Sat 02/02/2008

Victory Tours/Chateau de Lignerolles
My brother and I spent three days at the chateau and took the full-day tour of the Normandy beaches. I was somewhat skeptical, having been disappointed by previous tour guides' memorized commentary. One glimpse at the mini-museum and library Roel has built in his home convinced me that he was doing this for love of the subject.

Both the tour and the stay at the chateau exceeded all of our expectations. Roel went out of his way (literally - showing us off-tour spots which he thought would interest us) and over schedule to provide a good tour. Pia sets a beautiful breakfast table, the rooms are comfortable and attractive, and the tour was both informative and emotional. I am a WWII history buff and, having read volumes on Overlord, thought I was beyond the emotional reaction I felt. Not so!

I would highly recommend both Victory Tours and Chateau de Lignerolles.
Robert B. Branham <email>
Renton, WA   USA  Tue 01/15/2008

Military Museums/Sites in the Benelux Area
If you’re in Netherlands and you have access to a car, I highly recommend a visit to the National War and Resistance Museum/Marshall Museum in Overloon, NL. A tank battle occurred here during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. The museum contains a number of battlefield recovered tanks and exhibits on the occupation of the Netherlands. In addition, they have a large hall with a very large number of vehicles and some aircraft (approx 150). This has probably the largest collection of WW2 US vehicles that I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot. I really enjoy this museum, and it is set in the beautiful Dutch countryside. There is also a museum café near the entrance to grab a bite to eat.

If you’re roaming about Luxembourg, I also recommend a visit to the National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. This museum has a large collection of US and German uniforms and weapons and a number of life size dioramas focusing on the Battle of the Bulge. If I recall correctly, the cellars of the museum were used as shelters for civilians during the fighting. They also have information on self-guided tours for points of interest concerning the Battle of the Bulge in the immediate Luxembourg and Germany vicinity. I really enjoy this museum as well.

If you’re roaming the coast near Brugge, Belgium, I recommend a visit to the Atlantic Wall Museum at Raversijde Domain in Oostende, BE. The Raversijde Domain on the coast houses a fairly large section of the Atlantic Wall that has been well preserved and restored. There are trenches and a number of bunkers and gun emplacements from WW1 and WW2. It took me about two hours to wander through both sections. They also had an English audio guide available. There is also a museum café near the entrance with a fairly large selection.
Ben
Okie in Europe, USA  Wed 01/09/2008

Battle of the Bulge
We'd heard from our good friend John Collins that Martin King (website below) was a good Battle of the Bulge guide but what we got from him was truly phenomenal. His enthusiasm and incredibly detailed knowledge of the Ardennes made our first trip to Europe a real pleasure. Martin does a lot of unpaid work for veteran’s organizations and families hoping to trace relative’s etc. He’s worked for NATO, the US military and many other organizations both military and non-military and we were honored indeed to have such an illustrious and dedicated man to show us around the Bulge. Apparently these days he only accepts one commission per month so if you want to book him get in early. You’ll be surely glad you did.

Sincerely J. Wills

http://users.skynet.be/fa531049/home/index.html
James Wills <email>
Boston, MA   USA  Mon 01/07/2008

The best battlefield guide
I can definitely second that. He's by far the best guide we've ever had. What an amazing individual. It took us almost two years to book him but it was well worth the wait. Thanks Martin, you're the best!
J.Erikson First Vice President La Salle bank <email>
USA  Mon 01/07/2008

Battlebus Tours were wonderful!
We highly recommend Battlebus Tours to anybody visiting Normandy. Our guide Dale brought the entire area to life. We took the American Highlights Tour and the Band of Brothers Tour and we just can't say enough about Dale who not only educated us about the events of D-Day but told stories in a way that had us completely captivated.
Rona Danziger
Farmington Hills, MI   USA  Tue 01/01/2008