World War Battlefields
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?
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Battle of Normandy Tours - Edward Robinson
I had long wanted to do a tour of Normandy but never seemed to find the time to do it. My wife and I finally decided to book two days with Edward Robinson as part of a week in Paris. Normandy was the highlight of the trip and we owe it all to Edward.
Edward is unique and fascinating. He lives, eats, and breathes history in general (he reads several histories a week) and Normandy in particular, but his interests and background are many and varied and he draws upon his vast store of information to make Normandy come alive. We did a two day tour and were very glad we did not try to squeeze Normandy into one day. We were able to spend quality time at a number of venues, studying the terrain and understanding why and how things happened as they did.
Early in our first day, Edward encouraged us to watch the opening landing scene from Saving Private Ryan so he could demonstrate several significant inaccuracies in the movie. We did, and he did. I won't spoil your tour by previewing Edward's explanations, but rest assured, Edward is right and Spielberg was wrong In certain depictions of the battle at Omaha Beach,(although we both agreed the movie is a great movie).
Edward was also very thoughtful. He wanted to know what we wanted to see, and was very respectful of our preferences. Of particular note: Edward examined our return train tickets to Paris from Bayeaux and did not think we had selected the most efficient routing. He took us to the train station and made sure to negotiate the best routing he could find. We felt that was above and beyond the call of duty on his part, but it was typical of his attention to detail and caring attitude.
Edward is outspoken and he has strong opinions. We felt that was a strength; his opinions are grounded in fact and study. We were not there to tell him what we believed; we were there to learn what he knew. On several occasions, Edward asked, seemingly out of concern, why we weren't speaking more than we did. My answer to him was that we were learning so much by listening, and we didn't want to interrupt his train of thought.
We were enriched by the experience. We intend to return to Normandy to explore places and events we did not have the time to explore on the just-concluded trip, and we have every intention of engaging Edward Robinson on our return.
Elliott
Bethesda, MD USA 05/24/2013
Overlord tours
I took the 2 day Bradley tour with Dominique. She was professional and very informed. I had my 10 year old son with me and Dominique went out of her way to keep him involved for the two day tour. I would highly recommend Overlord tours and Dominique.
Don
Bentonville, Ark USA 05/12/2013
D-Day Tours
Took the Bradley tour with Overlord tours out of Bayeux France. It was a two day tour of the American beaches and Airborne zones. Our tour guide was Dominique and she was great. I had my ten year old son with me and she was able to keep his attention and deliver all the information that you would hope to know about D-Day. Highly recommend their service and Dominique.
Don
Bentonville, Ark USA 05/06/2013
Overlord Tours number 4
A big thanks to the Overlord Tours guys for running the tour of Sword, Juno and Gold and extra thanks to our host Sean. The day was lively and in-depth, the weather magnificent and it left us wanting to come back for more
Alan Traylor
Hugo, MN USA 04/24/2013
Overlordtour, Tour #8
Date of trip : Tuesday, 2 April 2013
We had a fantastic tour with Brigitte Tuesday, 2 April 2013. She listened to our grandson's questions and answered thoughtfully and knowledgeably. Although our grandson is only 11 years old, Brigitte treated him with great respect. They shared their passion for history. Please extend our thanks to her.
Lynne Kogel
Saint Clair Shores, MI USA 04/18/2013
Overlord Tours
Overlord Tours is the way to go! My wife and I recently spent a wonderful week in Bayeux where we toured with Overlord for three days. Overlord took wonderful care of us providing an amazing experience. Our guides struck the perfect balance between being very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. I highly recommend Overlord to anyone looking for touring services in Normandy!
George
New York, NY USA 04/13/2013
Overlord Tours
This is the first review I have ever written but wanted to publicly thank Overlord Tours and our guide, Stephane, for a wonderful experience. We did the 2 day Neptune tour on March 28/29 and recommend it for anyone who wants to spend a little more time understanding the complexities of the invasion and the enormous undertaking and cost that both sides endured. Stephane did an excellent job with wit, knowledge and humor. I highly recommend the stay in Bayeux and the 2 day Neptune tour with Overlord Tours.
Will Kreamer
Tucson, AZ USA 04/02/2013
D-Day Tour Review (Overlord Tours)
I recently finished a trip to London, UK. While there I took "Eurostar" to Paris, France and another train to Bayeux , France to visit D-Day sites. Travel took one day to complete. For the following two days I toured with "overlord tours" and was dazzled by the comprehensive approach Overlord provided. There is no other way to describe them than OUTSTANDING and it's hard for me to imagine, of all tour options to this area, how any of them could be better. I was deeply moved and will never forget and am thankful that I had the privilege to do this. I highly recommend them and assure that you will not regret doing so. Completely versatile, comprehensive, knowledgeable, in good English, totally comfortable vehicles. I cannot give info on how they compare regarding cost but I did not care after completing the tour. The experience was so good I never thought about it and was glad to pay the fee agreed too. There is no way anyone could give "the personal touch" any better.
Brad L. Ford
Brandon, MS USA 03/31/2013
San Pietro Infine
Skip anything extra you think you may need to see in Rome and make it 2 hours southeast to San Pietro Infine; a medieval town liberated by the 36th Texas Division but never rebuilt after 1943. It is an eerie, somber, beautiful connection to the war and life in the middle ages. Visit Adriano at the Huston Restaurant for an extra treat. Our group of 16 high school seniors considered this visit a highlight of their 2 week trip through Europe.
Andy
Austin, TX USA 03/26/2013
humbling experince
hi,
i went to the Normandy beaches last march. all i can say is that i sure wouldnt want to be on that beach on Dday.
Ray
Portland, or USA 03/15/2013
Sean, Overlord...Learn, experience this history at scale
Unreal. I'm not much for reviews, but I'm super grateful for the time, insights, and background. I learned things about all of this that I either took for granted or did not understand. The scale of the operation and the amount of pure sacrifice, hardship, and grit on all sides was beyond what I am able to comprehend right now. But I am throughly exhausted and as I sit to write you I am completely in awe of what I just experienced. Life, perspective, attitude changing. I usually learn about what i can learn from the history channel on other tours like this that i have done. Not this one, scale, balance, proportion and depth of knowledge and information was/is astounding.
I am forever grateful for the time, and the efforts to make the tour meaningful and educational..
Cheers,
Mike
Mike Welsh
Collegeville, PA USA 02/19/2013
Overlord Tours (Olivier)
We took a tour with Olivier of Overlord Tours. Their #3, visiting quite a few sites. We didn't feel rushed though, and learned a lot. Went to Omaha and Utah beaches, an American cemetery, several bunkers, Marmion farm, etc. All in all a great day, and great memories.
Mark
Columbus, OH USA 02/13/2013
D-Day Tour
I made my first trip to Normandy in 2008 and had a most enjoyable tour with a good guide. At the end of January 2013, I took my wife and we used Roel of Victory Tours. WOW! That's about all I can say---he was fantastic! He showed us places that I had not visited on my previous tour and his knowledge and passion were obvious. He loves to share his anecdotes and keeps you interested for the full length of the tour. He is quite an entertaining and informative guy. My wife's interest in D-Day was minimal before the "Roel experience" but she said that the tour was the greatest thing she'd ever done---and, I suppose, that includes marrying me almost 40 years ago. Roel may have ruined my illusions of a happy marriage, but he sure is a great tour guide. You can't go wrong!
Dean Hoffman
Columbus, OH USA 02/04/2013
Overlord Tours - Normandy Tour
Our family of 5 and two additional guests took a one day tour of the Normandy Beaches with Olivier of Overlord Tours. What a fantastic day. Olivier was incredibly knowledgeable and took us to sites and shared facts with us that we would never have seen or learned had we tried to do a tour of the area on our own. Christele from Overlord organized the tour and followed up with us every step of the way. We could not recommend this tour more. A very moving and memorable experience.
Brett Marsh
Los Angeles, CA USA 12/31/2012
Slaughterhouse 5, bombing of Dresden
It's apparently really hard to find the real slaughter house #5 site depicted in Kurt Vonnegut's book. This teacher has done the research: http://www.oneyeartrip.com/2009/11/getting-to-slaughterhouse-five-in.html
Ruth
Portland, Oregon USA 12/13/2012
Normandy Beaches Guided Tour
A group of four of us took a one-day guided tour by Ed Robinson to the Normandy Beaches. Ed knows his stuff about the invasion! Ed takes you right to the sights of all the action. He is an encylopedia of knowledge, so be prepared to listen and learn! He complements his comments with pictures to prove that where you are standing, such and such an event actually took place. Highly recommend. His website is http://www.battleofnormandytours.com. You will enjoy his guided tour.
DR Oubre
Baton Rouge, LA USA 12/05/2012
Normandy Tour
There were eight of us and we enjoyed every minute of our tour with Olivier. Our van was clean and comfortable.
Aside from his good looks, he really showed his heart was into sharing his knowledge with us. He accommodated our every request, including our choice of eating at McDonald's!
I can't praise him enough and would not hesitate to recommend this tour company to anyone wanting a first-class experience.
Donna
Temple Terrace, FL USA 11/20/2012
Overlord Tours, Normandy Beaches
We took a private tour here on 11/8/12 with Dominique. She is an excellent tour guide and we were very satisfied with our experience. She told us many things that only native Norman people experienced, which are not well publicised. We heartily recommend this Tour and would do it again if we have the chance.
Granny
Washington, NJ USA 11/14/2012
Overlord Tour
I'm e-mailing to inform you that we had an absolutely wonderful Overlord Tour on Monday, October 29th with Oliver as our tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and informative about every aspect of Omaha Beach where my Father went ashore with the 5th Engineer Brigade on June 6th, 1944. It was a trip that will forever be in our hearts and memories. We thank you for what you do and we'll definitely endorse your company to our friends and relatives that may visit in the future.
Jim Sullivan
Cottage Grove, MN USA 11/10/2012
D-Day Tours
D-Day tours - Four of us recently did a private full day tour with Overlord and had a great experience. Our guide, Sean, was very informative and showed us places "off the beaten track'"in addition to the major sites. I would highly recommend this company for your once in a lifetime tour.
Marsha Henderson
Buffalo, NY USA 11/05/2012
Overlord Tours, Band of Brothers Tour
Our minds and souls have been quickened in the last few years about the unimaginable life of the soldier by what we have read (books by Stephen Ambrose and Tom Brokaw, among others) and have viewed (DVD's of "Band of Brothers", "Saving Private Ryan", "The Thin Red Line", "The War", and WWII documentaries), and have heard (when aging parents who were vets themselves, now since passed away, reminisced with increasing emotion over time about the war). So in planning a three-week trip to Europe (especially given the fact that we had never done any traveling before), we put Normandy on the itinerary and booked a tour with Overlord Tours, specifically, a full-day "Band Of Brothers" Tour.
It is well worth its 85 euros/person in gold, in particular for those familiar with the Ambrose book and subsequent HBO series, "Band of Brothers". Brigitte, our guide, ferried us in an 8-passenger minivan to the more widely known destinations (e.g., Omaha and Utah Beaches, the gun emplacements, St. Mere Eglise, Pointe Du Hoc, the American Cemetery, and MANY others), and the ones with particular interest to BofB devotees, for example, Brecourt Manor (open only to Overlord tours), a personalized view of the hedgerows and ditches Easy Company's men had to traverse, and the sites of homage made to members of the company in later years by the French in the area. The information she provided was comprehensive, never overwhelming, filled with illustrative detail. She carried with her a large book of maps and photographs to give a greater sense of the historic picture.
We found it especially profitable to come to the experience with our own accumulated book knowledge of the history of D-Day, but it helped to have a personalized picture, an educational hook, if you will (in our case, a historical drama including real vets), to more fully realize the depth of difficulty the soldiers faced. We would highly recommend the tour. I thought I had booked it upon seeing a recommendation by Rick Steves, but I could not find that now in his France 2012 Guide.
Nancy
wichita, Kansas USA 11/03/2012
www.normandybattletours.com
Our trip to Normandy was one that we had planned for quite some time. In addition to seeing all of the battle sites we were also interested in trying to trace the steps my late father would have traveled from the time he landed at Utah Beach on June 8th, 1944 until he was wounded three days later. With the minimal information I had (division, regiment, dates) Stuart was able to unearth the exact route of my father and even pinpoint the road where he was felled by enemy fire. This was absolutely amazing for us. Stuart was able to put place, context and meaning into a bit of family history that had before been very sketchy.
Stuart does more than show you the sites, he actually helps you experience them. The thoughtful and clear presentation he makes regarding the landings at Utah and Omaha beaches truly brings that day 68 years ago to life before your eyes. The stories that he includes from his own family's experiences and his retelling of stories he has gathered from many veterans all serve to put a human face on an unprecedented historical event. His ability to go beyond a description of the facts and to convey the incredible emotional highs and lows of the hours of D-Day is a gift he gives to everyone who is lucky enough to tour with him.
Stuart clearly enjoys sharing his knowledge of Normandy with others. His passion for the subject, his respect for those who lived it, his pleasure in helping others appreciate it, all make the time spent with him a truly memorable experience.
MaryAnne
Chicago, IL USA 10/28/2012
Simply the Best Normandy Tour
We booked the Normandy American tour in early October through Dale Booth Normandy Tours. We were so happy with our tour and we keep talking about how great it was. But it's not just about what we saw; it's about Dale and his energy, passion and storytelling ability. He had us captivated from the moment we met him. I take a lot of pictures and I found myself having to remind myself to take some because we were so engulfed by Dale's presentation! After Normandy, we went on and had hired two other tour guides in two other cities (where Dale doesn't tour) and those guides suffered in comparison to Dale. He set the bar so high that no one else could come close!
I get emotional thinking about that day. It was emotional enough knowing we were taking my father on his dream trip to see Normandy. But to know that we hired, unequivocally, the best tour guide possible, just makes me smile!
My husband and I, honestly, and ignorantly, didn't know much at all about Normandy, or anything about WWII. My father, on the other hand, knew an extensive amount (Retired Major, Army National Guard, United States). How Dale was able to take levels of knowledge from both ends of the spectrum and present so that everyone was hanging on his every word....that is a talent unparalleled! We really appreciated the strategy maps, pictures and layout of the land we'd travel at the beginning of the tour. We enjoyed his laminated pictures and maps that enhanced all the personal stories of war and honor. My father and I both agree that the moment Dale started sketching out battle plans in the sand of the beaches the soldiers had landed on, we knew that Dale's presentation was second to none.
I am not the type to write reviews. I'm almost 38 years old and I've only one other time in my life, been so moved by someone who provided me service, that I wrote something up. The other time, it happened to be a doctor. This time, it's Dale. The fact that I'm writing this when I'm jet-lagged, still have to unpack, and really just want to play with my children who I haven't seen in a week, just shows the impact Dale had on us.
Dale has something really special and although I've written a lot above, if anyone is hesitant at all about which tour guide to take through Normandy, I would just tell them, flat out, to book Dale. I don't know if there is anyone better. But honestly, I can't believe there could be.
Rona Schiltgen
Inver Grove Heights, MN USA 10/25/2012
D-Day Landing Beaches
On October 15 we toured the D-Day Landing Beaches with Oliver as our guide. It was the highlight of our Paris visit, much to the credit of Oliver. He was so knowledgeable and patient with Americans who obviously were not so well-informed with the facts of that event. We learned a lot from Oliver about our history that day. At the same time he was humorous and personable and even helped us with our travel back to Paris, saving us a lot of time. We would recommend your company and, in particular, Oliver to anyone who is planning a visit to France.
Marilynn & Pat McGuirl
Branchburg, NJ USA 10/20/2012
Normandy Tours
I made a special trip in September of 2012 to the Normandy beaches. I took a 2 day tour with Sean Alain of Overland Tours. Sean made the trip everything I had hoped. He not only knew his history but he has actually met many D-Day veterans including those from The Band of Brothers series on HBO. My only regret was that I couldn't stay longer and tour the entire battlefield and see the Canadian and British beaches and hinterland including Peagasus Bridge. I would rebook with Sean in a heartbeat. If you want your children to know what that generation did for us and for the world, take them to Normandy and spend a week
Lee Lampiris
Tucker, GA USA 10/17/2012
Normandy Beaches
"Favorite day of Paris vacation"
Reviewed July 7, 2012
My husband, myself and three teenage boys spent the day with Dale Booth visiting the American beaches. The day ended up being our favorite part of a 10 day Paris vacation. Dale is a great story teller and teacher. We learned so much from him. Our only regret was that we wished we had booked several days with Dale instead of one. We loved the day. Do yourself a favor and book a day or two or three with Dale. You will see why we agreed that it was our favorite day of our Paris vacation.
East Amherst, NY USA 10/16/2012
2 Days in Normandy
After a Barge River trip in Provence with a group of friends, 4 of us traveled to Bayeux, Normandy to view and tour the beaches of D-day. Fabulous 2 days with Ed Robinson from www.battleofnormandytours.com. Great historical narratives brought to life the difficulties of this battle from both Allied & German perspectives. Highly recommend.
Julie Wolf
Oconomowoc, WI USA 10/15/2012
Normandy Tour
After our Uniworld River Cruise concluded in Paris last week, my husband and I extended our trip and travelled by train to Bayeux, France. We wanted to visit the sites of the 1944 Allied Normandy Invasion. We booked the Band of Brothers Tour with Overlord Tours. Sean, our guide, was awesome. He provided a wonderful day-long tour of the area. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his work. It was a great all-day experience for us and provided many lasting memories. Many thanks to Christele for her help in planning this tour and even arranging for our transportation to the train station.
Mary Anne Hotham
Pine Knoll Shores, NC USA 10/12/2012
D Day Beaches
Myself and some friends toured the Normandy D-Day sights in September. We used the company "Battle of Normandy Tours" and our tour guide Ed Robinson was fantastic. We would highly reccommend him.
Paul
Dublin, Dublin Ireland 10/10/2012
Overlord D-Day Tours
If you want to visit the sites of the 1944 allied Normandy invasion, I must recommend Overlord Tours after my recent three full-day tours with them. The tours were as advertised. The guides were fully knowledgeable and responsive to my many questions. Their customer service was no less than professional.
Cal Cutter
Gray, Maine USA 10/07/2012
Overlord Tours
Just got back from a week in Bayeux which included the two day Bradley tour with Overlord Tours. Sean, our English guide, made the sites we visited come alive with his stories, maps and pictures. I plan to go back one day and complete the story by visiting the British/Canadian sectors. Highly recommend !!!
John Schwartz
Austin, TX USA 10/03/2012
Normandy Battle Tours
I have used Rick Steves' guide books for several European vacations and his travel tips have always been very helpful, but by far the best travel tip for me has been Normandy Battle Tours run by Stuart Robertson. My wife and I spent four days touring the Normandy Battlefields with Stuart whose enthusiasm, insight and ability to share his knowledge along with the personal stories he has collected from the veterans who were there made this a truly great adventure for us. Also, we stayed in his bed & breakfast which is an old French farmhouse situated next to a pasture where some of the paratroopers landed on D Day. An English country breakfast in the morning prepared by Stuart's wife Jenny, hot tea when we returned at the end of the day made the stay even more memorable. If you are going to Normandy, I would highly recommend Stuart!
Bill Roznowski
Burr Ridge, IL USA 09/14/2012
D-Day Walk
This passed summer my wife and I hiked the GR223 from Honfluer to Saint-mer-Eglise. We walked all the landing beaches and saw the sites along the way. I would highly recommend this walk. We saw many abandoned bunkers and sights that few people see. Most towns are 10 to 12 miles apart so walking is easy. In addition, the coastal area is full of hotels/Gites and such for overnighting. The only problem is there is no trail between Vierville-sur-mer and Pont du Hoc. It shows up on a map, but doesn't exist on the ground.
Michael
Ferndale, Ca USA 09/10/2012
Normandy Battle Tours
This past August, my family and I had the pleasure of taking Stuart Robertson's tour of the American Normandy battle sites. To say that this was a phenomenal tour would be an understatement. This was by far the best tour that any of us had ever taken! Right from the beginning, Stuart brings every battle, every sight, and every emotion to light, and he keeps this going throughout the tour. His knowledge is incomparable, and his delivery is second to none. We highly recommend Stuart above any others. You won't be disappointed!
Rich
NJ USA 09/08/2012
Normandy Battle Tours
My husband and I spent the day with Stuart Robertson touring some of the battle sites in Normandy this summer and it was an amazing experience. More than just places and dates, Stuart told the story of the area with passion and respect. The experience was all that we had hoped it would be.
Roxanne Eldridge
Calgary, AB Canada 09/07/2012
D-Day Tours
Just took a Band of Brothers tour with Overlord Tours and they were terrific. It was a wonderful experience and our guide William was knowlegeable and enthusiastic about sharing his wealth of information. Best day of my ten day trip to France.
Gerard Dolan
Northport, NY USA 09/03/2012
Ed Robinson - Battle of Normandy Tours
"Overwhelming..."
My wife and I toured the D-Day beaches with Edward Robinson on June 19th and 20th of 2011. My uncle (who passed away in March of 2011) came ashore and was wounded at Normandy. My wife's cousin was the doctor in charge of the evacuation of the wounded. They did not know each other - but were part of a very brave brotherhood. Ed knows all the ins and outs of the area. He truly knows every blade of grass. He answered all of our questions and left us alone at the proper time to contemplate the sacrifice so many soldiers that June 6th so long ago. I particular liked that Ed showed us the sites from the perspective of the soldiers - Allied and German. Many soldiers on each side were teenagers - just following orders. If you go to France - you MUST visit Normandy...and if you tour Normandy - you must do so with Edward Robinson of Battle of Normandy Tours.
You must visit the American cemetery - it simply is overpowering. So many men AND yes - women. I also strongly encourage you to visit the German cemetery as well.
(NOTE - Ed picked us up and returned us to the Hotel Churchill. He also drove us to train staion and assisted us in getting tickets to Paris)
J. R. Roberts
Pickerington, ohio USA 08/30/2012
Overlord Tours Normandy
Overlord Tours was fantastic. Our guide was early and waiting for us when we arrived early. He was funny and personable and gave us all the history we wanted.
The van was clean and new. The tours were great. He took us to places away from the normal tourist stops that gave us a better and deeper appreciation of Normandy and the D-Day Invasion. Highly recommended.
Dan Sealy
Astoria, OR USA 08/21/2012
Normandy WWII Guided Tours - Edward Robinson
Anyone looking to experience Normandy and regional WWII history by personal guided tour should consider Ed Robinson (www.battleofnormandytours.com). We spent two days with Ed in late May 2012 ... time extremely well spent! Ed's presentation style was energetic and resonated with us, including our 12-year old nephew whom was enthralled with the history and Ed's ability to engage him in the conversation. Overall great value and memories.
Angus M
Denver, CO USA 08/16/2012
D-Day
Six of us recently spend a day on a personalized tour of the Normandy D-Day landings sites. OverLordTours and their guide Sean Claxton provided a wonderful day long tour of the areas. Sean was outstanding and we recommend him without reservatiion. His knowledge of the events of that day is amazing. He answered every question and then expanded his answer to provide more detail on the human aspects of the day. I had a particular interest in a young Lt who was killed in the assault on Pt du Hoc and all of us wanted to take the time to remember him. Sean went to the trouble of researching the specifics of the Lt's role on that day. Sean located the place where the young man died and we walked to that site through several farm fields. It was a moving time for all of us as we stopped and remembered this brave young man.
Keith Wells
Hesperus, CO USA 08/14/2012
D-Day Tour
My husband and I recently went on a American D-Day tour with Overlord Tours, leaving out of Bayeux, France. Our guide was Stefane and he was awesome; knowledgeable and passionate about his work. Highly recommend Overlord Tours and Stefane!
Amanda & Reggie Karod
Vancouver, B.C Canada 08/12/2012
Ed Robinson- Battle of Normandy Tours is Fantastic!
We just returned from our family trip to France and England. When my husband and I asked our kids (dtr 19, son 17, son 15, dtr 13) a highlight from France, they all said the best part of France was the Normandy Tour with Ed Robinson. We have used personal tour guides for other trips to Europe and Ed was by far one of the best guides we have had the pleasure of spending the entire day with.
Ed has an incredible sense of humor and he was able to build an instant rapport with our children. He is wonderfully knowledgeable about his subject matter and he did an excellent job making the history of WWII come to life.
His knowledge about the Battle of Normandy is outstanding. Not only does he describe what occurred, he has old photos of many of the exact sites we visited that absolutely make you "see" how things were back in 1944.
I teach high school Biology and I told my husband that Ed would be the best high school history teacher ever. Ironically as we were touring my kids were saying to me "I wish he was my history teacher, he makes this interesting." (the highest compliment from teenagers in my opinion).
Ed was very helpful and courteous: informing us of locations with decent restrooms versus others; taking us to a place to get sandwiches and drinks before our return train trip to Paris; and even (on my request) taking us to a quick coffee shop to get some pastries and coffee upon our arrival to Carenten. After the tour he was even so nice to privately ask me if it was ok if he gave the kids shell casings from the war, since he did not want to do so if I would be bothered or offended by the kids having "war items."
If you are considering a tour to Normandy and you have kids, book Ed Robinson, you will not be disappointed.
Stacey
Audubon, PA USA 08/06/2012
Battle of Normandy tour
My wife and two young children toured the Normandy beaches with Ed Robinson from Battle of Normdany tours. The tour was the highlight of our time in Bayeaux. Especially poignant was his use of photos from the time period. He would take us to a specific spot and explain the history, and then supplement that with pictures taken from the same spot! He also gave us excellent recommendations for the rest of our day. An excellent day and experience. Thanks Ed!
Jon D
Minneapolis, MN USA 08/05/2012
Tour of invasion area - band of brothers PIR
Many thanks to all at Overlord Tours. Well worth the fee. Our guide, Olivier, was a great professor and my special thanks to admin support Christele for working with me when I thought things might not work out.
The 5 people in my group all enjoyed greatly the knowledge conveyed on the invasion and the great details about the Band of Brothers PIR experiences with one-of-a-kind pictures and phenomenal physical and social insights.
A great all day experience. We had one chance to have this day, and thanks to this group it was moving and learning day for us. Sincere thanks.
Matt Toussant
Columbus, Oh USA 07/28/2012
www.normandybattletours.com
I exchanged many emails with Stuart prior to our trip. This visit to Normandy was to be the highlight of our two weeks in Europe for my husband so it was important to me that it was perfect. Well was I ever pleased.
For one thing, I really expected Stuart to be much older just because I could feel a passion in his emails and the reviews that I had read. Not only is he a degreed historian, he does love what he does. We all felt that we were treading on holy ground. I learned more about D Day than i ever had. We followed the same route the next day and spent more time at each location taking pictures and appreciating what Stuart had taught us.
By the way, he also has a Bed and Breakfast. When I go back again, I shall stay there. We have continued to read about the region and the era since we have gotten back home. And YES it was more than what my husband ever expected. Thank you Stuart for all that you are to the many young men who lost their lives or experienced the horrors of the time. With much respect, Renee Bittner Wadmalaw Island, SC
Renee Bittner
Wadmalaw Island, SC USA 07/16/2012
Great Tour!
We had a fantastic tour with our guide for the Omaha/Utah tour. He was not only a great guide but his long personal military experience made his personal remarks mean a lot more. I really recommend these tours to anyone who want to know more, even if you think you've read every book on the D-Day subject, there is always something to learn.
Totte Alm
Upplands Väsby, - Sweden 07/14/2012
Fabulous Introduction
What a fabulous time we had on our tour with Sean! He was an incredible wealth of knowledge! In spite of being an Englishman, he did a great job on the American experience (and was great at taking my little jabs to him...smile).
The half-day tour was just what we wanted as we were coming up from Paris for the day. The small group (only 8 of us) made the experience comfortable and intimate as we didn't feel as though we were being herded around the sites.
For the tour, we went to Longues sur Mer, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery and Pointe du Hoc. Sean had great stories to compliment the historic events for each location.
We had the nephew of a US Ranger that landed at Omaha Beach and Sean took the time to point out the spot where he would have landed.
This is a great intro into one of the most important days in history!
Lesa
Charleston, SC USA 07/08/2012
Bradley Overlord Tour
We signed up for the two day Bradley Overlord Tour. It was fantastic! Our guide Sean was a walking encyclopedia. His enthusiasm for the subject matter was an obvious plus. In addition, he helped us locate the grave of my uncle at the Lorraine Cemetery.
David
Beer Sheva, Negev Israel 07/07/2012
Overlord Tours - Bayeux France
My family of five adults travelled to Bayeux for a three-day stay and booked on the Overlord Tour of Normandy Landing Beaches Omaha and Utah. Stephano was our guide and he was a wonderful tour director full of knowledge and passion. We had a great day in a modern 8-seater Mercedes van visiting all the important war areas plus much more.I recommend Overlord Tours to anyone wanting a fully-guided tour. The cost was small and Stephano included many other relevant sights to our delight. I passed on our delight to our Travel World agent so she can be confident in making further recommendations to clients.
Wendy
Launceston, Tas USA 06/22/2012
Overlord Tours
Overlord provided me and my family with the highlights of our two week vacation. Our guide, Sean, was very professional and knowledgeable. He interacted with my ten year old son and truly made it an unforgettable trip. Can't recommend them enough.
Tim
Jackson, Nj USA 06/15/2012
OverLord Tours, Bayeux France (Guillaume)
We just wanted to drop a note to tell Guillaume we had a fantastic time on his full day WWII american tour. There was my husband, Tony, me Joanne , our sons Dane and Wyatt on May 10 of this year. We were over the moon elated with the sites Guillaume took us to the wonderful information and special attention to every detail. We have certainly bragged about our special experience with friends and family. Guillaume went that extra mile to show and explain our once in a lifetime tour.
Thank you again Guillaume It was spectacular!
Joanne, Tony Wyatt and Dane Kania
Arizona USA
Joanne Kania
Scottsdale, az USA 06/10/2012
D-Day tours
Overlord Tours of D-Day battlefields with Dominique was great. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Priscilla
Fairhope, AL USA 06/08/2012
Overlord Tour with Oliver
I arranged a personlized tour through Overlord Tour (http://overlordtour.com) for my wife and I plus another couple and couldn't have been happier. We requested Oliver based on other posts I'd read and he was fantastic. Oliver picked us up at our B&B in Bayeux and immediately made us feel at ease with his humor and good-natured demeanor. He offered insight and stories to the events surrounding D-Day that went beyond facts and figures and made us all realize what the men of the Allied forces faced during the landing. I highly recommend Overlordtour and especially our guide, Oliver.
Curt
Minneapolis, MN USA 06/05/2012
Ed Robinson: Battle of Normandy Tours
Ed Robinson's private tour of our father's landing sites on D-Day exceeded all of my expectations. Not only was his tour informative, but his personal style enriched the day for all of us.
Vincent Hagel
Oak Harbor, WA USA 06/04/2012
Edward Robinson & Battle of Normandy Tours
My wife and I spend a day and a half with Edward, without a doubt the high point of our trip to France. It goes without saying that Edward knows his history backwards and forwards. His riveting delivery makes you come as close to feeling the remarkable drama of the invasion as possible, and his quick wit and delightful aversion to political correctness make a day (or two) with him pass all too quickly. Even my wife--with her aversion to all things historical--loved our time with Edward. It was the best investment we could have made; highly recommended.
Tom Bulloch
Woodland Park, CO USA 05/27/2012
D-Day Battle Tours
We were fortunate to have taken the D-Day Battle Tours at the recommendation of a Rick Steve's adviser. The tours are small, personal and passionate. Ellwood is an amazing historian with a lot of unique stories and insights. As a military family I can tell you he knows his stuff and lives to honor the fallen.
Lanna Dickinson
Layton, UT USA 05/24/2012
Edward Robinson's Battle of Normandy Tour
Edward is the perfect guide. Thoughtful (where the bathrooms are), incredibly well read and knowledgeable, puts value in every minute along with lots of good laughs along the way, and prepared with a personalized tour he plans based on information you give him beforehand. Our tour with him made our trip. You may have read about the rest of the tours but his is the best!
Frank Hagel
Puyallup, WA USA 05/22/2012
Normandy Battle Tours with Stuart Robertson
Stuart is passionate about the history of D Day and he brings it to life vividly and accurately. My husband and I were traveling with my parents and sister and Stuart conducted a private all day tour for us. We were there in late October/early November and it was getting pretty cold and wet; howeve, Stuart's passion was so contagious that we were swept up in the stories of veterans that he had spoken to and the enormous sacriface of the soldiers during the war that we hardly noticed the weather at all. We appreciated Stuart taking the time to answer all our questions, point out other places of interest that we may want to explore further and made the day very worthwhile. Not all of us had the same level of knowledge of D Day events but we certainly left with so much more. I highly recommend Stuart if you are looking for a guide who cares about the history, takes the time to make your experience worthwhile and a genuinely nice person.
Tracy Jones
Seattle, USA 05/17/2012
www.normandybattletours.com
Our family toured with Stuart and also enjoyed the lodgings at 1 Le Port during our stay. We had a quirky schedule and Stuart and Jenny were very accommodating. Over a period of 5 days, we visited the D-Day beaches (3 days) and also Mont St. Michel, Bayeux, and Honfleur. The three days touring the beaches of Normandy were the absolute high point. Stuart not only knows his history; he is passionate about it. He truly cares about the veterans and keeping their stories in the present. Be prepared for a lot of driving if you want to go from Utah to Arramanches...Stuart's mini-bus is quite comfortable! The long drives help you understand the incredible amount of territory covered during the invasion. 1 Le Port is like staying at home, not some impersonal hotel. We are dog lovers and appreciated the presence of Vicky the black lab. A nightly complimentary wine, Calvados or Pommeau is the perfect antidote to jet lag! Many happy times and I would most definitely recommend the lodgings and the tour.
Todd Ames
Lake Wylie, SC USA 05/17/2012
Flanders Field
I recently took a trip to Belgium and stayed in Brussels. We bought a weeks' unlimited pass on the Belgian Railway System for a total of 89 euros. We then went everywhere. Our most memorable trip was to Ieper to tour Flanders Fields. We hired Miguel at www.rentaguide.be
He went above and beyond giving us a very personal and detailed tour. I highly recommend him. I know he does other sorts of tours as well.
Ann
Victor, ny USA 05/16/2012
Overlord Tours - Normandy
Strongly recommend Overlord Tours. Last February, I contacted Overlord Tours to arrange a two-day personalized tour in early May to follow the "battles" my Uncle fought through in the summer of 1944. Our guide, Sean, made this the trip of a lifetime. Coordination and timing were perfect from pick-up at the Caen Ferry terminal and throughout a two day tour of the D-Day landings and the Breakout Battles down through St Lo. Sean's preparation was excellent; he had studied the history of my Uncle's unit and had prepared an itinerary and historical information to match his battles. In addition to Sean's thorough knowledge of terrain and the battles he skillfully used his set of maps and battle photographs to make history come alive. Our visits to the Military Cemeteries at Omaha Beach and Saint James were especially meaningful. Well worth the costs, we saw and experienced more in two days with Sean than we could of accomplished in a week with a rental car/map and a month of battle study.
Joe W.
New London, NH USA 05/15/2012
Normandy Battle Tours with Stuart Robertson - SUPER FANTASTIC!!!
My husband and I had for years dreamed about walking the beaches of Normandy and giving proper tribute and thanks to the men who gave their lives for our Freedom. With Stuart as our guide, he led us right into those days of preparations and actual D-Day events and aftermath. With Stuart's personal experience with WWII veterans and his love of history, we experienced the reality of those days. Right from the start, we were immersed into the sober, challenging events as well as the miraculous victory played out here in Normandy---gateway to winning the war..
We stayed with Stuart and Jenny in their lovely B&B; I think a real bonus to our tour. Hospitality is 5 Stars. Another bonus was getting to see Mont St. Michel and the Bayeaux Tapestry led by tour guide Lucy arranged by Stuart. Wisely, this day was placed properly as a respite in between our days of touring the beaches and war museums.
Also, Stuart and Jenny knew the restaurants and made great recommendations for us for the evenings. Stuart has a sensitivity about him to customize your tour. He knew when to give us time alone for reflection. We were never hurried; and had a nice peaceful pace.
For us, Stuart's tour is the best way to experience what happened here and its impact on our world today. We hope someday that our adult children have the privilege to tour with him.
Lawson
Mission, Texas USA 05/15/2012
Thank you, Rick Steves, for recommending www.normandybattletours.com
My family just returned from an incredible four-day tour with Stuart of Normandy Battle Tours. My husband and I, our 19-year-old son and my 85-year-old mom all thought the tour was outstanding. We could have easily rented a car and seen the attractions ourselves, but there is no way we would have understood the history or significance of the places without Stuart's expertise and passion.
Stuart has met many veterans and tells their stories while on the tour. Although there were many high points, the most moving part of the tour for me was when Stuart pulled into a little village and took us into a small church and told us the story of two American medics who worked for 72 hours on both Allied and German casualties. It wasn't a major tourist site that you hear about it was just one of the thousands of places where servicemen did amazing things throughout the war. And Stuart made it come alive he had met with one of the veterans and retold his story.
His knowledge of the other more well-known battle sites was of course outstanding. And because he makes it a point to meet veterans and truly hear and understand their stories, his ability to talk about the various battles is incredible.
We arranged to have Stuart pick us up and drop us back off in Paris, accompanied by his lovely wife, Jenny. With three generations traveling together we thought this would be stress free and it worked out perfectly.
I cannot express how delighted we were to have found Stuart. If you are planning a trip you must book with Normandy Battle Tours!
Randall
South Orange, NJ USA 05/15/2012
Dreams come true on this tour - Stuart Robertson of Normandy Battle Tours
STUART IS THE ULTIMATE PRO! We booked the trip to see many things but the Normandy beaches were a central focus. Stuart's tour made the trip worthwhile. Have you ever noticed the difference between work done by someone who is competent and by someone who is both competent and passionate about the subject? Stuart defines that differece in spades. He really cares - about the topic and about his clients - and it shows. He understands how to tune in to his customers and to shape the experience to them. He isn't cheap, but he is well worth the money. He and his wife, Jenny, go all out to be great hosts for those who stay with them. Plus, Lucy is just like Stuart about Mont St. Michel, Bayeux, etc. So, if you have interest in seeing the area, please do yourself a huge favor and book with this guy. You will not regret it!
Randy Hess
Dallas, Texas USA 05/15/2012
Overlorod Tours
We just returned from Normandy and we did tour #2 with Overlord tours with guide-Sean. It was wonderful! Sean was very dynamic and was obviously well-studied, well-read and has done a lot of research concerning the Normandy region and D Day events. His narratives and visual aides, biographies and personal observationas and enthusiasm brought D Day and the war to life!!!!
Virginia and Malcolm Corley
Johns Island, SC USA 05/08/2012
Overlord Tours
On the advice of a friend, we booked Overlord Tours for a two day tour of the Normandy beaches. They have several options for tours and we chose the Neptune 2 day tour. The first day concentrated on the American involvement in the liberation and the second day concentrated on the Commonwealth involvement. Our guide, Sean, was personable, knowledgeable, and a fantastic story teller. I am sure he gives this same tour a couple hundred times a year, but he never gave the impression that this is in any way mundane for him. He was very passionate and engaging. Over 2 days, we covered a large area and visited every site we had hoped to visit. We could not have asked for a better experience.
Paula
Atlanta, GA USA 05/03/2012
My family spent two days on a customized tour with Overlord Tours in Normandy. My husband and I went with our 7 and 8 year old girls and our parents. It was the highlight of our trip to France. Oliver, our guide was very knowledgeable, hardworking and kept the kids engaged during the tour. He also brought us to the sites where my uncle had fought in the war. We enjoyed every minute and would recommend Overlord to anyone!
Lisa Ardovini
West Seneca, NY USA 05/02/2012
Overlord Tours - Canadian/British
In April 2012 we participated in a D Day landings tour with Overlord Tours. As Canadians we chose a tour that focused on Canadian and British landings. I cannot say enough about this tour. It was amazing. Our tour guide Oliver was very well versed in his history and made our tour that much more enjoyable and interesting. I would highly recommend this tour and company.
Chris
Guelph, Canada 05/02/2012
BATTLE OF NORMANDY TOURS
My husband and I and our two friends were delighted with our decision to engage Edward Robinson for a half-day tour of Normandy. From the moment Edward picked us up at the train station in Bayeux (luggage and all) we were on the go, completely captivated by the region and by the history that Edward brought to life for us. We had no personal connection to D-Day events but were eager learn – and Edward is an able and engaging teacher. Mid tour we also stopped for a bite to eat at a wonderful local restaurant, and at the end of the day Edward dropped us at our hotel. We all agreed that this tour was one of the highlights of a fabulous 10 days in France and our only regret is that we had not scheduled our time for at least a full day tour with Edward. Truly, not to be missed – go to battleofnormandytours.com.
Laurie B.
Worcester, MA USA 04/25/2012
D-D Overlord operator
My husband, 21 year old son and I had a wonderful experience participating in an Overlord Tour of the Normandy D-Day sites 14 April, 2012. Overlord was so very convenient as their shuttle met us in downtown Bayeux right next to the Winston Churchiill Hotel where we stayed. The guide, Monika, was very knowledgeable, articulate (though German and French are her primary languages) and helpful. And she is very passionate about what she does and looks to really connect with her group's individuals to ensure that everyone has a most meaningful experience.
When one considers all that goes into their tours (vans, gas--and we covered a lot of geography--, insurance, salary to guide, etc.), the value is terrific. We learned so much .....not just history, but local stories, etc. Do not try to tour the sites on your own.....go with Overlord!
Carol Ann Johnson
Marlboro, VT USA 04/23/2012
Overlord Half Day
Took the Half Day Omaha Tour on 30 March 2012--Sean was our guide. My daughter (age 14) and I were the only passengers, so pretty much had a private tour. Sean is personable, and very knowledgeable about each site. He is very organized, and also provided laminated photos and charts for us to look at at each site so we could visualize events better. His insight and obvious passion for the subject has encouraged me to research other aspects of the DDay invasion. We very much enjoyed his tour; I hope to be back in a few years to take a full day tour. Thank you, Sean!
dolores
chula vista, ca USA 04/21/2012
Overlord Tour
My son and I spent two wonderful days with Overlord Tours - first in the American Sector and then at the Commonwealth Nation sites. I had taken a tour four years ago with a different company and I must say there is no comparison. Oliver Coulon was our guide and did a fantastic job -- just the right amount of information balanced by giving us time to walk around at sites. Extremely knowledgeable with a great blend of humor. Both days we were lucky to have a nice mix of people in the van and Oliver was effective in quickly breaking the ice. We will definitely come back again Thanks!
David
West Newton, MA USA 04/10/2012
Battle of Normandy Tours
Thanks Ed for helping us relive my Uncle's military days in France from the beach in Normandy to his last day in Mortain. I appreciated your energy and your honest opionions. You were a great host talking almost non-stop from 9am to 6:30pm, setting up a visit with the mayor at the town my Uncle camped for two weeks and where the 14 year old who knew him corresponded with my grandparents. You created a custom tour through research and planning that wont be forgotten. The pictures and print outs made it quite interesting. Keep up the good work and may many others enjoy your talents in the future.
Tom
Bixby, OK USA 03/27/2012
Overlord Tours
It is rare that I am so happy with something that I would bother to write a review about it but my recent two day tour with Sean of Overlord Tours has made me change my mind. Last week my parents and I did a private two day tour based on the Neptune Tour. The two days exceeded expectations. There was no question that Sean couldn't answer in great detail and even elaborate on which of course led to further questions so the two days flew by and we were disappointed that we hadn't booked a longer trip. Maybe next time.
Susan Duffy
Dublin, Ireland 03/05/2012
Normandy battlefield & sites
You will not find a better, more interesting or more knowledgeable guide to the Normandy Invasion sites than Edward Robinson. Make sure you consider Edward first. My wife and I have been on many a tour, but his was nothing short of inspired.
JP Stanco
Melvile, NY USA 02/27/2012
Travel to Gallipoli Turkey
I should have done this earlier, but was busy and could not do so.
The Turkey Trip of visiting different historical places through your company, new deal travel agency was very well arranged and we enjoyed. Everything, pickup from Istanbul airport to hotel and after all those places which we wanted to visit. Starting from boarding lodging and providing transportation etc. in all those places and back to Istanbul airport was very enjoyable. This trip was very well managed and we appreciate for all your arrangements' and efforts you made to make this trip enjoyable for us. We booked online tours from www.gallipoli-tours.com and we have been 4 nights istanbul, 2 nights gallipoli, troy, pergamon, 3 nights ephesus, didyma, 1 night pamukkale, 2 nights antalya and 2 nights cappadocia. Thanks again.
Khan
London, England 02/11/2012
World War 2 Tours of Europe
We were recently on a guided tour of the Battlefields of Europe led by Dennis Ross who own a company called World war 2 Tours of Europe, Dennis specializes in running the Anniversary of D-Day on June 5 & 6 Every year. The tour itself covers the D-Day landings in Normandy, Paris, Then on to Reims to visit the schoolhouse where the German surrender was taken on May 7, 1944. From here it was through to Verdun where we spent sometime visiting the Fleury museum as well as the Verdun Battlefield before continuing on to Luxembourg for General Patton's gravesite on the southern flank of the Battle of the Bulge area. We had 2 full days covering the bulge area with the local historian Henri Mignon who actually wirnessed the battle. Time to move east into Germany and visit the site of the Remagen Bridgehead before taking a leisurely cruise down the Rhine River. On to Nurnberg where we covered the Nazi rally grounds, the Nurnberg courthouse where the famous trial were held and finally the Documentation Center.Continuing south through Germany our final city was Munich in Bavaria. The next two days were spent driving down to Hitler's Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden as well as a visit to his bunker. We also managed to fit in a Nazi tour of Munich and the Dachau concentration camp.
This was a wonderful educational tour and took us back in time 1944-1945. The whole tour was meticullously manage by Dennis who looked after us all the way from start to finish. We learned so much from this experience. We would highly recommend this tour to everyone who is interested in visiting the most historically important sites of WWII in Europe.
Cheryl Masters
Las Vegas, NV USA 02/04/2012
EdRobinson@BattleofNormandyTours.com
A friend and I decided that we wanted to tour the battlefields in Normandy following a recent trip to London and engaged the services of Ed Robinson of Battle of Normandy Tours as a guide. Best decision we could have made! Not only was Ed a knowledgeable, thoughtful, energetic, and accommodating guide; he also provided detailed instructions on the best way to get from London to Bayeux. We had a day-and-a-half for the tour and Ed managed to fill every minute. He brought the battlefields to life with stories and anecdotes that go beyond what history books typically provide. Ed anticipated our needs, answered all questions, set a pace that worked for us, and was in all ways a terrific host. I would highly recommend his services to anyone contemplating a tour of the area.
Kit
Portland, OR USA 01/29/2012
Dale Booth Normandy Tours
I was fortunate to have booked Dale Booth Normandy Tours for late November 2011. Stunning, mezmerizing and unforgettable. Dale's Brit-Commando background provides him knowledge and depth of understanding that are truly unique. He is a gifted presenter, bringing to life the trials and tribulations my father endured in the fight for Normandy. I have also determined his presentation is not duplicated by other tour guides; ie: period maps, pictures, displays. Another example, as we walked Point du Hoc (and Utah for that matter) other tour operators arrived after us, and departed before us, and were often left on their own in finding their way around museums or battlefield monuments. He also displayed great interest in helping wife understand, in as much as I have been a student of D-Day for years. T
Pat Ebert
Bainbridge Island, WA USA 01/22/2012
Dale Booth Tours
In July 2011, my family and I had a battlefield tour of the Canadian sector with Dale Booth Normandy Tours. Our tour with Dale was the highlight of our European trip. Dale has an intricate knowledge of the Normandy campaign and would also be an excellent guide for the American and British battlefields. He combines a contextual account of the Normandy campaign with personal histories of veterans and Normandy residents. Dale makes history come alive using visual aids to show how current Normandy landscapes and buildings looked in 1944. My family would highly recommend Dale Booth Tours and we hope to have a chance to one day tour the American and British sectors with Dale.
Lauren
Kingston, ON Canada 01/19/2012