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Day Trip from Paris to Normandy Beaches and WWII Memorials

Sean Finelli Last Updated: March 23, 2023

Looking for a structured way to experience Normandy and the WWII memorials of Omaha Beach? If you are in Paris it is definitely doable on a day trip and we’ve got a highly reviewed option with a great price. Here is how it works.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to Paris? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to Paris  for more planning resources, our  top Normandy tours  for a memorable trip, and if a Normandy tour is worth it .

A Guided Day Trip to Normandy from Paris

Traveling to Normandy to see the most important sites around the D-Day invasion of WWII is a must for history buffs. But you might not know what to see or how to get there. That’s why you’ll appreciate our day trip tour from Paris that helps you see it all without worrying about transportation.

This full-day trip from Paris to Normandy will capture the beauty of this French beach town and offer detailed descriptions of the region’s historical significance. Visit Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery and even a cider house for a quick taste of local delicacies.

This day trip includes:

• A professional English-speaking guide
• Round-trip transportation from Paris to Normandy
• Cider tasting and tour
• Visits to Point du Hoc and Omaha Beach
• Break for lunch on your own

What is D-Day ? On this tour, you’ll learn the many details of the day that became a turning point in WWII. D-Day took place on June 6, 1944, when Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. D-Day began what we now know as the Battle of Normandy, which lasted for three months.

Now, we look back at D-Day and consider it the beginning of the end of World War II. This tour will provide the full scoop on the historical significance of Normandy, and even take you to a local cider house where you will be able to try some specialty drinks. 

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a tour of Normandy’s D-Day beaches are worth it .

Pointe du Hoc

Your adventure begins in Paris where you will board a luxury coach and head North from Paris to Normandy The first stop your will be Pointe du Hoc, which is a scenic area with beautiful cliffs. Though the Germans took control of this area during WWII, the Allied forces made it their mission to seize control of these cliffs and take over the coastline.

As you stand atop the Pointe du Hoc cliffs overlooking the gorgeous beaches of Normandy, learn about the heroic acts that took place in the same spot. See true artifacts left behind from the war, including bomb craters and bunkers while your guide elaborates on the gritty details surrounding the Battle of Normandy.

Omaha Beach

On D-Day, the allied troops stormed five different beaches. Out of these, Omaha Beach was the largest. Now a gorgeous seascape that’s difficult to think ever involved militant activity, this beach serves as a reminder of the Allied troops’ turning point in WWII.

Whenever you watch a film these days on WWII and the ” storming of the beaches”, this is where it actually took place. Thinking of of the film, Saving Private Ryan? The opening scene of that film took place here. Your guide will go over with you how the boats embarked and how that epic battle changed the western world into basically what it is today.

Cider Tasting and Tour

After a relaxing lunch break, you’ll visit a local cider house for a tour and tasting of the local nectars. Normandy is renowned for its many varieties of  French cider . This is due to the abundance of orchards in the region. There’s no better way to experience Normandy than to drink the nectar of its signature apples.

With varieties of French cider including calvados and  pommeau , there’s no better way to experience Normandy’s intoxicating lush green scenery than to partake in the gem of its thriving apple-growing industry.

Learn about the liqueur of the land and get a taste of some French delicacies. Specifically, you’ll taste an apple brandy known as Calvados and another apple mixture called pommeau. Maybe even pick out a bottle to bring home with you to remember your fabulous Normandy day trip.

American Cemetery

Your next and last stop will be the American Cemetery, one of the most recognizable cemeteries in Europe. The American Cemetery serves as the final resting place for many American soldiers who lost their lives in combat.

Covering over 170 acres of land, this burial site honors more than 9,000 American soldiers. Your expert guide will explain some of the heroic scenes that unfolded and where many American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. After visiting the cemetery, you will board your luxury coach again and head back to Paris, concluding a long and fulfilling day.

Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Normandy D-Day sites .

About Sean Finelli

Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!

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A World War II Travel Blog

The 8 Best Normandy Tours from Paris in 2024: D-Day in a Day

Last Updated: January 29, 2024 //  by  Ashley Smith 8 Comments

There’s so much WWII history to see in Normandy, but when you’re short on time these Normandy tours from Paris can help you make the most of your visit to Normandy’s D-Day sites.

Table of Contents

Why take Normandy tours from Paris?

While it would be great if we could all spend weeks in Normandy exploring the fascinating museums and historic landing beaches , that’s mostly just a dream. Instead, these tours are great options for when you really want to visit Normandy’s D-Day sites but don’t have a lot of time, money, or know-how.  

With these tours, you can still visit some of the top D-Day sites , get expert commentary on the D-Day invasion and other events that took place there, and have someone else take care of all the logistics and planning for you. You won’t have to book a hotel, rent a car, worry about schedules, or keep wondering what the heck it is you’re looking at.  

This post is only for Normandy tours originating from Paris that have you arriving back in Paris at the end. If you’ll already be in Normandy and thus looking for tours that start in Bayeux, Caen, or Le Havre, check out my post on the best local Normandy D-Day tours here.

Choosing the best Normandy tours from Paris

But which tours are the best? Which ones go to the right places and cover the most ground? Luckily, you have a World War II and travel expert at your disposal (hey there!) who’s also quite adept at traveling on a time budget. Let’s just say, day trips are my bread and butter. (I’m also a professional tour guide btw!)

I haven’t taken all the tours on this list, but I do have a keen sense of what the average Normandy visitor wants from a D-Day day tour. To create this list, I’ve compared all the available tours (there are a lot) against my stringent set of criteria. I’ve taken into account things like:

• Customer rating and popularity
• Length of tour and start/end times
• Overall benefit
• Topic/focus of the tour
• Ease of logistics

…and more. All so you can be sure which of the Normandy tours from Paris is the most worth your time and money. I’ve only chosen English-language tours and all prices in this post are in U.S. dollars.

So how do I choose the best D-Day tours in Normandy? Well, I’m very particular when it comes to booking travel—be it hotel rooms , flights, or guided tours. I’ll never recommend anything that’s rated lower than 4 out of 5 stars, anything with no reviews, or run by a company that doesn’t even look reputable. As always, I only recommend the things I would personally book for myself.

And for your time in Paris, don’t miss all the fascinating WWII sites in Paris ; there are many museums, memorials, and more to check out here.

My favorite tour companies for day trips

My go-to tour companies are Viator and Get Your Guide . I’ve booked many tours through these companies and have always been satisfied. They’re both well-known in the travel community (Viator is owned by TripAdvisor actually); booking through them is quick and easy; most tours offer free cancelation and/or “reserve now, pay later;” and their rates are more than reasonable. A day trip to Normandy from Paris the no-nonsense way, basically.

I’ve also taken into account the more boutique tour offerings from top-rated independent and local tour operators. My highly critical requirements still apply here. So, let’s get to it! All things considered, these are the best Normandy tours from Paris in 2024 to learn about the events of 1944.

If you want to know more about each of the sites and museums in this post, check out my articles on what to see at each of the five Allied landing beaches: Utah Beach , Omaha Beach , Gold Beach , Juno Beach , Sword Beach .

Best Normandy tours from Paris: at a glance

In this post I’ll dig into all the best Normandy tours from Paris. I’ll tell you why I picked them, what makes them one of the ‘best,’ what they include (and what they don’t), and more. But first, here’s a brief look at the top D-Day tours in Normandy:

• Best overall : Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip from Paris w/ Cider Tasting
• Most popular : Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris
• Best private tour : Normandy D-Day Full-Day Tour w/ Tours by Locals

Best private tour on a budget : D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Paris w/ Igor Rosen

• Best luxury tour : Normandy Battlefields D-Day Private Trip with VIP Services
• Best value tour : Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Tour by Gray Line
• Best overnight tour : Normandy 2-Day Discovery Trip from Paris
• NEW! Most popular among my readers: Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip w/ Cider Tasting

That’s the simple list; now let’s dig deeper into which of these Normandy tours from Paris is going to be the best for you .

1. Best overall Normandy Day Tour from Paris

My pick for best overall : Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip from Paris (w/ Cider Tasting)

Okay, while it may seem weird that my top pick includes a cider tasting of all things, here me out. I picked this one as the best overall Normandy tour from Paris because it has the 3 things I look for most in tours: small group tour (maximum 8 people), a 5-star rating and tons of reviews, and the best combination of stops out of all the tour options.

What you’ll see on this tour

This tour includes stops at:

• Omaha Beach
• The Overlord Museum
• The German battery at Longues-sur-Mer
• The cliffs and German bunkers at Pointe du Hoc
• The Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer

Of all the Normandy tours from Paris, this one includes 3 stops I feel everyone visiting Normandy for the first time must visit . (Please visit the American Cemetery, walk in the sands of Omaha Beach, and see the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc if you can.) Sadly, not all tours cover these sites.

This tour and these stops are perfect for first-time visitors who want to get a sampling of the best sites related to Operation Overlord and an overall impression of what the Normandy region is like today. This tour is great for those visitors who want to visit historic Normandy but don’t need a week-long battlefield engagement to get the picture.

To get more information on these and other sites you can visit on these tours, check out my post on the best D-Day sites .

I love small-group tours because of the individual attention each visitor receives and it’s just a more enjoyable experience for everyone. This tour also has a 5-star rating after almost 1,700+ reviews which says a lot! Reviewers’ favorite aspects of the tour are the excellent tour guides and the stress-free-ness of the whole experience. (How travel should be!)

What this tour includes

This 13-hour full-day trip includes:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris
• An expert guide and driver
• Entrance fees to the Overlord Museum and skip-the-line guarantee
• The option to reserve now and pay later
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour
• And yes, a cider tasting at a local orchard for what it’s worth!

It  does not include  gratuities for the guide and driver, lunch (there will be a stop for lunch but your meal is at your own cost), or hotel pick-up and drop-off. Instead, you’ll meet the guide at a meeting point in central Paris, as is common with these kinds of group tours. (In this case, it’s near the Arc de Triomphe.)

How much this tour costs

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $275.60 per person . All things considered, I feel this is a great value for everything this tour includes, especially based on all the positive reviews. I would absolutely book this tour for myself.

Honorable mention

There is a similar tour to the one above that also includes a cider and calvados tasting + a 2-course lunch. However, I felt the one I chose above stops at better sites. If you’d like to compare the two yourself or are particularly interested in trying Normandy’s famous apple brandy, check out this tour .

2. Most popular Normandy day trip from Paris

The most popular D-Day tour from Paris : Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris

I have to admit I almost chose this one as best overall, but it was missing something I felt was super important: a stop at Pointe du Hoc. Otherwise, this is an excellent tour I would readily book for myself.

This tour has a 4.5-star rating and over 2,300 reviews ! It’s the most popular of all the Normandy tours from Paris by a long shot. Most of the reviews praise the tour’s knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide as well as the great driver.  

What you’ll see on this tour

This  full-day trip from Paris  stops at many of the key points in Normandy including:

• The Normandy American Cemetery
• Arromanches les Bains
• The Arromanches 360° Museum

A stop at Arromanches les Bains to see the remains of the Mulberry Harbors is the one thing that’s missing from the No. 1 tour on this list. Arromanches is a worthwhile and unforgettable location I highly recommend you check out.

This most popular tour includes:

• A professional driver and licensed guide/expert on the events of June 6, 1944
• Admission to the Arromanches 360° museum
• And free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour

It does not include gratuities, lunch (though you will have free time in Arromanches to get lunch on your own), or hotel pick-up and drop-off. (This tour’s meeting spot is near the Eiffel Tower.)

As of January 2024, this tour costs between $179.78 and  $212 per person (depending on your chosen date). That means this Paris tour to Normandy is one of the most budget-friendly options as well. (It’s not  super  cheap of course, but it definitely costs less than most other tours and still hits many of the must-see locations.) All-in-all,  a great value in my opinion .

What to know about this tour

There is one thing you should know about this tour before you book it. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but there’s a reason this tour is cheaper than the others and why I didn’t pick it as Best Overall.

This is not a small-group tour. They will take a maximum of 45 people on this tour. Again, this isn’t a deal breaker, but it just means you’ll likely receive less individualized attention and have to walk through these locations as a herd. Not ideal, but not bad for the price either.

3. Best private Normandy tour from Paris

My pick for best private tour : Normandy D-Day Full-Day Tour w/ Tours by Locals

If you’d prefer a private tour over spending your Normandy tours from Paris with a busload of people, there are options for that too! And the best one I found is this one with Steeve from Tours by Locals.

This tour has nothing but rave 5-star reviews and accommodates a maximum of 7 people . It lasts the standard 12 hours and can even be customized to your preferences . Want to trade in one of the locations for somewhere else? No problem. Because this tour is all your own, you have a lot more options.

This full-day tour visits many of the best D-Day sites in Normandy as-is, but remember you can customize it too. Out of the box, this tour stops at :

• Pointe du Hoc
• Normandy American Cemetery

These stops are actually all on my shortlist of must-see D-Day sites in Normandy, so that’s a huge plus. You’ll definitely leave this tour feeling like you saw everything you came to see!

This awesome private D-Day invasion tour includes:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris in your own deluxe private vehicle with pickup and dropoff at your hotel or other location of your choosing
• A lunch stop at what sounds like a fantastic restaurant specializing in Norman cuisine
• An expert, local, independent guide
• Documents, photos, and maps to help you understand the destination’s history
• Photo stops at your request
• A full refund if you cancel 15 days or more before your tour.

It does not include the cost of lunch or gratuities.  

As of January 2024, this tour costs $2,061 for a group of up to 7 people . (So, for 7 people that would be $294 pp; for 6 people $343 pp; for 5 people $412 pp; for 4 people $515 pp; for 3 people $687 pp; for 2 people $1030 pp; and if you’re coming by yourself, I think you can do the math there.)

While this is considerably more than the first two Normandy tours from Paris, it’s important to remember this tour is 100% private and customizable . Your small group has its own car and expert guide; you’ll be able to get so much more out of each destination by being able to ask questions, going where you want, and not having to wait for the entire group to gather; and you can even customize it to your own preferences.

People are always asking me for the best private and customizable Normandy tours and I’m totally going to recommend this one from now on. (This tour is offered every day of the week.)

4. Best private Normandy tour from Paris on a budget

UPDATE : In 2023, this tour was a fantastic budget private tour option. But for 2024 he has nearly tripled the price of this tour so I’m no longer recommending it as a budget option, obviously.

That being said, he has changed the tour a little bit to add stops at Omaha Beach and (maybe) the battery at Longues-sur-Mer. So, I’m going to leave it here as an option for you to check out, and I’ll continue to monitor it to see if the price goes back down to a more reasonable number (because WOW).

• The Pegasus Bridge
• and possibly the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer (It’s listed in the summary but not in the more detailed description.)

A stop at the Pegasus Bridge is new on this list and I appreciate that this tour deviates from the norm while still hitting some must-see spots. This would also be a great tour option for Canadian visitors.

This full-day Normandy tour from Paris includes:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris in your own private vehicle
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Digital resources to use during the trip
• All entrance fees (even though everything on this list is free, but I guess in case anything pops up)
• Water and snacks during your drive to the coast of Normandy
• An English audio guide as well

Like the rest, this tour does not include lunch, though a lunch stop will be made.

As of January 2024, this tour costs $2,433.57 for a group of up to 6 people . And because this tour is offered through Get Your Guide, it also includes the option to reserve now and pay later, as well as free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour.

Important note : This tour has limited availability and books up fast . Last year many of the dates were already limited by April.

5. Best luxury tour to Normandy from Paris

My pick for best luxury tour : Normandy Battlefields D-Day Private Trip with VIP Services

If too much travel has got you down, why not indulge a little with this private luxury tour of the Normandy D-Day sites from Paris? Another tour with a 5-star rating , reviewers can’t stop raving about the passionate and knowledgeable guides and all the little ways they went above and beyond.

This tour is offered every day of the week and has a maximum of 8 people. The transportation is even wheelchair accessible. (A rarity among Normandy tours from Paris!)

With a focus on American troops , you’ll visit four of the most unforgettable D-Day sites:

This is the standard itinerary for this 13-hour tour but because this is a private tour it can be customized as you wish. (Maybe ask if you can swing by the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer while you’re in the area!)

This private luxury Normandy tour from Paris includes:

• Private transportation for your group
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Paris
• All fees and taxes
• Wi-Fi for the drive to Normandy and back
• Expert guide

Like the others, it does not include the cost of lunch or any gratuities.

As of January 2024, this tour costs between $1687 and $1890 per group, depending on the size of your group . If you go it alone, you’ll pay the full $1687. For 2 people, you’ll pay $843 each. Three people will pay $572 each; etc. (Adjust the number of people in the availability box to see the price change.)

Because this is a Viator tour, you have the option to reserve now and pay later, as well as the benefit of free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour.

6. Best value tour of Normandy from Paris

My pick for best value tour : Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Tour by Gray Line

If you want to get the most for your money on a Normandy tour from Paris, check out this option from Gray Line. It has excellent reviews —the guides and drivers receive the highest marks—and stops at only the most famous Normandy spots . It also includes things none of the other tours do!

On your Gray Line Normandy tour from Paris you’ll stop at the following places :

• Caen Memorial Museum

One thing I want to point out is the fact that this is the only tour I’ve found that visits the Caen Memorial Museum . The Caen Memorial is said to be one of the best World War II museums in Europe and I don’t disagree. Visiting this museum was a huge highlight of my own time in Normandy so I’m glad to see at least one tour stop here.

This best deal of a tour includes the following:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris on a comfortable and air-conditioned bus
• Entrance tickets to the Caen Memorial
• And a 3-course lunch with drinks

It includes lunch! This is a first as far as Normandy day tours from Paris go. It does not include gratuities or hotel pick-up and drop-off though.

As of January 2024, this tour costs $205 per person (that’s actually less than last year!) and includes free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour.

Gray Line tours

I’ve taken a number of Gray Line tours (mostly in Iceland ) and have found them all perfectly enjoyable. Basic, but always worthwhile.

This tour does not clarify how many people will be on the tour, but Gray Line tours typically serve large groups on large coaches, so it’s not exactly intimate. But for the deal you’re getting here, it’s all about compromise.

7. Best overnight Normandy tour from Paris

My pick for best overnight tour : Normandy 2-Day Discovery Trip from Paris

If you do have the time to spare and want to get a little more out of your Normandy tour from Paris, check out this option which includes a visit to everyone’s favorite Normandy and Brittany attractions. It has all 4 and 5-star reviews and is a pretty good deal for two days’ worth of touring.

On the first day of this 2-day tour of Normandy you’ll visit:

• The towns of Rouen and Honfleur and their most notable spots
• The newly renovated Musée du Debarquement in Arromanches

On the second day you’ll visit:

• The beautiful town of Saint-Malo
• And you’ll spend most of your 2nd day exploring the iconic village and historic abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.

You’ll love Saint-Malo if you’re a fan of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer. (And/or the new Netflix series based on the book .) This is one of my favorite books of all time and this beautiful World War II novel is set right here in Saint Malo. Visiting Saint Malo was a huge treat for me! Plus, it’s a very cool historic town regardless.

Likewise, so is Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most famous and iconic “attractions” in all of France . Visiting this place was unforgettable and I know it will be for you too.

This 2-day tour of Normandy from Paris includes:

• Professional guide and driver
• Entrance tickets to the attractions visited
• An overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Caen
• Dinner the first night and breakfast the next morning

It does not include lunch on either day, hotel pick-up and drop-off, or gratuities.

As of January 2024, this 2-day tour of Normandy from Paris costs $638 per person which, considering everything you get on this tour, is probably the best deal out there.

Because of the nature of this tour (needing to reserve hotel rooms and whatnot), it includes free cancelation only up to 7 days before the tour. This tour is also offered in Spanish and only available for booking on Thursdays and Saturdays.  

8. Most popular among my readers (New category!)

My readers’ pick for best Normandy tour from Paris: Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip w/ Cider Tasting

This is a new category I’ve added for 2024. Since this post is about a year old, I’ve had the pleasure of learning about which of the many Normandy tours from Paris my readers have booked and enjoyed the most. This is the one that was most-booked by Destination: WWII readers in 2023.

The same tour that I recommend as the Best Overall is also the one that my readers loved the most. (By a mile actually!) So head back up to #1 on this list for the full tour description or just book it now: Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip w/ Cider Tasting .

The runners up

If you’re curious, there are two other Normandy tours from Paris that stand out among the rest as favorites of my readers. The two others that people booked the most last year are:

2 nd Place: Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris

As one of the most budget-friendly Normandy tours from Paris, I’m not at all surprised that this one is also quite popular. (In fact, it’s also #2 on this list for ‘most popular.’)

3 rd Place: Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Day Trip with Cider Tasting & Lunch from Paris

This is the one I listed as an ‘Honorable Mention’ under #1 on this list—it’s definitely a great alternative to the one I dubbed Best Overall.

6 things to remember when looking at Normandy tours from Paris

When shopping around for Normandy tours from Paris, here are a few key things you’ll want to keep in mind.

1. Tour accessibility

Keep in mind that not all transportation offered is going to accessible for persons with disabilities. Some are; most aren’t. If it doesn’t say so in the listing though, reach out to them for more information. They may be able to accommodate you after all or at least give you more of an idea of what to expect so you can decide if the tour is right for you.

2. Drive time

Know that the trip between Paris and the D-Day sites in Normandy is going to be around 3-4 hours each way through the French countryside. This is a long time to be en route, so prepare for it.

Most tours will provide commentary on the sights you’re going to see, the area’s history, etc. Some may even play movies if they have the ability to do so. Regardless, plan to bring a book to read or download some movies ahead of time.

3. Where to buy souvenirs

Almost all museums in the Normandy area have at least small gift shops. Some, like the Caen Memorial, have massive ones. Otherwise, the town center in Arromanches les Bains has lots of gift shops where you can buy souvenirs.

4. Always arrive early

Unless you’re taking one of the private tours, always be sure to arrive to the meeting point at least 15 minutes early. And even allow extra time for getting there since the meeting points in Paris city center tend to be near popular monuments. Don’t underestimate how long it takes just to get across town.

5. Make sure it leaves from Paris

If you seek out other Normandy tours from Paris that aren’t mentioned here, be careful to note if it does in fact leave from Paris .

Many Normandy tours say “from Paris” in the description, but aren’t actually Paris tours at all. For instance, many of the tours that originate in Bayeux (which is already in Normandy) will say “from Paris” because they expect you to take the train from Paris to Bayeux where you’ll start your tour at 8:00am. Then after your tour in the late afternoon you’ll have to get yourself back to Paris.

I find this entirely manipulative and I can’t stand it, but I digress. Before you book a tour, be 100% sure it includes roundtrip transportation from and back to Paris.

6. Take lots of photos but…

As always, you can (and should) take lots of photos on your trip from Paris to Normandy. However, please refrain from selfies or inappropriate pictures at Normandy’s D-Day sites.

Yes, I’ve seen a father and son take ridiculous jumping photos at Normandy American Cemetery. (They also played a game of tag while running in and out of the headstones.) Yes, I’ve also seen women posing for sexy photos at war memorials. Get. A. Clue. Pay your respects, above all else.

Maybe now would be a good time to tell you to read this post on visiting WWII sites with kids .

What to pack for your Paris to Normandy day tour

When packing for your trip to France, be sure to keep these items in your travel checklist:

Comfortable shoes – There’s going to be a lot of walking on your Normandy tour; be sure to pack some comfortable walking shoes.

Unique WWII travel gear from the DWWII shop – There are lots of great D-Day items in the shop like t-shirts ( this is the best-seller! ), passport wallets, and more. (I donate a portion of all sales to a designated WWII charity each year.)

Refillable water bottle – It’s also going to be a very long day so make sure you stay hydrated.

European plug adapter – Whether or not you’ll be staying overnight, there’s a good chance you’ll need to charge your phone at some point. And you won’t be able to do it without a plug adapter.

Sunglasses and sunscreen – Especially if your tour from Paris to Normandy will be during the summer.

Anti-theft purse – Petty theft is common in Europe and especially in Paris. Keep yourself and your valuables safe with an anti-theft purse. These are the only kinds of purses I use when I travel. I have bags from both Travelon and PacSafe .

France customs and culture guide – I get one of these pocket-sized Culture Smart books for every new country I visit.

Movies and/or books for the road – Might I suggest:

• Saving Private Ryan
• The Longest Day
• Band of Brothers

Or these books:

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose
• Six Armies in Normandy by John Keegan

Other Normandy tours from Paris

If you have questions about other Normandy tours from Paris that I didn’t cover in this post, let me know! I’ve examined all of them . So if you find one you’re curious about, leave a comment below and I’ll tell you why it didn’t make the list .

More info for your Normandy D-Day trip

• Hotels:  Read reviews and find great places to stay here on Booking.com (my personal favorite). Hotels.com and Expedia usually have good deals too though.
• Save lots of money and time  by getting some  Paris GoCity passes .
• Rental cars:  Check out the  best deals in Paris here.
• For more tours in Paris,  check out the great options from  Viator  and  Get Your Guide .
• Don’t forget a   Paris guidebook  and this must-have  France customs and culture guide !

Have a great time on your tour of Normandy! I hope I’ve made planning it a little easier for you.

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a World War II historian and travel expert who has visited 33 countries. She specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas with a focus on World War II museums, memorials, battlefields, and other sites of interest. Originally from Memphis, TN, she currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline commanders.

Reader Interactions

June 5, 2023 at 1:35 pm

A friend had suggested we visit Normandy during our European vacation. We moved our days around to have 2 nights in Paris so we could do an all day tour of Normandy. I enjoyed your blog and found it very helpful. However, I wanted to provide you information on one of the tours because it was not as they advertised – the Gray Line. And I know you said you had not been on the tour so I wanted to tell you from experience and so you can update your information.

The items and details of the Gray Line that were advertised were not correct and false advertising. We did not visit the memorial of Caen, nor did we stop at Point du Hoc, lunch was not included, and we did not visit Juno Beach.

I was surprised to find out upon arrival, this was not a Gray Line tour but was the same tour sold on the various travel websites at a price less than my paid price and with the others providing a correct description of the tour. I was misled with the highlights and itinerary that Gray Line post on their booking website. The tour guide was in a uncomfortable situation when he realized that I was sold items that were not planned for this tour and I was question him. The tour that GrayLine is selling is the same one listed cheaper as on Viator and Get Your Guide. The tour guide said those are the best place to book because their description is up to date. The tour Gray Line is selling is no longer offered but they keep selling it and then sending the customers on the other tours. People on the bus with me had booked on Viator and Getyourguide at a cheaper rate and with correct expectations.

June 5, 2023 at 3:30 pm

Hi Amy! Thank you so, so much for your feedback! I will definitely look into that and make the necessary changes in this post. Can I ask… where did you go then, if not those sites? I hope you were able to at least get some enjoyment out of the experience.

June 5, 2023 at 4:17 pm

We had 15 minutes at Ohama, 40 minutes at the American cementary, 1 hour and 15 minutes to eat lunch at Gold Beach and look around, 40 minutes at Arromanches les Bain where they had us watch a 20 minute movie (recommend skipping it to walk around – other documentaries provide much more insight) and then our tour guide added on Longues sur Mer for 15 minutes. Several of us had shown him what we were sold (others bought from different company with lots of stops listed that were not going to be visited as well). It was nice to quickly see some places but now we feel as though we need to come back to really experience it and stay for several days.

June 6, 2023 at 8:14 am

That’s unfortunate you missed Caen and Pointe du Hoc but at least you got to go to some of the best sites! But yes – that was definitely just a sample and now you know Normandy may be worth more of your time someday!

November 22, 2023 at 12:48 pm

Ashley, We are looking at the private trip from Paris to Normandy. It is thru Tripadvisor. the name of the trip is NormandyD-Day Private tour with Omah Beach from Paris. the cost of the trip is $1127.75 per person. It sounds like a good trip shows all the stops and how long you are there.

Thank you – Tammy

November 29, 2023 at 10:38 am

Hi Tammy, thanks for letting me know! I’ll give that one a look. 🙂

January 15, 2024 at 12:20 pm

Thanks so much for all of this information, it is so helpful. We are planning a trip in April and I’m deciding between one of your top two and the one linked below. It picks up and drops off at the train station in Bayeaux. It looks like it hits a lot of different spots and would love your thoughts before booking.

https://www.overlordtour.com/product/tour-2fs-omaha-utah-full-day-tour-week-days-only/

January 17, 2024 at 10:08 am

Hi Michael! About the Overlord tour: Before I’ve even read the details I’m already turned off. They call it a “full day round trip from Paris” tour which we both know it is not, and as a consumer I really don’t appreciate the manipulative description.

Then, they use the first couple paragraphs to only vaguely tell you how to get there, and to absolve themselves of any snafus. (When a tour description starts with the company absolving themselves of any responsibility instead of actually describing the tour, my alarm bells go off!) And it seems like there’s a high chance of snafus as well. You only have one train option—the earliest train—and there’s a quick train change in Caen. If you’ve traveled a lot by train in Europe, you may be totally comfortable doing this. But still, if there’s any sort of delay and you miss either the first train or the connection, you’re out of a tour and out your money. It just seems like there’s too much room for error here. This is why, for those looking to take a tour from Paris and back, I prefer the tours that take you to Normandy all the way from Paris on their own transportation. This eliminates (almost) all undue stress and the possibility of missing the tour but still having to pay for it. BUT… if the benefit of what the tour offers greatly outweighs the stress of getting yourself there from Paris, it may be worth the extra trouble. So let’s see…

It does visit some of the major spots like Omaha and Utah Beaches, the American cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, and Saint-Mère-Église, so that’s good. The rest of the tour visits a lot of more obscure sites and sites where there really isn’t much to “see.” Whether or not these will be of interest to you will have a lot to do with how interested you are in the topics and how good of a listener you are. 🙂 I imagine at these spots, it’ll be a lot of story-telling and having to use your imagination. Something else worth noting is that some of them (like the La Colombière Hospital and General Taylor’s Headquarters in Hiesville) are privately owned and therefore you’ll likely only pass by them to view from the road. (Which is probably how they manage to squeeze in so many sights into just one day.)

If you want to visit some of the more obscure battle sites and hear these particular stories, and you’re well-versed at train travel in Europe, then this would probably be an enjoyable tour for you! If you don’t feel super comfortable using the train system, have doubts about actually being able to make it there on time, or would rather see some of the more well-known and recognizable historical sites, you’d probably be happier with one of the other two that you were looking at.

For me personally, I would pass on the Overlord Tour, but this is just what I would personally do. I’m extremely experienced in European train travel and feel totally comfortable doing this, but if I’m going to pay for a round-trip tour from Paris, I want to be taken there from Paris and not have to deal with the stress of train travel. Eliminating the stress and unpredictability of transportation is a large part of the reason I, and most other people, opt for joining a tour in the first place. If this company has the means to drive your group all around Normandy to these different locations, they also then have the means to pick you up in Paris, they just choose not to (but charge you the same amount).

However, that being said, this company is well-known and has loads of rave reviews, so it appears they have (almost) nothing but satisfied customers. (Don’t forget to read the negative reviews too to see what particular issues they had problems with.) Another thing they have going for them over the other tours is that they probably have better/more knowledgeable tour guides that specialize in WWII topics. Some of the other tour companies are just “tour companies” who hire guides. This company is specifically centered around World War II and D-Day tours and (I hope) hires guides especially proficient in these topics.

So again, it really depends on how in depth of a D-Day tour you want. Do you want all the detailed historical information? (And are you already well-versed on the events?) Or do you simply want an overview of the events and to visit some of the locations you’ve heard about your whole life? Also note that the Overlord tour only takes place during the week, so if you’re planning to visit on a weekend, your choice may have just been made for you. 🙂

I hope that helps! Whichever tour you choose, I hope you have an incredible time in Normandy, Michael! And thank you for the kind words, it means a lot to me!

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Rick Steves Snapshot Normandy Paperback – December 27, 2022

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• Rick's firsthand, up-to-date advice on Normandy's best sights, restaurants, hotels, and more, plus tips to beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps
• Top sights and local experiences: Visit the Big Clock in Rouen that dates back to the Renaissance, and see the famed Bayeux Tapestry. Pay your respects at the D-Day beaches, and cross the causeway towards the towering Mont St. Michel. Savor creamy Camembert, sip fresh local cider, or take a bike ride through the countryside
• Helpful maps and self-guided walking tours to keep you on track
• Part of series Rick Steves Snapshot
• Print length 152 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Rick Steves
• Publication date December 27, 2022
• Dimensions 4.5 x 0.8 x 7.9 inches
• ISBN-10 1641715014
• ISBN-13 978-1641715010
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What sets Rick Steves apart from other travel guides?

A personal and experienced take - Rick Steves has spent over 40 years traveling Europe and he shares his favorite spots and essential travel strategies with you.

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Rick and his team fan out across Europe personally checking and updating each listing in his guidebooks. These are the most accurate guides to Europe!

Why should I use a Rick Steves guidebook?

Rick will point you toward worthwhile experiences and help avoid expensive mistakes. A Rick Steves book is like having a tour guide in your pocket!

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rick Steves; 6th edition (December 27, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1641715014
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1641715010
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.5 x 0.8 x 7.9 inches
• #2 in Normandy Travel Guides
• #20 in General France Travel Guides
• #97 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides

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Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 100 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and ricksteves.com. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

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The Best Places To Eat While On A Shoestring Budget In Europe, Per Rick Steves

B eing "hangry" isn't a myth. When you're hungry, your blood sugar drops so your stress hormones can go up, which can lead to irritation (per Verywell Health ). Being hungry can also give you brain fog -- and that's no way to go through a vacation. You'll find you get a lot more out of your sightseeing if you're doing it well-fed. But unless you're staying in an AirBnB or Vrbo , you may not have a kitchen where you can cook a home meal, so you may find yourself having to dine out much of the time. That can put a pretty big dent in your bank account pretty quickly.

While Europe certainly has plenty of destinations ideal for food lovers , you can still enjoy fantastic food while you're on a budget. Just ask Rick Steves. The best-selling guidebook author is all about helping people explore the world, particularly Europe. He's got a wealth of information about everything from what to do before you go on your trip to how to avoid jet lag. And along with Steves' advice for finding European accommodation on a budget , he's got some excellent tips for where to eat in Europe if you don't want to spend a lot of money.  Best of all — just because the food is cheap doesn't mean it isn't tasty.

Read more: 22 Gorgeous Islands For Vacationing That Won't Break The Bank, According To Booking Sites

Market Halls Bring Together Tradition And Local Flavors

European cities have a long history of market and food halls where people would come to shop for goods of all kinds. While some historic market halls have closed, there's been a revival of sorts at many of these sites, and you can still easily find market halls with vendors selling everything you need to put together a picnic masterpiece — meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, breads, and more, as well as places to get an already-prepped meal. Think farmer's market meets food court meets European tradition.

Rick Steves particularly recommends hitting up market halls for lunch, and he likes Mercado de Campo de Ourique in Lisbon (Portugal), Kleinmarkthalle in Frankfurt (Germany), and Torvehallerne in Copenhagen (Demark) as places that serve a great variety of tasty, locally loved food. But of all the European markets, Mercato Centrale in Florence, Italy, is Steves' favorite. "The food artisans at work here serve pizza and pasta, but they also dish up regional treats," he writes on his website,  Rick Steves' Europe . Google reviewers confirm the quality, diversity, and deliciousness of the food that's offered for an affordable price, giving the market 4.4 stars.

Street Food Is Easy To Get And Easy On Your Wallet

Street food might be the best known and most obvious place to get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to your food budget, and most major European city centers have food trucks and carts where you can get something fast and filling. For Rick Steves, his favorite street food option is a kebab stand, where you can get a pita stuffed with seasoned meat that's shaved from the iconic vertical rotisserie. Luckily, you can find kebab stands all across Europe.

Steves notes other good options as well, often unique to a country, like crêpes in France, sausage and pretzels in Germany, and fish and chips in England. They may not be the healthiest options around, but they will fill you up and give you a taste of the local cuisine. With the grab and go ease of street food, you can keep your day of sightseeing going at high speed or you can find a nearby park bench to leisurely enjoy your snack while you people watch.

Cafeterias May Not Be Glamorous, But They'll Get The Job Done

If you've graduated from college or high school, you may think your time eating in cafeterias is over. But they're well worth looking for when you're traveling in Europe and want to fuel up quickly and cheaply. Rick Steves is a fan of university cafeterias and other self-service dining destinations that are connected with a local organization. "Don't be afraid to take advantage of these opportunities to fill yourself with a plate of dull but nourishing food for an unbeatable price in the company of locals," Steves explained on his website.

Steves has some specific cafeteria recommendations, including "bary mleczne" or milk bars in Poland, which have ties to the country's Communist past and still serve traditional dishes. Some department stores in Europe, like Frankfurt's Galeria Kaufhof, have cheap and cheerful buffet options. Then there's Vienna's Justizcafé , which has three different basic, but yummy, menu options each day that you can enjoy while seated on a rooftop terrace in the center of the city.

Going to a cafeteria may take a little bit more online research and pre-planning — there might be a school holiday that you're not aware of that closes down the local university's cafeteria, for example. And be prepared that they may also only take cash. One big benefit to cafeterias is that you'll likely have a place to sit down and eat instead of having to stand on the street.

Local Sandwich Shops And Bakeries Will Fill You Up

A visit to France without going to a "boulangerie," or bakery, would be missing out on the crucial French tradition of enjoying fresh breads and pastries. The value of visiting a French bakery goes beyond the tradition, however. Bakeries in France and across Europe are one of Rick Steves' go-to options for something that's "cheap and fast but with more of a regional flavor," per Rick Steves' Europe. They often offer more items than just bread — think sandwiches, filled croissants, coffee, and tea — and they're often open for breakfast and throughout the day.

Along with bakeries, Steves suggests eating at sandwich shops to help ease the strain on your wallet during your trip. Many European countries have their own popular fast casual cafés, like Pret A Manger in the U.K. and Pans & Company in Spain, where you can enjoy a relatively cheap and filling meal, often with a place to sit and eat. Plus, they generally have free bathrooms — public bathrooms in Europe may cost you.

American Fast Food In Europe Has Its Benefits

Visitors to Europe can't escape all American influence on their trip. McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and Subway all have a fairly large presence across the continent. While you might turn up your nose at a visit to one of these restaurants on your European vacation, when you're pinching pennies, they can be a good go-to. They can also provide a bit of familiar comfort food in the midst of a trip that might be overwhelming with culture shock.

Rick Steves outlined some of the additional benefits to American fast food joints in Europe on his website: "Since there's no cover charge, this is an opportunity to savor a low-class paper cup of coffee while enjoying some high-class people-watching ... Many offer free Wi-Fi as well."

Going to a European fast food restaurant can also be a fun way to compare how the big name brands adjust their menus to the region they're in. In Paris, you can get macarons at McDonald's and tiramisu at Kentucky Fried Chicken. And in Switzerland, you can get Gruyère cheese on your burger and Belgian waffles with chocolate sauce at Burger King.

Read the original article on Islands

France tries to shed its rude reputation ahead of the Olympics

Is the unfriendly Parisian a myth? A local goes undercover as a tourist to find out.

Paris is in the home stretch of preparing for the Olympics. A new 8,000-capacity arena has been opened in the north of Paris, the Olympic Village was inaugurated by Emmanuel Macron in early March, and authorities are still desperately trying to make sure the Seine is swimmable by the summer. The country is slowly but surely getting ready for the more than 15 million visitors that will descend on the capital and its suburbs between July and August. But there’s still something to consider — something a bit less tangible.

Are Parisians ready to welcome these visitors? Like really welcome?

France gets a bad rap when it comes to friendliness. There’s, of course, the long-standing cliché of the snooty French waiter or the surly Parisian, and a viral TikTok earlier this year of an American woman tearfully telling the camera that traveling in France was “isolating” and that French people were unwelcoming got thousands of comments — many from people agreeing with her.

“This kind of bad PR doesn’t worry me because it’s anecdotal,” says Corinne Ménégaux, the head of the Paris tourism office. “I think maybe 15 or 20 years ago the French were less welcoming, but nowadays we’ve got past that cliché. You inevitably have a small percentage of people who aren’t nice, and there’s not much you can do about it. It’s a reality of big cities, just like in London or New York.”

That hasn’t stopped France trying to clean up its rude image before foreigners come to town. Last year, the regional chamber of commerce updated a decade-old hospitality campaign called “Do You Speak Touriste? ” in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup held in Paris. The official guide touched on cultural differences, gently reminding the French that “The cultural tendency in France is to openly show one’s emotions, through one’s gestures or tone of voice. […] In other countries, disagreement is expressed a lot less openly.”

“There’s still the cafe waiter who doesn’t speak to you and sullenly serves you a Coca-Cola for 15 euros. I’m not saying that doesn’t exist anymore. But we have seen a real improvement,” said Frédéric Hocquard, the city councilor responsible for tourism and nightlife in Paris. He says that the covid-19 pandemic was the great turning point.

“There was this period when we had no tourists at all. And the tourist industry realized it had to make a bit of effort.”

A friendliness pledge

Part of Paris’ effort to revamp its reputation is a “hospitality charter,” which has been signed by more than 1,600 businesses in the tourism sector, from hotels to restaurants to tour guides. The agreement is based around three main principles: promote sustainable and environmentally friendly measures; make visitors’ experiences more fluid; and support local businesses. Businesses that have signed up will be able to display a sticker or sign on their establishment so that tourists know that they’re a trusted place. The city is also training workers in newspaper kiosks, bakeries and tobacco shops to be able to answer tourists’ questions.

Both Ménégaux and Hocquard agree on one point: Visitors to Paris also have to do their part. . In an ideal world, Ménégaux would like tourists to sign a “good tourist etiquette” charter of their own. “When people come to Paris, we want them to commit to respecting certain things: to respect their neighbors’ peace and quiet, to use a reusable water bottle and not buy plastic ones and not to buy products made in China when you can buy local.”

Differences in etiquette are among the first things some foreigners notice when they move to or visit France. American expats and social media content creators Ember Langley and Gabrielle Pedriani devoted a video to the thorny issue of French politesse in their lighthearted TikTok series, “The ABCs of Paris.” In the video , Langley warns, “What’s considered polite in the U.S. might not be considered polite in Paris.” The two go on to give tips such as “Smile less”, “Get into a debate over dinner” and “Arrive fashionably late.”

“I see Americans in the Metro and it’s like — read the room. Everyone else is being quiet!” Langley said in an interview. “When you’re a traveler, and you’re coming here on vacation, it’s easy to forget that 2 million people are living their lives here. You need to be respectful of the local culture and approach your interactions humbly.” But Langley says it’s a misconception that the French are rude; it’s just a matter of cultural differences. “The biggest thing here is that the customer is not always right; in the U.S., the customer is king.”

Going undercover as an English-speaking tourist

I decided to put Parisians’ friendliness to the test myself. As a Brit who has lived in Paris for a decade, speaks French and has even obtained French nationality (with immense gratitude), I put on my best British accent and went to see how I was treated around the French capital.

The experiment began at ground zero: in front of Notre Dame cathedral, which is still blocked off and undergoing renovation work after an enormous fire engulfed the roof in 2019. With a friend, I headed into the archaeological museum in the crypt. “Hello! Parlez-vous anglais?” I asked the woman behind the ticket desk. I was greeted with a broad smile and patient description — in English — of the museum and ticket prices. She wasn’t even bothered by a patently stupid question about whether we could visit the cathedral, gently explaining that the site wouldn’t be open to the public for months.

We thanked her and headed back up into the sunlight.

Next stop: a bouquiniste. These Seine-side booksellers have to tackle tourist questions day in, day out. The man running his stall opposite the cathedral cheerfully took the time to find books in English for us, before recommending that we try Shakespeare and Company just across the road, one of Paris’s most famous English-language bookstores. It was the same at the tourist trinket shop, where we asked for directions to the Eiffel Tower or down in the Metro station, where the woman behind the counter told us that her English wasn’t very good and yet valiantly answered all of our questions about transport passes with broken but determined English.

By this point, I had even ditched my poorly-pronounced French icebreaker, just bouncing up to them and speaking directly in English. And yet everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles and a genuine desire to help. I’ll admit that I was surprised — it’s been years since I was a tourist in the city, but I certainly remember eye-rolling, terseness and a certain unwillingness to help.

It was time for the ultimate test: asking for oat milk in a Parisian cafe. We chose a touristy spot on the Place Saint-Michel, where the servers were every inch the stereotype, in white shirts and black bow ties. Our server swept up to us haughtily but didn’t blink when we responded in English, even though he initially couldn’t understand my question. “Hot milk?” he kept repeating. When he finally understood, he laughed, waving his hands dismissively. “ Non, non , it is not possible, soy milk, vegan milk, we do not have, only la vache .” To make his point, he added with a flourish, “Moooo!”

My request had managed to elicit the famous “ c’est pas possible ” — well-known to anyone who has struggled with French bureaucracy and customer service — but it was said with such good humor (and a complementary animal sound), so how could I be offended?

The more than a dozen tourists I spoke to had also had largely positive experiences. Samantha Capaldi, visiting from Arizona with two friends, told me, “We love it here,” before admitting with a wry smile, “We’re trying to blend in but we’re so loud, everyone notices us.” In the four days they’d spent in Paris, they’d observed the same cultural differences Langley mentions in her videos — such as not getting tap water automatically with your meal at a restaurant, or being given a funny look when ordering an appetizer alongside an entree. “They kind of laugh at us, but not in a mean way,” she continued. “Trying to speak French helps a lot.”

Carla, from Sheffield in the United Kingdom, was in Paris with her boyfriend Brian to celebrate the anniversary of their first date. She’s visited Paris several times and has noticed a marked difference in the way she’s been treated compared to previous trips. “I’m a bit of a weightier person and I’ve been deliberately ignored in restaurants before — other people being given menus before me or served before me. But I rarely get that now. Everyone seems really nice.”

It seems that the city’s efforts in recent years are paying off and Parisians are — dare I say it? — learning that a little hospitality goes a long way. The only thing left is being able to get oat milk in cafes — but maybe it’s up to Americans to let that go and lean into France’s love of dairy. Mooo!

Catherine Bennett is a writer based in Paris.

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Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .