Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - "80th Anniversary of D-Day" - 7-Day

Normandy, France

NM
16 reviews
Oct 19 - 27, 2024
Group size: 15 - 35
Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - "80th Anniversary of D-Day" - 7-Day
Normandy, France

16 reviews

Oct 19 - 27, 2024
Group size: 15 - 35

About this trip

We understand that not everyone can take two weeks off at a time, which is why we are excited to announce a new option for our D-Day 80th Anniversary tour. You can now choose to do just the second half of the tour. This means that you can still experience the history and beauty of Normandy, even if you have limited time. Don't miss out on this opportunity to walk in the footsteps of heroes and witness the sites that changed the course of history. Book your half-tour option today! 


This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy and the beginning of the liberation of Europe during WWII.  The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force has designed a tip that will to explore the museums, beaches, and historic sites of Normandy to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.  The tour will take our group to all five landing beaches and the historic sites of Normandy.

What’s included

  • Accomodations
    MacDonald House (3 nights) - Hotel de Luxembourg (5 nights)
  • Meals
    All meals are included (All breakfasts, all but one lunch, all but one dinner).
  • VIP Admissions
    All admissions to museums
  • Customs Documentation
    All required Customs and Immigration forms
  • Transpostation
    Modern air-conditioned motor coach with onboard bathroom accommodations and a dedicated driver.
  • Airport Transfers
    Private car and dedicated driver to and from Heathrow Airport.
  • Tour Leader/Manager
    Dedicated Tour Leader and Tour Manager

What’s not included

  • Airfare
    Airfare is not included with the tour package price to allow our guests more opportunites for trip extensions, the use of airline miles and better personal time flexibility.

Available Packages

Price per person based on DBL occupancy

Double Occupancy (DBL) is for two (2) persons sharing accommodations. Room accommodations are either one shared king/queen bed or two twin beds. 


 Price is PER PERSON for the full eight day tour.



$4,295
Deposit:$1,000
Price per person based on SGL occupancy

 Single (SNGL) Occupancy is for one (1) participant in a private room with a King-size bed.  

$5,825
Deposit:$1,000


Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Day
Day 1 - Arrival Day - MacDonald House

Saturday, October 19, 2024 


Participants will arrive at Heathrow Airport – London where they will be met by a representative from the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force with signage and be taken to the MacDonald Windsor Hotel. 


You will have the opportunity to explore the village of Windsor after check-in prior to a cocktail reception & welcome dinner, where you will meet the other tour participants and have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the itinerary. 

Your Organizer


NM
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
16 reviews
The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force is located in Pooler, Georgia, USA. It is a world-class facility that tells the story of the "Mighty Eighth" from World War II to the present day. The museum's Educational Travel Program is widely recognized for its immersive experience and comprehensive coverage of the Eighth Air Force history, making it a highly sought-after offering. The Museum's international and domestic tour programs are constantly being improved to deliver top-quality experiences.

Reviews

AWESOME! AMAZING! INCREDIBLE! Pick your adjective and insert it. This was a once in a life time experience and I would unreservedly recommend it to anyone. It was a kick in the gut and I realized I was walking in the path of history. I can not recommend this tour enough to anyone thinking of visiting Normandy. Accommodations were 5 star all the way with wonderful rooms and staff. Meals were delicious and congenial with the group enjoying our repast while recounting our experiences of the day. Some of the venues were just amazing. The dinner in the wine cellar at the Angel comes to mind. Mark Copeland and the tour guides were were like magicians pulling rabbits out of hats with the information provided. I lost my passport on the way home. Mark located it and got it to me in time to make my flight on time for which I am VERY grateful. There were some bumps. American's don't care for egg salad or cheese & chutney sandwiches in the box lunches while traveling from Windsor to Calais. Bus had NO charging outlets. Nobody was able to recharge devices while on the road. Time management. Many days we didn't get back until 6 pm or later. Is it possible to get back about 4:30 or 5 pm? That would give us time to relax before dinner or shop locally if we wanted. Is it necessary to delay departure in the morning until 9:30 am? What about leaving 30 minutes or an hour earlier? Fewer group dinners. I would have liked to spend my time either alone or in small groups discovering the towns we were staying at. One of the best dinners was our stop at TESCO's and just buying a sandwich to eat in the room. The historians with us were under-utilized. We spent 1 to 2+ hours a day on the bus each way to the tour sites. Have the historian prepare lectures on the topics or sites were visiting and give them to a captive audience. The visit to the actual Brecourt Manor can be cut from the tour. It was nice and is a talking point at home but didn't lend anything to the overall experience. Drop it and have the historian describe the battle from point of view of the memorial at the crossroads. The American Cemetery at Cambridge was a Spiritual Experience. The American Cemetery we visited in France was a circus. There were 200 to 300 visitors there. Nobody was being disrespectful but the numbers gave it the air of a carnival to me. Then there was "another" wreath laying ceremony. Sorry, this was a waste of time. It was already mid-afternoon AND we'd yet to see OMAHA beach. This was a vastly more important location to me than another cemetery. Further, the Docent REFUSED to direct me to the graves I wanted to see. Instead she insisted I MUST take her "dog & pony" show. I walked off in the disgust. After wasting an hour here and it's now approaching 3pm were told their is a flag lowering happening and we can stay! I BLEW UP!!! To Mark's credit he realized that there was a problem. He did make sure we made it to OMAHA Beach and the D-Day Museum which was very good. St. Paul's was a waste of time. Due to traffic on the M25 we were almost 1 hour late. To compound matters there were services planned later that afternoon and we had about 1 hour before being thrown out. To pile on further a 100+ voice choir was practicing for an event latter in the week. The Vicar wouldn't or couldn't talk over the noise and could not be heard. I mentioned this and she had a pointed insulting comment in reply. You had a crowd of men over 65 who have been on the bus 2+ hours without a bathroom break. When this was mentioned the Vicar pointed to some stairs and claimed one of the group knew the way. NOPE! He had no idea where we were going. We wondered around the basement for a few minutes trying to find the bathroom. I thought of urinating in the baptismal font but decided against it. OH, the Vicar told us she wasn't holding the tour. Thanks a lot lady. Can you tell I'm pissed over this? I'm not done. Turns out the bathrooms are outside the ticketed area. When I asked about this we were told to just show our tickets to return. Tickets, what tickets!?!? Am I living in a Mel Brooks movie? After a short discussion we were allowed to return to the tour when we could track them down. I was so disgusted with this charade I just wondered around on my own taking pictures and pining to leave. Then came lunch at the French Bistro across the street. I wound up in a private table off to the side away from everyone. Thanks a lot. Food wasn't appetizing. I didn't like the chicken and I couldn't get a British Beer. I'm in England. I am not interested in drinking French beer. Wasted lunch opportunity. I would have enjoyed going to McDonalds next door much more. Respectfully, William J. Dutour
By William D for Roger A. Freeman - 80th Anniversary Commemoration "D-Day" Tour on Nov 14, 2024
“Nothing’s the same, Croz. Nothing. Never will be.” (Rosie in Episode Eight) Cheers to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force for offering this intimate and unique trip. What a treat for my brother, sister and I to have personal glimpses of Thorpe Abbotts where our dad flew 25 missions with the 100th Bomb Group. Our boutique hotels exceeded our expectations. This was a pilgrimage for us and nothing will ever be the same. Nothing. Sally Tee Proud Daughter of Winfred L. Tee
By Sally T for Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - Oct. 28 - Nov. 7, 2024 on Nov 09, 2024
We had an incredible time. Mark made the entire trip informational and fun. I know he got us in to places we would never able to see on our own and he did a fantastic job of accommodating everyone on the trip. Particularly in getting families that had relatives in the Mighty 8th to be able to visit their wartime bases. I cannot say enough about his dedication, knowledge, thoroughness and thoughtfulness!
By Tom S for Roger A. Freeman - 80th Anniversary Commemoration "D-Day" Tour on Oct 30, 2024
My tour of the 8th. Air Force bases and other WWII historic sites in and around London exceeded my expectations. The choice of venues was excellent. Furthermore; Mark, Dave and bus driver Kevin frequently went the extra mile, in some cases extra miles, to ensure everyone got to see their own areas of special interest. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in America's role in aiding the defense of freedom against the forces of darkness that threatened Europe 1939 - 1945. Frank X. O'Brien
By Francis O for Roger A. Freeman Heritage Tour - "The Mighty Eighth" - "Easy Eight" on Oct 28, 2024
Great trip. Bus ride was excellent. I decided to stay with the museum volunteer, rather than tour on my own, and I'm glad I did. I didn't see a lot of the museum, but I have been there a couple of times before. What I did see was extremely informative and interesting, thanks to the volunteer. Looking forward to the next one.
By William M for Sky Legends Tour on Sep 24, 2024
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