On June 6, 1944, Allied troops stormed ashore on the coast off Normandy, France, setting in motion the events that led to the end of World War II.
Celebrate D-Day any day with a historical tour that takes travelers back 60 years, to World War II battles lost and won. In the words of historian Stephen Ambrose, “The men who paid the ultimate price for our freedom are buried at Omaha Beach. They are there 365 days a year.” (Unless otherwise noted, packages include lodging, most meals, touring and admission fees; prices are per person double.)
* Battlefield Expeditions (866-422-8853, www.battlefieldexpeditions.com), of South Riding, Va., offers 10 D-Day and Normandy expeditions throughout the year, such as “Operation Cobra” (July 22-30; $2,895) and the “Falaise Pocket” tour (Aug. 14-24; $2,895), which celebrate the conquest of German forces in northern France; and “Band of Brothers,” which follows the Easy Company’s route from England to Austria (with the accompaniment of three Toccoa veterans). Cost: $5,445; travel Sept. 15-29. All trips include air from Washington, D.C.
* Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours (888-903-3329, www.stephenambrosetours.com) offers a handful of D-Day-related tours, among other war-themed packages, all organized by the late historian. Of note: the 13-day “D-Day to the Rhine” tour, which weaves lectures and meetings with veterans with visits to WWII sites in England, France, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium and Germany (Ste.-Mere-Eglise’s Paratrooper Museum, bridge at Arnhem, Gen. George Patton’s grave, etc.). All 2004 trips (Sept. 3 and Oct. 1) celebrate the 60th anniversary. Cost: $3,900; airfare to London/from Frankfurt extra. Ambrose’s son, Andy, also recommends the “60th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden” tour in Holland (Sept. 14-24; $3,900), touted as the last large celebration of this event.
* Historic Tours (800-222-1170, www.ww2tours.com), of New Jersey, has sold out its commemorative tours but still offers trips led by WWII veterans throughout Europe. A Sept. 10-24 trip tracks the Easy Company’s path, from Aldbourne, England, to Germany’s Berchtesgaden, where the Nazis attempted to make their last stand. The seven-country tour costs $5,494 and includes air from Philadelphia to London. For those already in Normandy, the company can arrange private tours of the invasion beaches from $500 a day.
* Matterhorn Travel (800-638-9150, www.matterhorntravel.com), of Annapolis, Md., follows the “Greatest Generation” from Normandy to the Rhine on an eight-day tour that stops at such sites as Omaha Beach, Torgau on the Elbe and Bastogne at the Battle of the Bulge. For some R&R, travelers visit a Champagne cellar in Reims and take a Rhine river cruise. Overnights are in Paris, Normandy, Reims, Luxembourg and Frankfurt; there are also four educational sessions with military historians. Cost: $3,195, including round-trip air from Washington. Ten departures May-September. For a longer trip, add six nights in Weimar, Dresden and Berlin for $1,695 more.
* D-Day Tours (011-33-2-31-51-7052, www.d-daybeaches.com), in France, offers special anniversary tours led by English-speaking locals and catering to travelers already in Normandy. Example: The $30 “Guided U.S. Sector” morning tour visits Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the American Military Cemetery. A full-day tour that includes those attractions, plus all sites between Juno and Utah beaches, is $90. Trips run until Sept. 30.
* Tours International lets you pick a military division – 6th British Airborne, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, 28th U.S. Infantry – and relive the soldiers’ experiences. The 11-day “2nd Infantry Division” tour, for example, tracks the troops’ route in France, Belgium and Germany, from Omaha Beach and Hill 192 to the Schnee Eifel and Elsenborn Ridge. Cost of $2,750 includes round-trip flight from Chicago; depart June 17. Info: 011-44-1892-515-825, www.tours-international.com.
Andrea Sachs, The Washington Post
Travel classes, seminars
NW Language Academy offers intensive weekend language courses, designed to help your travels by introducing you to conversational systems in situations you’re sure to encounter on your journeys. For instance: ordering in a restaurant, shopping, getting directions, using the phone, making friends, and many more. Instead of memorizing phrases, you will learn basic patterns of conversation that you can apply to a variety of circumstances. Practical travel tips and cultural orientation are highlighted.
Coming up:
* Italian Language Cafe, June 4 and 5
The cost of the class is $185 plus a $25 supply fee, $210 total. The academy provides you with a unique book and a variety of other materials. There are some discounts for family groups. Pre-registration is required. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants, and places fill up quickly. Classes are held at various locations around Everett, Mukilteo and Whidbey Island.
Visit www.nwlanguageacademy.com for a complete list of language programs and schedules. Contact the school by e-mail at info@nwlanguageacademy.com or call 360-579-2416 or 360-914-0391.
Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door hosts free travel classes most Saturdays at 11 a.m. at the Edmonds Theater, 415 Main St. in downtown Edmonds:
* May 22 – Packing light.
* May 29 – Italy.
* June 5 – Greece.
* June 12 – Eastern Europe.
* June 19 – Southern Italy.
* June 26 – Scandinavia.
Classes are free, reservations recommended. Call 425-771-8303 ext. 298 or visit www.ricksteves.com/seattle.
The Savvy Traveler offers free travel seminars at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. most Saturdays at 112 Fifth Ave. S. in downtown Edmonds:
* May 22 – 1 p.m. The magnificent Canadian Rockies.
* June 12 – 10 a.m. England and Wales.
* June 19 – 1 p.m. “Undiscovered Languedoc: The Secret South of France.”
Reservations recommended. Call 425-744-6076 or 877-225-1994.
Travel deals
Some good bargains:
* Take a trip to Lake Tahoe for $389 per couple with a package that includes three nights in a lakeside cabin, two-hour powerboat rental, a sightseeing cruise and several meals. The deal from Lake Tahoe Cruises and Zephyr Cove Resort &Marina is good through June 9. Cabin typically costs $99 per night and a boat rental is $119 per hour. Info: 775-589-4907, www.zephyrcove.com.
* Hit South Beach (Miami Beach, Fla.) with a seven-night “Summer Blowout” package from the South Beach Hotel Group. Rates start at $500 per room for two at the Hotel Chelsea or Hotel Shelley and include daily cocktail hour, breakfasts, VIP entrances to clubs and transfers. Usual rates start at $125 a night. Book before May 30; 13 percent tax and $5 daily resort fee are extra. Info: 305-531-5831, www.southbeachgroup.com/summerblowout.
Prices, dates or iteneraries may change and should be verified with your travel agent or tour service.
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