Tips and basics to organise your trip to Normandy this summer

ACCOMODATION : WHERE TO STAY AND HOW TO BOOK A PLACE?

With about 5,000 accommodation solutions available, Lower Normandy has the capacity to answerall  the spectators’ needs. There will be something available for everyone in just a few clicks!

You can choose among a couple of solutions:

• Book a hotel at the best possible rate directly from a dedicated web platform via the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 website. Availability is displayed in real time.
• Other options are also available, including bed and breakfast, gîtes (self-catering cottages) and even campsites. Via the Games’ ticketing website, a platform is available to enable spectators to contact all the accommodation providers in Normandy.

Spectators can check the accommodation options matching their criteria (location, price etc.) in order to contact the establishments directly. Just note that the availability might be limited for some accomodation options in Caen, so do not hesitate to book something a few kilometers away.

Click here if you want to learn more about accomodation http://www.normandy2014.com/event-guide/accommodation

TRANSPORT : HOW TO GET THERE?

In 2014, all roads lead to Normandy ! Many companies are ready to offer spectators tailored solutions:

• Train : Voyages SNCF
• Ferries : Brittany Ferries
• Planes : Caen-Carpiquet Airport
• Buses : Bus Verts (Green Bus) & Twisto Buses

Caen (all disciplines and the Games Village)

You will get to park in two free parkings in town: the Beaulieu car park and the Presqu’île car park. Parking will be free of charge and the car parks will be accessible from 7am to 11pm. Parkings attendants will be on site to indicate you where to park. Overall, over 3,500 parking spots will be available.

From those parkings, free shuttle services will transport you to the competition venues between 8am and 11pm. These dedicated services will run on a regular basis, the frequency of which will be adapted during the event according to the number of spectators. Reinforcements will be brought in between noon and 2pm, evenings after concerts in the Games’ Village and the start and end of competitions.

Twisto car parks (parking free of charge for people with a bus ticket or season ticket) and the city car parks are also available and will work as usual.

Click here to see the map of all the parkings in Caen (during the event)

Le Pin National Stud (Eventing)

60 hectares of parking spaces will be reserved for the general public for the Games. Specific traffic will be organised around the venue with the public authorities.

Two TERs (local trains) have been arranged by the Lower Normandy region, between Caen and Argentan for spectators of the cross-country competition on Saturday 30 August, with a shuttle service guaranteed between Argentan station and Le Pin-au-Haras. Price: €12/person return (€6 kids’ return trip). These train tickets can be booked exclusively via SNCF’s online shop and with a ticket for the cross-country will benefit from a 50% reduction on these trains. http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

Click here to see the map of all the parkings in Le Pin National Stud (during the event)

Sartilly (Endurance)

2,230 spaces are reserved for the general public in Sartilly, which are split between 3 free of charge parkings. The Manche Departmental Council will create a specific traffic indicated by road signs.

Click here to see the map of all the parkings in Sartilly (during the event)

Transport of those with restricted mobility

Each competition venue will have reserved parking spaces for people with restricted mobility.

On two wheels, it’s possible too!

It is also worth noting that parking spaces will also be reserved for 2 wheels vehicles on each venue.

Click here if you want to learn more about transportation

CATERING : GET READY TO EXPERIENCE FRENCH CUISINE

The catering provision across the different competition venues and the Village during the Games will be both comprehensive and varied, since four types of restaurant will be available at the different sites: seated restaurants, bars, refreshment stalls and food trucks.

The Games’ Village will comprise a total of five 300m² restaurants and four bars, which will each offer different types of cuisine and atmospheres: a restaurant showcasing local "savoir-faire", a Norman tapas bar, an American diner, an oyster bar, a Magic Mirrors restaurant, a convivial steakhouse, a bar specialising in a wide variety of beers, a ‘bistronomic’ restaurant and a cider bar.

The sale of takeaway food will also be very extensive, with among other things a 150m² bakery created specially for the occasion.

Across all the competition venues and the Games’ Village, some 34 refreshment stalls and 31 food trucks will be open to enable visitors to quench their thirst and purchase a quick snack.

OTHER BASICS TO PLAN YOUR TRIP IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY

• Info points: Info Points will be in place at all the competition venues. They’ll be situated near the entrances or inside the venues. Greeters will also be in attendance to help guide you.
• Lockers: Lockers will be available to spectators and visitors at all the Games’ venues. These lockers will be free to use and accessible during the venues’ opening hours.
• Baby-changing area: Baby-changing areas will be fitted out at the d’Ornano Stadium site and in the Games’ Village. They will be equipped with changing tables and bottle-warmers.
• Dogs: Dogs will be strictly forbidden on every competition venues and the Games Village during the event.

All practical information can be found on the Games website: http://www.normandy2014.com/event-guide/practical-infos