Mercure Omaha Beach is the pick for travellers who want to sleep on the coast rather than in town. It stands on Chemin du Colombier at Port-en-Bessin, and the hotel lists itself as four-star with six room types, from Classic rooms of about 16 square metres to a Duplex Superior Room that sleeps four. The hotel has a spa with a hammam, a sauna and a relaxation room, a heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi that close from 1 November to 31 March, and free outdoor parking with electric vehicle charging. The restaurant is called À l'Épicerie, and there are two bars, Le Club House and Le Fairway. A buffet breakfast starts at 6:30. It suits couples, families and drivers who want an easy base for Omaha Beach, Arromanches and Pointe du Hoc.
Location and getting around
The hotel lists Omaha Beach at about eight kilometres, Arromanches at ten, Pointe du Hoc at twenty and Bayeux railway station at ten, so a car is the way to use it. Free parking makes that easy. Port-en-Bessin itself is a working fishing harbour a short drive away, good for seafood. Without a car, a taxi to Bayeux is the main option, so this is not the choice for those who want to walk to restaurants in the evening.
The rooms
Six types, among them Classic doubles and twins, Superior rooms with a sofa bed for three, a Privilege Room of 24 square metres and a Duplex Superior Room for four. All the listed rooms have air conditioning. Families will find the sofa-bed rooms and duplex useful, and couples will like the spa.
Who it suits
Couples and families with a car, and travellers who want to wake near the coast and visit the landing beaches and the museums in a single loop. It is a modern resort-style hotel rather than a historic one.
Good to know
The outdoor pool and jacuzzi are closed from 1 November to 31 March, so in winter the spa is the main facility. Breakfast is a buffet with a terrace overlooking the golf course and the sea. Pets are welcome, and the hotel is non-smoking and accessible for wheelchairs.
Why stay here
- ✓Spa with hammam and sauna
- ✓Heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi (April to October)
- ✓Free outdoor parking
- ✓Electric vehicle charging
- ✓Restaurant À l’Épicerie
- ✓Two bars, Le Club House and Le Fairway
- ✓Buffet breakfast with terrace
- ✓Air conditioning and free wifi
Good questions
Is the pool open in winter?+
No, the heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi are closed from 1 November to 31 March. The spa with hammam and sauna is the main facility in winter.
How far is it from Omaha Beach and Arromanches?+
The hotel lists Omaha Beach at about eight kilometres and Arromanches at about ten. Pointe du Hoc is about twenty kilometres away.
Do I need a car?+
A car is by far the easiest way to use this hotel, and parking is free. Without one, you will rely on taxis or a guided tour that picks up nearby.
