The small community of OUISTREHAM, on the coast 15km north of Caen and connected to it by a fast dual carriageway, gives the impression that it can barely believe its luck at having become a major ferry port. Since Brittany Ferries started their service here in 1986, the easternmost of the D-Day resorts has developed an extensive array of reasonable hotels and restaurants.Several cafés and brasseries in the place Courbonne, immediately outside the gare maritime, are eager to liberate passengers from their spare change, while Le Channel, just around the corner at 79 av Michel-Cabieu (tel 02.31.96.51.69; under €30), is the best value for both eating and sleeping: menus start with the €8.50 menu pêcheur, while the many higher priced options increase in splendour; guest rooms are in a separate building across the street. The smart Le Normandie et le Chalut, a few doors down at 71 av Michel-Cabieu (tel 02.31.97.19.57, www.lenormandie.com; €55–70; closed mid-Dec to mid-Jan, plus Sun evening & Mon Nov–March), has pleasant, quiet rooms; its Normand menu at €15.09 features a lethal triple plate of tripe, andouille and boudin noir, while the €31.86 option makes an excellent last-night blowout.
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