Extend in Paris before or after tour?

I would definitely choose AFTER, especially if your tour starts on a Tuesday and ends on a Friday. Note that some sights close Mon or tue. The tour ends with a single night back in Paris, so extending it a few extra days seems to make good sense. Plus you will have the experience and knowledge of places that interest you.

On the 7 day RS tours I've taken I've arrived 2 days earlier to get over jet lag ( I fly overnights flights from LA) and stay 2 days after to see things not on the tour and to buy gifts to take home.

My Florence tour began on Christmas Day. Arriving 2 days before enabled me to enjoy a lovely chorale presentation, a high Mass, and buy some handmade ornaments. After an early dinner spent Christmas Eve watching Its A Wonderful Life in Italian in my room at my sweet, small Bnb.

That's my travel M.O. Arrive early, stay late.

I would definitely arrive at least one day prior to start of tour and then extend your trip on the back end by as many days as you can. You might choose to remain in the same hotel or move to another area of the city, closer to sites you want to visit that are not part of the tour. I think the experience one gains during the tour is valuable for being more comfortable when on your own. Have a great tour and trip to France!

I would do both if I could.

If I had to choose one or the other, I'd choose before. The nice thing about arriving early is a delayed or canceled flight can be recovered from if you've given yourself some time before you meet your tour. If you plan on flying in and meet your tour on the same day, a delayed flight will have a domino effect on the entire trip. Another bonus is you get more time to have a first impression of Paris - before a guide deconstructs it all for you. The weather has a better chance of being nice earlier in October and you would have a weekend.

If nothing else, plan a day and night before your trip, to give you some room for error, and then a few days afterward to enjoy Paris on your own.

I would do both ends, but I favour extending it prior to the tour.
I would spend a minimum of 2, preferably 3 nights prior.
- much safer if your travel plans don't go as planned
- you have time to get over jet lag before your high-energy tour, which is the part you spent the big bucks on
- you'll enjoy Paris when you're still full of awe
- although I've not done an organized land-based tour, I have found that after multiple cruise ports, and tons of sight-seeing, I am ready to just go home at the end of it.

Cheers,
Vivian

I would add at least one day if not two days on the front end of the tour. Just in case your flight takes off late, and you arrive in Paris late and miss some of the tour. If you arrive early in Paris you get to walk around and get over jetlag so that you can enjoy the trip. Have fun.

Lots of advice! Here's my 2 cents!

I would choose after mostly because you're going to see quite a bit on the RS tour. It would be a shame to repeat something when you could be exploring something new. Jetlag's going to happen regardless, so I wouldn't arrive a day earlier, I'd tack it all on at the end but then you'll be much more comfortable navigating the city and will have a new appreciation for it after the tour is over.