"Final" Itinerary check. Wondering if a day trip is worth it, advice on things I forgot

pencilstealer,
You have planned out very precisely and have allowed a relatively fair amount of time at locations, but I do foresee one problem. For example, on April 12 you finish at the Notre Dame crypt at 1:45, and have the Cluny Museum time at 2:15. That gives you 30 min. to get from one to the other. At a brisk walk and without large crowds on the sidewalks you can make it in 30 minutes (not me, I am 81 and would take twice that time!), but you won't have time to look around at the "Paris-ness" of the streets and architecture and signs and activitiy. Part of Paris' charm, for me, is cafe sitting, whether for a meal, a coffee or an aperitif. I would take another look at my day-to-day activities and allow sufficient time, whether walking or metro or bus to get from one place to another.
Re a day trip, I would stick closer to Paris than Bordeaux or Normandy. Reims is good, as is Versaille, Chartres, Giverny, Fontainebleau or Vaux-la-Vicomte. Or a wandering day is a wonderful idea also. Check out the bouquinistes who sell books and prints and whatnots along the Seine. Quintessential Paris! A fun wander!
Bonne chance et bon voyage!

Thanks again Judy

My only real goal for the cluny is to see the remains on the roman baths. The rest is just a bonus. I may take a ride share between the 2, but as you've pointed out I would miss out on the sights.

The air and space museum is about 40 min away from where I'm staying. The national archeological museum is about an hr (roughly the same distance as Versailles but slightly further north.

I'm kinda torn on Versailles. I've been told multiple times you're basically shuffled by the crowd through the building. However it's historical significance is tempting. However there is an absolutely wonderful arboretum right next to it that would be fantastic to see. Unfortunately doing both in one day would be extremely long, especially right before my last day there which I'm planning to spend entirely at the louvre.

Keeping the day open means I can do the wandering I may miss due to my schedule.

If you’re using ride shares in Paris, I hope you have better luck with them than I do. Let’s see they stood me up twice and insisted my hotel was in a completely different location from where it was once. Not to mention that they’re not going to be there quickly, you could walk from Notre Dame to the Cluny faster than waiting on one.

If you do need a service, I downloaded the G7 Taxi app and I now pay them. They are reliable and professional, and they know where they’re going.

That said, assume something on that day 12 is going to fall apart. You have not given yourself enough time at any of those first locations. Even with the museum pass, you’re not walking right in the front door. Saint Chapelle has a slow Security screen and they don’t start the security screen until the time your reservation starts so you could easily spend 20 minutes of your allotted hour just getting screened. Since it’s too early to have booked a reservation to Notre Dame, it may not fit in your schedule at all.

Personally, I would skip the day trip on your days in Paris. You’ve got a lot on your list that you haven’t done and there’s lots to do in Paris.

It might be helpful to note that the Louvre and Ste Chapelle require reservations which might require some time shifting depending upon what times are available when you book. The travel time you have allowed between points in Paris is very optimistic. The only way you could come close to making your schedule is by taking the métro.

You do not have sufficient time in Avignon to make it worth your time to even go there. If I were to spend 4 to 5 days in Provence, I would find a base, Avignon is the transportation hub, then travel from there and avoid the constant hotel changes. I would skip Marseille and add in points close to Avignon such as L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, St Rémy, Pont du Gard, Les Baux de Provence, Uzès, or Gordes (which may be not accessible by bus).

I assume it is too late for these suggestions, but perhaps of use to anyone else wanting to visit the south of France. Best of luck with your itinerary.

Carol - I will be avoiding the ride share/driving at all costs. However there are always situations where they will be a decent idea depending on where you are/are going and time of day. Im a fast walker and do plan to utilize the metro as much as possible.

I have the museum pass and have begun to get the reservations. The good thing is once youre in saint chappelle it doesnt take a whole lot of time to see it. That is why I plan on doing it first thing and line up relatively early. The website "guarantees" (note the quotations) that you have a half hr window so if you book for 9 you "wont" be inside later than 930. The only problem is that notre dame now has a que, which you can only book a few days in advance. Shuffling things isnt a big deal and the 12 is the only day I understand im pushing it with time. The bonus is the bulk of things are within a 10 minute walk between. Its the waiting that will kill me. I could also go to the cluny the first day to give myself some time, and have an option of having an open ended day on the 12th.

Tocard - I already have my louvre reservation (museum pass plus reservation ticket). I cant book saint chappelle yet, but will be ASAP.

Avingion IS my base. Im doing day trips to Nimes and Arles. Odds are I wont have lots of time to spend in Avignion but thats ok. My hotel is right near the central station to facilitate the day trips and make catching the TGV there and back easier too.

I also want to see marseille. Lots of historical significance, on the coast and its a nice city. I do realize Avignion has a lot to see around it, but so does practically every city in France and I know I cant see everything. It might gave been smart to spend a day in Arles and Nimes, but that also adds hotel switches and hauling bags around more than I already am. But if it helps, Im focusing on Roman history so Nimes and Arles are a must. Although I am missing plenty of sites in that area, but its also a reason why Im going to Marseille.

Regarding time between sites. I tried to keep places as close to each other as possible to make walking easier. Im a fast walker, however I do plan on utilizing the metro system as much as possible. I used google maps to see the times at the busier times of day and added some extra because, well, its Paris lol.