First trip itinerary, Sep 2025

I like it! And I would keep the night on or adjacent to MSM. Otherwise you would arrive there right in the middle of the day tripper crowds. IMO, it is best experienced at sunset and early in the morning.

I'm a bit concerned at the idea of renting the car in Switzerland and dropping it in France. That will incur a drop off fee of many hundreds of Euros. Since the distance to Annency is not great, I'd consider using another form of transport (possibly the bus) and renting the car there. I'd also dump the car in Normandy (Bayeux or Caen) and take the train into Paris.

Are you aware that renting a car in one country and dropping it off in another is an exorbitant cost? Furthermore, renting a car on arrival day after a night of no sleep is never a good idea. Instead, take a direct bus from Geneva’s airport to Annecy and allow a couple nights to get over jet lag. You can take a direct bus from Annecy to Chamonix instead of driving. Rent a car in Annecy the day you drive to Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Expect it to take longer to get from one place to the next. Especially since parking tends to be an issue when driving. I agree with CJean about dropping off the car in Bayeux instead of Paris.

Nettie,
To avoid a massive charge for dropping off a car in a different country (several hundreds of dollars), rent it in Annecy. To get a fair estimate of drive times between locations try viamichelin.com. We found it very helpful because it usually shows more than one route option (e.g. most scenic, fastest, etc.). A BIG note: You have to add in time for gas, food and bathroom stops, and possible road works and traffic, depending on the day and time. These are not factored in well at google drives or viamichelin drives. We almost always have a car in France so we add 1 to 2 hours to the time stated, depending on drive times. Also, give yourself time to stop to admire anything that catches your eye. You might be cheating yourselves on experiences by trying to cover so much ground in the time you have alloted. Your plan shows you driving 7 of your 22 days. Only Mont St Michel to Bayeux is a quick drive. Everything else will eat up at least a half-day.
Also, remember that two nights in a place means only one full day there. Villefranche-sur-Mer, you will arrive late in the day so really only have the next day to see the sights there. St. Remy, 3 full days, Sarlat, 2 days, Amboise 2 days (I don't think 4 hours is a realistic drive time here), Mont St Michel a half day, Bayeux 1 1/2 days (short drive from Mont St Michel), and 4 days in Paris.
Everything is doable, especially if you take the faster autoroutes when available, but don't forget that checking in and out of lodging will take time, and finding your way to that lodging, in each new location.
N.B. One thing we try to allow for before our trips is the parking situation wherever we go. It just makes things go smoother if we don't have to drive around looking for a parking place in a medieval quarter of a town. Sarlat is often problematic re parking and getting in and out of town. Having parking at our lodging is really a big help.
I don't mean to sound like a Debbie Downer, but planning your time for going from one place to another will allow you to relax and enjoy your visit and not be surprised or disappointed with the journey. Best of luck!

(By the way, if you decide it is best to cut someplace, I would pick Sarlat. The Dordogne region has so much to see and do there, that I would opt to enjoy it on a second, longer trip. Others may make different suggestions. Just my deux centimes.)

We did much the same as the first half of your itinerary, but in reverse. We flew into Nice and out of Geneva, after 3 nights in Annecy. We dropped our car off in Annecy after driving to Chamonix. This is who we used to get to the airport in Geneva.
https://www.taxi-massingy.com/en/taxi-annecy-geneve/
It was super easy, and in my opinion much less stressful than trying to navigate buses. I would suggest an extra day in Annecy. The first day to get over jet lag, the 2nd day to explore Annecy and the lake. Then pick up your car, drive to Chamonix, and then have your car for the rest of the trip. As suggested, maybe skip Dordogne for another trip and add those days to Annecy, Villefrenche sur Mer. We did do a 1 night stop in Beaune, which we don’t usually do. But I’d heard such wonderful things about Beaune that we made an exception this trip! And we were not disappointed! So maybe add your extra night there?

We are now planning the 2nd half of your trip for our trip in May - Loire Valley, MSM, Bayeux, Rouen and Paris!

In 2015 we did a similar trip, though in reverse. (2 nights Amboise, 7 nights Beynac (Dordogne), 7 nights Provence, 2 nights Chamonix, 5 nights Annecy). We dropped off the car in the French side of the airport and it all worked out perfectly. I recommend booking through Autoeurope so you can talk through that part with them. Their customer service is excellent. The drive from Geneva airport to Annecy was very easy and about 45 minutes.

If it were me, I would cut the Riviera and add a night each to Annecy and the Dordogne. I would also consider staying in Baynec instead of Sarlat. In Baynac you can walk to and along the river. Sarlat is more inland from the river.

I agree with those who've suggested some of your stops are awfully short. I can't see going to the Riviera for just 2 nights (most people who go there want to see several coastal towns and at least one or two hill towns), or all the way to the Dordogne for 3 nights.