First Trip to France

Either Rouen or Versailles involves going into Paris and connecting:

If you take the RER to Paris St. Michel station on the blue line B, then you can walk underground to connect to the gold line C ending at Versaille Chateau/Rive Gauche station in about 40 minutes (note that this line has several splits, so you want the correct one). Rick's recommended hotels are walkable from there.

Getting to Rouen by scheduled transport requires transferring from the RER line B at Gare du Nord to either taxi, Magenta line, or public bus to Gare St. Lazare. Or you could take a taxi straight from the airport to St. Lazare for 50 euros flat rate, which is easier for two people with luggage. Then a 75-minute train ride to Rouen (no need to book ahead).

You could take the bus or train from CDG to Rouen in about 2 and half hours. Taking the train requires one change. Check Rome2rio.com for details. You can walk around Rouen when you arrive, spend the night and pick up your rental car the next day. This puts you a lot closer to Normandy on day 2.

How about car transfer to Versailles? We could see the grounds, at least that day, then maybe see Giverny driving the next day. Would Rouen be the best starting point for a Normandy trip, or do you have another suggestion?

I like the idea of Rouen; it is a great town to wander around on jet lag day and should be big enough to have a convenient car rental the next day. The train station is within an easy walk to the center which is quite compact. You can see some of the things we did with a few days in Normandy a few years ago. We spent a couple of nights in Paris first because I already had OPera tickets when I learned our apartment would not be available for our precise dates -- so we spent 5 nights in Normandy then returned for a month in Paris. https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/normandy/ We also spent a day on an all day tour of the American beaches and sites. You could easily do this yourself by car with some pre-planning. There was a lot of parking at the various stops including the American cemetery.

How wonderful that you have time to get out of Paris and experience more of France on your first trip. Could you drop one night off Paris, giving you time to include a stop on the Loire Valley ?

Day 1. Arrive Paris. To Rouen (1N)
Day 2. Pick up hire car. Drive to Bayeux (2N)
Day 3. Normandy
Day 4. Drive to Mont St Michel (1N)
Day 5. Drive to Loire Valley (2N)
Day 6. Chateaux visits
Day 7. Return car in Tours. Train to Paris (7N)
Day 8. Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Couer
Days 9-12. Four day Paris Museum Pass (including day to Versailles)
Day 13. Day to Giverny or Chartres
Day 14. Au revoir

Thank you to all for your responses and advice! Great ideas to think about! How would it be to start in the opposite direction, and go to the Loire valley for a day or two, then to Normandy, before coming back to Paris to stay? We will have to check the train schedules from CDG to Tours. Keep your thoughts coming!

Indeed, probably better with a 2 night stay first up to ease yourself into things.

You also have direct morning trains from CDG, so need for schlepping across central Paris, in a jet lagged state with luggage, between stations.

TGV 5200
Dep 08:19 AEROPORT CDG2 TGV ROISSY
Arr 10:01 ST PIERRE DES CORPS

TGV 5202
Dep 10:16 AEROPORT CDG2 TGV ROISSY
Arr 11:59 ST PIERRE DES CORPS

Our flight arrives in Paris CDG around 8:30 am., terminal 2, booked in Business. Is it reasonable to think we could make the 10:16 train? (we will have checked bags)

Booking ahead for a 10:16 departure would be cutting it close and not allow any wiggle room for delays. The next direct TGV (avoiding central Paris) is usually not until 16:21. Full fare to buy a 2nd class ticket from CDG to St-Pierre on the spot can be €57-70 per person in 2nd class, compared to €24 for a Paris-Rouen train.

Get your car at the airport and then drive up to the coast - its not that far and you'll be wired for a least a few hours after landing. We drove from Paris to the Normandy beaches to MSM (full day) and spent 2 nights. Then we drove to the Loire for 2 more nights before heading back to Paris. I'd spend my 5 nights before Paris in 2 spots and then drop the car at CGD before going into the city for the 8 nights. BTW - stay on the mainland at MSM to get the view (MSM itself is very small).

What time of year are you arriving?
Giverny opens on March 24, this year.
I'd recommend staying at least one or one-and-a-half days in Paris, then going on to Normandie - but it looks as if you will need a good road map and doing some more research.
Rouen is inland, not on the coast.

We realize Rouen is not on the coast, but were thinking it might be far enough to travel the first day in France.

In that case, if you aren't too jet-lagged, I'd take the train to Rouen, rather than driving.

The scenery isn't too outstanding, and it's only about 2.5 hours from the center of Paris. Bring something to eat on the train and take a nap, then go drink champagne and see the sights. Come back on the latest train available.

...or spend the night in Rouen, pick up a car at the station there and hit the road.

It will be end of May. We're spending 5 nights other places (in planning ) before the 8 nights in Paris. Thanks for the help!
We're excited!!