In hopes of assisting others, I thought I would compile a list of some of the details of our trip. We had a 9 day trip to France, not counting travel days, visiting the Normandy region and Paris. I will make a separate entry for our actual trip report and stories.
Transportation
We decided to take advice of others and pick up our rental car in Caen. We used the RER and metro to get from Charles De Gaulle to the St. Lazare train station. We found the Paris by Train (http://parisbytrain.com/paris-airport-terminal-2-train-photo-tour/) website incredibly helpful for spelling out the process.
We used Capitaine Train to pre-book our train tickets to Caen, which worked well and saved us money.
Rental car - we rented through Europcar and opted for full insurance. We still had a 100€ deposit charged to our card for any incidentals. I'll be watching our credit card statement to make sure it gets applied back. We dropped our car at the Porte de Saint Cloud location in Paris. It was an easy drive into Paris and right off the Peripherique. You have to think quick and pull into the curved portion of the building immediately to the right as you exit. It's also a gas station so it is a little confusing, especially due to the lack of good signage. We missed the turn-in on the first try and had to drive on the busy streets of Paris for a second shot. It was a little nerve-wracking but we survived. We taxied to our hotel instead of taking the metro. It only cost around 24€ and we thought it was well worth it for the convenience.
Gear
GPS - Garmin Nuvi 2559LMT. The maps were mostly up-to-date and we only ran into a few locations that it wasn't current. It's still good to have a paper copy but the GPS was so convenient. It alerted you to speed limits, which was handy as well.
Luggage - my old carry-on was shot from several trips over the years and being treated roughly. I bought an Eagle Creek Tarmac 22 and also used the pack-it cubes. I absolutely love this new bag; the storage is great and the pocket locations are well thought out. The jacket holder was especially convenient. First time for traveling carry-on only and it worked like a dream.
Personal storage - I carried both a very small cross-body purse and a small backpack when I needed it. The purse was perfect for cash and metro tickets, cellphone, etc. The backpack was good for guidebooks, water bottles, etc. I kept a combination lock on the backpack for security. No problems. Much easier on my back than the large, heavy cross-body purse I carried in Ireland. And more flexible for options as I needed them, especially for carrying souvenirs on our last day in Paris.
Lodging
Bayeux - Hotel Particulier Poppa. Absolutely lovely decor and breakfast with very gracious proprietors. We stayed in the smallest room which was an absolute bargain at 90€ a night. The bed was very comfortable and the rain-style shower was refreshing. Easy walk to everything we needed in town, and public parking in the street since it's adjacent to the park. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Honfleur - Le Fond de la Cour. We found this accommodation less than satisfying. I think this was mostly due to the fact the owner was not there (which we did not know would be the case until about a week or so before our trip). Most of our disappointments stemmed from communication problems. I'm guessing this B&B would be fine if the owner was present during your stay.
Paris - Hotel Atmospheres. This place was fantastic. We chose a classic room (queen bed). Sound-proofed and modern. Even had a mini-fridge. Again, a very comfortable bed. Ample European breakfast. Great location in the Latin Quarter and easy walking distance to pretty much everything. And close to the RER C station.