Is this too ambitious? First time to Paris, are we doing too much?

The dday area is a big area and the lay of the land is pretty spread out between the beaches, harbors, airborne drop zones, cemeteries, between the hedges etc.. We took the train out from Paris and used a personal guide. Depending how much the car is the guide was reasonably affordable. This gave us much quicker access as he knew the roads well etc..and he was able to give us a lot of information. The train from Paris was easy and probably less stressful than driving for us.

You're in Paris for 5 days at the beginning of your trip? That doesn't sound too rushed at all to me. But you're only staying in Bayeux 1 night? That's the part that's rather short sighted (in my opinion).

If you really want to see the D-Day Beaches then you should probably spend at least 2 nights there. The Caen War Memorial Museum is also well worth your time. It's almost a 1.5 hour drive from Chartres to CDG Airport, and I most certainly wouldn't want to do that. You're supposed to give yourself 3 hours of checkin time before your flight so that means you need to be standing at the checkin desk at 10:40. With a 1.5 hour drive and car drop off all required to be completed before 10:40 that would just push me right over the edge.

Why not just spend your nights in Paris and Bayeux? You have 8 nights?? So 4 nights in Paris, 3 nights in Bayeux, 1 night before flying out of CDG.

Take the train from Paris to Caen, pickup your rental car, see the Caen War Memorial and then head to Bayuex late in the day to checkin to your B&B. The beaches cover an ENORMOUS area and you'll not run out of things to see...especially if you were to invest in a good guide to spend time with you. Drop your rental car in Caen and train Back to Paris the day before your flight. Perhaps you could take in Versaille on your last full day. Stay your last night in Paris, have a nice dinner and then take a taxi to CDG for your flight home.

It sounds a bit rushed to me, too. I think you're under-estimating the amount of time it would take to get from Paris to the beaches, and then from Bayeux to Amboise. I would suggest that you drop one of those two destinations on this trip.

Also, the day that you plan to pick up the rental car, are you sure you want to get up early, rush through breakfast, to get at the rental place at 8 (and then leave Paris in rush-hour traffic, though you should be against the flow of traffic)? Not a leisurely morning's activity.

Is part of the split locations because one person is more interested in WWII stuff and the other one more interested in chateaux, or the like? If so, see if there are other places to see that are closer to the Bayeux area that would be appealing. Years ago, when my mom and I drove to Honfleur (cute village, BTW), we stopped at Rouen on the way. Pretty city, with interesting sites, especially if you have any interest in Joan of Arc. There are also some castles in Normandy, though I am guessing that they don't really compare with those in the Loire Valley.

Wow, great suggestions. You guys are a wealth of knowledge. Seems it is best we go back to the drawing board. May be best to drop the Loire Valley and spend extra time in the D-Day areas. I like the idea of getting back to Paris the last night, may be less stressful than driving myself to CDG and dealing with the rent a car drop off. Although I was trying to avoid going back into Paris with a rent a car. My wife seems to be fixated on driving around and getting "lost" in the countryside, which is why we are venturing out of Paris. Not sure how that sounds, but it could be great or stressful? So the train may be an added cost on top of a rent a car so I may just stick with the car. My wife chose the B&B recommended by Rick (which is on a farm) called La Ferm du Pressoir. Found out that is about 30 min south of Arromanches. Sounds like Chartres should be taken out as a last night stay too.

There are so many places in Normandy to see...Rouen, Honfleur, Etretat, etc., that I would focus on that when you leave Paris. Also, for the last night, consider Auvers-sur-Oise, even if you're not a Van Gogh fan. It's just lovely and about a half an hour from CDG.

However, were it me, I'd do your trip in reverse. Fly into CDG, rent a car and drive to Auvers (a short enough trip to not be dangerous after a long flight). Spend the jet lag day walking outside touring there. The next day head to Bayeux and base for 2 or 3 nights and then drop the car in Caen and train to Paris for the remainder of the time. You get your running around done up front with the staying put in Paris for the rest.

Have a great trip!