Overnight stop between Normandy and Paris

Looks like a decent schedule. My only concern is the first day drive to Honfleur after an overnight flight unless you are flying business class. Probability of you being groggy is very high and that is not good for driving. Five days will barely scratch the surface of Paris.

I agree that five days is definitely not too much time in Paris. Note that you cannot tour Notre Dame. The fire last year was catastrophic, and rebuilding will take a very long time.

I agree that five days is not too much in Paris. On a similar trip we spent nine nights in Paris after one night near Giverny & five in Normandy, and we didn't see everything we wanted to see.

I'd flip the order. Sometimes flights are late, even by hours, and you're likely to have jetlag which doesn't make driving the best idea after a flight. If you stay in Paris at the start of the trip then all you need to do is drop your bags at the hotel and start sightseeing. The issue would be the flight back, its better to be in Paris the night before you leave, so instead of 5 consecutive nights at the start of the trip in Paris I'd do 4, then after MSM drive back to Paris (perhaps dropping the car off somewhere outside of Paris and taking the train into town) for one more nite.

I like what Bill says about flipping your schedule to avoid that long drive to Honfleur on your arrival day. Since you’re planning to go to Versailles, here’s my suggestion: start in Paris, then go to Normandy and save the last 2 nights for Versailles. Drive to Versailles on your 2nd to last night night, tour Versailles on your last full day, stay that night in Versailles again then drive to the airport and turn your car in before you fly out. I’m going to Paris for the fifth time in April and I still have lots to explore so you’ll find plenty to do there.

My own feeling is that transit service to Versailles is so good that it's not necessary to spend the night there.

I agree that it's a long drive to Honfleur after an overseas flight, but most Americans consider themselves to be the best drivers in the world. (I leave the truth of that statement for another time ... ). Because of the need to change train stations to get to that area if coming from CDG, I'm not going to reject the car rental idea. I would suggest that you pay for two drivers and trade off when one of you feels sleepy.

Note that you are traveling at a shoulder time of year. Maybe crowds will be smaller, but sky may be grey, and the wind chilly. I personally think sleeping on MSM is over-rated, but it's a religious certainty of most posters here.

It is quite true that seven nights for a first visit to Paris would not be too may. Running out of things to do is impossible.

I didn't like All the Light We Cannot See that much, but if you love things maritime, you would want to visit St. Malo. Besides a huge pleasure marina with fancy yachts (in March ?????), there's a UK ferry terminal, and a startling beach view from the city walls. And it's a nice medieval city, that will help you to see that MSM is not the be all and end all of medieval remants. There are dozens of such places to visit, maybe just in France, let alone in Europe!

Thank you everyone! I have a lot to think about and will tweak the itinerary a bit. Very excited; first time in Europe.

Cindy

Curious, which islands are you referring too?

I was thinking Jersey and Guernsey specifically. Before I did research I figured the ferries ran frequently, as in many times per day. From what I was able to research it looks like they run a couple of times per week.

Next trip.

Thanks, Cindy