Versailles vs Loire Valley

Loire is far enough away that I consider it a separate destination - a place to stay one or more nights, rather than a Paris day trip. If you’re returning to Paris at the end of the day, make Versailles your day trip.

Hi again, Kathryn -
if I've put this together correctly from all of your previous posts, this is your itinerary:

Friday, 8/25 - Arrive Paris (from where?)
Sat. 8/26 - Paris
Sunday 8/27 - Paris/day trip to London?
Monday 8/28 - Paris/day trip to Versailles or Loire Valley
NOTE: Palace of Versailles is closed on Mondays so not an option.
Tuesday 8/29 - fly to Zurich
Wed. 8/30 - Alps day trip from Zurich
Thurs. 8/31 - Train to Cinque Terre
Friday - 9/1 - train to Venice
Sat 9/2 - Venice (are you also flying out this day?)

What am I missing or what have you changed? Unless you've scrapped the London day trip, you've left very little time for Paris itself, and would have to do Versailles on a different day than Monday. Add the complication of trying to move 11 adults, a toddler and and infant around and I'd just stay in Paris: it really needs more than the 1 full day you are potentially planning to give it. If I have it right, this is a very rushed itinerary all around that could benefit from fewer days of travel, IMHO. Where is this group flying to Paris from, and what day are they returning?

You can't do the Loire Valley well on a day trip.
Versailles is great, take the train and enjoy.

Kathryn, that itinerary is giving me a headache just looking at it. I'm not an expert on France by any means but I am an experienced traveler and trying to cram all those places in that short of time - especially with a large group - is just asking for a meltdown. I travel solo and am very flexible and I wouldn't even do that. You will be spending a lot of money on a trip that will wind up being just a blur in your memories.

I would encourage you to listen to the experts here and slow down your pace a bit. I promise that you will not regret it.

In line what already is said here is that your itinerary involves too much traveling and feels very rushed. You can do this if you have experience with this style of travelling and very comfortable with it. But does this count for the whole group? I would skip the Loire Valley too and go to Versailles where you can spend easily a whole day. Buy tickets online in advance, FNAC stores in Paris sell them too and only joining the security line for entering the main building, so the château itself.

OK, an update to the above... :O)
Given the new thread you've just posted, you've at least scratched the London trip. Your tentative (abbreviated/improved) itinerary for Paris looks like this:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/our-tentative-paris-itinerary

Fr1 8/25: - Arrive at 8:10 a.m flight from Chicago. Take train to Airbnb. Drop off luggage at airbnb (if we can) or drop at Nannybag. Get groceries, eat lunch. Rue Cler, Luxembourg Gardens, Vedettes du Pont Neuf for evening cruise
(I'd scratch the cruise: too much for a jet-lagged arrival day)

Sat. 8/26: Eiffel Tower, Museum D'Orsay, Montmartre (Sacre Coeur), Arc Des Triomphe

Sun. 8/27: Louvre and Tuileries Garden

Mon 8/28: Loire (forum advice is against this) or ???
('d do the Louvre on this day and Versailles on Sunday if you feel you MUST do the palace/gardens)

Fly to Zurich Tuesday 8/29 afternoon.

I'm still concerned about the Zurich, Cinque Terre, Venice legs.

So your group has no interest in cathedrals? I would at least add Sainte Chappelle. Personally, I found Versailles to be overrated. I really enjoyed my trip to one of the chateaus in the Loire, but it's not a day trip.

I would also eliminate Cinque Terra-do you know how much time and energy is used up by changing locations? I have traveled in Europe with a 15-mo old and my very helpful in-laws and the amount of stuff you have to lug for a toddler is tiring, not to mention the energy needed to keep up with the toddler.

WTH? Day trip to London? Just. Say. No.

Sat. 8/26: Eiffel Tower, Museum D'Orsay, Montmartre (Sacre Coeur), Arc Des Triomphe

Honestly, I think this is too much for one day. The Eiffel Tower can take a while. You'll probably stand in line for a while to go up, and then you walk around and look for a while (and they have gift shops up there). And then you stand in a line (for a good while) to come down again.

And you will want to give the D'Osay at least a few hours. It was my favorite museum. So much to see! I like to have two major sites per day, more than that and you're trying to cram too much in, and you can't really appreciate what you're doing. You might be able to add Sacre Coeur or the Arc afterwards, but I definitely wouldn't try both.

(If you're just doing a walk by of the Eiffel Tower, and not going up, you might be able to do all 4 things)

MaryC mentions going to the base of the Eiffel Tower, but not going up it. That’s what I’d do. Look up and marvel at the engineering, and all those other people waiting in line to go partway up. Go up the Arc de Triomphe instead, for a commanding view over Paris, without such lines. Plus, you’ll get a better view of the Eiffel from the Arc, than you will from the Eiffel itself. :-)

If the Impressionist art is your main (or only?) reason for the Orsay Museum, head immediately to the the top (5th) floor, and that’s all you’ll need. Once done with that floor, move on to your next sight.

Versailles makes a nice daytrip - we went by train - but save the Loire Valley for the next trip. You’ll get a more rewarding visit.