advice on trip to France

If you have six nights I would spend most if them in Paris and then maybe in one other place that is logistically feasible. Or not; you would not be bored in Paris. Ideally you would reorder your entire itinerary to maximize time on the ground, perhaps by consolidating your time in France into seven days and then flying or taking a night train to Venice, flying home from Rome. But perhaps this is not possible. Unless you will only be using Paris as a quick staging area you cannot possibly do the things you suggest in six days. What do your girls want to do?

I second Adam's advice to fly into and stay in Paris the whole time. If you want to get out of the city, you can take day trips: Giverny, Versaille, Chartres, Reims, or even the Loire Valley. But you'll have more than enough for six days in Paris alone.

We will be flying into Paris May 18 and out of Paris June 5 (frequent flyer miles!) so this is the only part of the trip that is really fixed. I was concerned about getting back to Paris for the return flight so scheduled days in Paris on either end. My girls will probably be done with masses at big churches and museums after Italy! I will probably be done with navigating cities and crowds after 5 days in Rome. Another 6 days in Paris sounds hectic...maybe it will not be so...

It depends a lot on how much time you have spent in France. If you just went to Paris last year, I would say maybe do some stuff outside of Paris. If you have never been there and probably won't go back, I would say stay in Paris. If you have only a week or so, Paris is worth five nights or more so it's hard to rationalize venturing out. Be aware drop fees for picking up a car and dropping it in different countries are very steep. Also, why go all the way back to Paris before you go home -- best to fly open jaw unless there is some compelling reason not to.

6 nights = 5 days... I agree with others, I would spend those days in Paris. And as others also suggested, you could do day trips if you want a change. I don't find Paris hectic at all. I can easily spend a whole day in the Luxembourg Gardens which is very relaxing and is my favorite place. Leisurely walking and exploring is my other favorite thing to do.

Given that your air tickets are fixed, I would still look at continuing straight on to Venice from DeGaulle, then having seven (better than six) consecutive days in France. Although maybe it is six if the last day is flying home. You have an all-urban itinerary and I quite understand about not wanting to feel hectic, especially after Rome. However, there is more than one kind of hectic, and constantly checking in and out of hotels contributes to that too. Paris sits at the hub of France's rail network, so many regions are convenient to it, if you wan to spend 2 nights or so outside of Paris. (And Chartres makes a great day trip.) However, if you want to get out into the countryside you will need wheels. Some possibilities: Lyon, Burgundy, and Normandy are 2 hours away; Provence is 3 (and there are direct trains from Avignon to Charles deGaulle for your return trip). If your family is up for it there is a very friendly bicycle hire shop in Beaune that can recommend routes for all cycling abilities; it is a charming way to experience a bit of France. I personally would not travel to any of these destinations as a day trip from Paris (though people do so), but two nights in any would give you a taste of one of France's distinct regions. If Provence interests you, you might investigate flights from Rome to Marseilles, where you could drive to a small town or small city like Arles. Then continue on to Paris by train.