Driving on both the autoroutes and the small country roads in France is generally a delight. It is the intermediate roads (N or former N) that can cause stress because the locals are generally in a dangerous hurry, and they know where all of the radar zones are, so they (think they) can ignore many of the speed limits. If you stick to the rules of the road and don't let the other cars influence unduly you, you should be all right.

The Hotel Dieu in Beaune, a hospice dating from the Middle Ages, is the most significant site in all three cities and an important historic monument of France. So all else being equal, that's where I would go.

We just got our IDPs , both of us, in ten minutes.

Beaune does sound pretty interesting. I'm pronouncing it Bone, is that right? Probably not, as I'm not great with French. :)

If we get good medical news I'll be getting my IDP soon.

assuming you are pronouncing Bone correctly ;-) , yes.

I've been in both situations and driving a car while on a vacation is a way better option than using public transport. Since you're saying the cost is not that important part to you, have to choose a car for sure. Plus, It's not that hard driving in any city with the apps helping you out

What a sweeping generalization. It depends on the trip and the person. I haven't rented a car on a trip since early 2004, and I have covered a LOT of ground since then. I travel solo, so it's rarely cost effective, and I don't want to deal with the hassle of parking. (Used to be I didn't want to navigate and drive at the same time, but that's easier these days.) I am happy that public transport is so much better in much of the world than in the US.

Thursdayd, I prefer public transportation too and we will use that in Paris. We will only get the car when leaving Paris. The reason our plans have changed is that trains around France might not be available due to strikes.

It totally depends on where you are going. A car is a nuisance in most big cities, between the traffic and lack of parking. If you ever go to Switzerland, a car is not the way to go, even outside the cities. Now, there are some places where sticking to public transportation puts real limitations on what you can do, but it isn't always the case that a car is better, just like it's not always the case that public transportation is better.

We just returned from a five-week trip to France where we spent 2 weeks in Nice, a week in Hyeres and two weeks in Paris. Despite the strikes, trains, buses and trams were running, although, sometimes on a reduced schedule. This was the first time in 40+ trips to France where we did not rent a car and it was fine. Most of the smaller towns are quiet until Easter so it worked out.

If you avoid the 11-13th arrondissements in Paris where the demonstrations were taking place, you wouldn't even notice that anything was going on. This was our first trip back since 2019, due to COVID, and the most surprising thing to me was the amount of construction going on. That being said, France is still the best place to visit IMHO.