This a NEW attempt to prepare an itinerary from US for 16 days, End of Aug thru Early Sept.

PARIS 3 nts., not our first visit
Daughter arrives
Train to Trouville- Deauville, rent a car
HONFLEAUR 2 nts
DINARD 3 nts
Train from Rennes to Paris, ( return car)
PARIS 1 nt (cause daughter will leave the next day for the US)
Train to Geneva, rent a car
CHAMONIX (or another Alpine town if there is one). 3 nts.
LAKE GENEVA (a quaint town but not Annecy, because we have been there previously) 3 nts
Train to Paris, (return car)
PARIS 1 nt
Return Home

Hi! Instead of Chamonix, I highly recommend spending your 3 days in the Alps in Briançon, my city. While Chamonix has become quite a crowded tourist trap, Briançon offers the full sundrenched and serene Alps experience. Sitting at an altitude of 1,300m (4,265ft), it’s much sunnier and more authentic, boasting stunning high summits alongside its UNESCO World Heritage old town and beautifully preserved nature.

You can easily reach Briançon by car from Lyon or Marseille (both 3h). If you're coming from Italy, it's very accessible from Turin airport or the Oulx train station, which is on the TGV line between Paris and Milan.

Feel free to ask if you would like more information or specific tips for your trip.

What, exactly, are you seeking?

Good to know about Chamonix, I’ve had second thoughts.
Briancon looks fascinating, if not too far to get to from Paris and then return to Paris.
I’ve been to Burgandy area, but years ago and brief trip.

What about Strasbourg, Montreux?

kja- I’m asking if itinerary seems reasonable, and recommendations on towns for an authentic experience.
Guide books and YouTube make a glossy impression, when in reality, it can be too touristy.
Hopefully, beginning of Sept will be more pleasant, difficult to really know.
Love water, lakes, rivers & coastal.
FYI-We have traveled in Provence, Annecy, Southern Coast, Beaune.

These recommendations are vital for visitors wanting to go beyond the typical routes.
MANY THANKS!

I still don't know what you want -- scenery? hikes? snow sports? And I'm not sure what makes something "authentic" in your opinion. But since you ask specifically about Montreux, I'll note that I found it heavily touristed, even in 2013. There are many good reasons why one might want to visit Montreux, but it is certainly not an Alpine town ... especially because it's on a lake, not in the mountains. If that part of Switzerland appeals to and lakeside is OK, consider something like Lutry.

The Green Guide to Switzerland would, I think, prove very helpful to you.

IMO Briancon is too far away:
Paris Gare de Lyon - Oulx-Claviere-Sestriere by Milan bound TGV: 5 hrs
Oulx - Briancon by bus (Resalp, ligne 76): 1 hr

Go to Montreux on Lake Geneva instead (4 1/4 hrs by train from Paris).
Thngs to do from Montreux:
Lake Geneva cruises
cog wheel railway to viewpoint Rochers de Naye
scenic train to Gruyeres cheese diary and castle and Cailler chocolate factory at nearby Broc
Lavaux vineyards (Unesco site)
medieval city of Lausanne and Olympic museum
Salt mines at Bex
Swiss Vapeur Park and Aquapark at Bouveret
Glacier 3000 roundtrip: Montreux - Golden Pass panoramic train - Gstaad - bus and gondola to viewpoint Glacier3000 - gondola and bus to Les Diablerets - scenic train - Aigle - Montreux
etc. etc....

If you prefer a historic city down in the valley (like Briancon), check Sion (historic city and Unesco site), just 40 min by train from Montreux.
At Sion you will find 15 different bus lines to untouristy scenic mountain valleys and montain villages



Around Sion

I always jump in to encourage a visit to Montreux. Such a varied, interesting place and so many options. I found it to be less crowded as compared to other top tourist sites with excellent transportation connections and opportunities for so many day trips. Really turned into one of my favorite places to base for a few days we had an excellent time there.

It's definitely a very nice place, and a base to access Valais or Gruyere plateau, which I enjoy a lot.
Just take care of the costs: in Switzerland, you will pay roughly twice the prices you have in France (restaurants, accomodation, shops...). I lived in Annecy for a while and I used to visit Geneva, Montreux and all Switzerland for weekends or holidays, but it's quite a budget!

I TRULY appreciate the incredible info. Getting close.
While Briancon would be fabulous, a bit far from Geneva.

We could stay 3 nts on Lake Geneva..Montreux, or Yvoire looks enticing or best small town!?!
Need an Alpine area -think Murren, Switzerland, husbands favorite spot..
What about Granier or something similar!?!

Might try to Change flight that leaves from Paris to Home for Geneva departure.

MANY THANKS!

Compared to Montreux, Yvoire is nothing: just a marina and tons of restaurants where some people from Geneva goe for lunch or dinner.
As to Granier (Aime la Plagne), I cannot see what you would do there: neither in the mountains, nor in the plane, far away from anything of interest and more difficult to reach than Briancon.
Montreux is very close to tons of alpine places like Les Diablerets, Gstaad, Villars, Verbier, Lac Champex, Chamonix, Argentiere, Le Tour, Anzere, Crans-Montana, Evolene, Arolla, St-Luc, Grimentz, Leukerbad, Kippel, Graechen, Saas Grund, Saas Fee..........,

But it's up to you: everything is feasible