Packing and Preparing for Your France Trip

Packing and Preparing for Your France Trip

 

You’re going to France! It’ll be great when you get there, but before? Preparing for an international trip can be daunting. Some careful planning ahead of time will save you headaches.

Here are some tips for your France trip, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first time.

  

Before You Go

Here are some necessary things to check off before you go.

• Make sure your passport is valid for 3 months after your return.

 

• ETIAS is a new law in Europe. It is not a visa. It should be rolled out by fall, 2026, but check online. If the program has begun, you’ll need to register online before you leave. Registration takes a few minutes, costs 20 euros, and is good for 3 years. Check this link.  travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias.  

 

• Inform your bank you are traveling internationally, if needed. This doesn’t always present a problem, but sometimes does, depending on the bank.

 

• Contact your phone roaming company if needed. If you don’t want to pay for roaming, consider buying a SIM card once you’re in country, or online in advance. You can get unlimited texting, calling, and a generous amount of data for a reasonable cost. Sometimes you can get an eSIM or secondary SIM card, depending on your phone, and have both your home SIM and the European eSim or physical one at the same time. I don’t’ like paying high daily roaming costs and I have friends in Europe to reach, so I always get a French SIM card. Now I have a phone with an eSIM, so that’s even handier. Some French companies: Bouygues, Orange, and SFR. Many other companies exist as well, offering coverage all over Europe.

 

• Optional: Arrange your airport transfer ahead of time. Of course, when you arrive you can get a taxi, Uber, or Bolt. (Lyft isn’t currently available in France at the time of this post.) You can also hop on the RER B. I do not recommend the Roissybus, which can take much longer.

 

• If you’re going to Paris, pick up a copy of Magical Paris: Over 100 Things to Do Across Paris, my unique guide book that covers all 20 districts of Paris. You’ll be glad you did, because once you use this, you’re no longer a tourist. You’re almost a local.

Packing Tips

• Pack an adapter or more than one. (I take two, since I often have a computer or DSLR camera in addition to my phone.) A USB plug with a European (two prong) adaptor is handy for charging your phone or other electronics. If you forget adaptors and you are in Paris, head to the BHV store (metro line 1 or 4, Hôtel de Ville) and head to the basement level. You can get a plug adaptor there.

 

• Don’t plan on taking anything that requires transformers. Nowadays, most things you’d take (phone, computer, camera) change current on their own and require only a plug adapter.

 

• Pack your suitcase at least a few days ahead of time. That will allow you to consider and reconsider what you’ve brought and if it’s too much. That will also give you time to remember things you might have forgotten. Lay everything out first, give it all a hard stare, and remove things you don’t think you’ll use at least twice.

 

• The main things to not forget are 1) your glasses or contacts, 2) any prescription medications, and 3) your personal phone. Anything else, you can buy in France and in most western European countries.

 

Consider a helpful tool such as Planning and Making Memories: A Travel Journal. It’s small and easy to carry and full of helpful things like: lists for packing, areas where you can write important travel information (like the address, door code, and apartment number to the lodging you rented in Toulouse.) In addition, it contains an area to record your memories, notes, and observations. A planner and journal in one.

(Consider getting one from the Oliver’s France store instead of Amazon. Due to the book’s small size and low price, I’d get no royalties at all!)

 

• Packing cubes seem like a great idea to me. I admit, I haven’t used them yet, but plan to buy some before my next trip. They can be compressed once you’re ready to zip or lock your suitcase, but you only press them down to remove air. You can use them with your carry on or your checked bag.

 

• Limit shoes to 2 pairs (3, if you’re a shoe diva, but choose ones that don’t take much space.) In summer, plan on a pair of sandals and sneakers or walking shoes. Make sure everything is comfortable.

 

• Pack versatile, neutral layers to maximize outfits. Four bottoms and six tops will give you over 20 combinations. Add a few cardigans, scarves, and maybe a tank top and it’s a whole wardrobe. Instead of a coats pack lightweight layers like merino wool, lightweight cardigans, and multi-use thin pullovers. I just got a raincoat that folds itself into a pocket.

 

• Leave space for souvenirs (something I often forget!) A better idea is to pack a foldable knapsack or zippered tote bag. You can put dirty laundry or older clothing in that, check it, and keep your valuable souvenirs on board with you.

 

• Anything you value, keep in your carry on. Trust me on that. After my last trip, the airline lost my checked baggage for 9 days. I thought I’d never see it again.

• Use solid toiletries to save space and weight or buy them when you arrive. The quantities are always smaller in European stores. (I love French toiletries, so I’ve been doing that for years!)

 

• Be sure to bring something like a “day bag” for your daily excursions. You can use a backpack or cross-body tote and put everything there, camera,

 

On the Plane (Be Sure to Have These)

• Digital copies of passport, insurance, visa if you have one.

 

• Eyeglasses or contacts, prescriptions. Contact case.

 

• Your phone

 

• Your arrival and hotel details for at least your first stop (or your Planner booklet, mentioned above, which will have everything). And no, don’t count on your phone to have that information. You could have a network issues. Then where would you be?

 

• A spare set of underwear (if you’re checking a bag, in case it’s delayed.)

Plane comfort and practicality

These are optional depending on your preferences.

• Short charging cord (battery pack if needed) Or you can skip the electronics and chat with your neighbor or watch a movie (or sleep.)

• Noise canceling earbuds

• Plane pillow

• Eye mask, lip balm, eyedrops (a must for the morning you arrive)

• A microfiber neck pillow

• Documents: Passport, visa, travel insurance, and printed backups.

• Electronics: Universal power adapter, noise-canceling headphones, and a power bank.

After you arrive

• Plan to use your credit card for most purchases. You’ll still need a bit of cash, but you can withdraw that directly from an ATM. You’re better off getting cash there from your debit card instead of a cash advance from a credit card. You’ll need a pin number, which you’ll have already for your debit card. There aren’t any large advantages from getting euros at your bank before you go. One way or the other, you will pay a fee to someone.

 

• Don’t sleep during the day when you arrive, except for a maximum 2-hour nap. That way you’ll get a good night’s sleep and recalibrate your body for the next day.

Have a Great Trip!