18.1.11

Bonjour Paris!


 
I used to travel a fair bit with my husband before we had our 2 beautiful children and still remember the first few times I went through in deciding what to bring to our trips.  I decided to pack less so that I won't leave anything behind and since my husband was an unpredictable traveller, we were always either here or there, hence the pack-less theory.  Here are some pointers for you to remember in planning for your fabulous trip to France or Paris.


1) Especially with all of the new restrictions about liquids over 3 oz. in your carry on it is probably not worth it to bring your entire bathroom of cosmetics and toiletries items with you. Paris is littered with pharmacies, where you can easily and quickly pick up a few essential items like shampoo and lotion. This will not only save you some valuable space in your suitcase, but you may just get to try out a new French shampoo that doesn’t smell or look like anything you have at home. 

You can pick up this stuff at any pharmacy around the city (or in any of the many Monoprixs).  Look for a green flourescent cross, as these signs mark pharmacies.  Here is some vocabulary for essential French toiletry items: 

Vernis a l’ongle: Nail Polish 
Shampooing (sham-poo-ie): Shampoo 
Apres Shampooing (ah-pray sham-poo-ie): Conditioner 
Dentifrice: toothpaste 
Brosse a dents (bra-sa-don): Toothbrush 
Crème de soleil (cre-ehm duh sol-eh): Sunscreen 
Preservatifs (pray-sair-va-teefs): condoms 
Pansements (pan-say-mahn): bandages 
Savon (sahve-ohn): Soap

2) Do not pack your camera, your expensive jewelry or the keys to your apartment or house in your checked luggage.

3) Don’t forget to call your phone carrier to let it know that you are traveling to Europe; pre-purchased packages on some carriers are much cheaper than data/text and phone charges in country  Also call your credit card companies so they don’t shut down your account for “security” reasons.


4) Your carry-on bag needs to roll and include space for your computer, or use a good backpack. When you get off the plane and retrieve your checked bag, be sure you can handle it and the carry-on without too much trouble should you have to navigate stairs and trains.  Longchamp has a fabulous range of choices for you and is one of my favourites.


5) Please bring along your raincoat and a small umbrella that folds up as it rains a lot in Paris.

6) Comfortable shoes, but not big Nike tennis shoes, are crucial.  Chic by Sha ballet flats are comfortable and gorgeous to walk down the arrondissements in style.  Boots are a good addition in fall and winter. This is a walking town.


7) Several pairs of pants; one dress or skirt; a good selection of T-shirts, sweaters and blouses; a great blazer and several wonderful scarves make for a week of relaxed touring.  Fun accessories are important to round out your look.  Add a nightgown, and sexy undergarments, and you should be all set.  Underpack, and throw in a folding suitcase in case you wind up buying a lot of souvenirs and clothing that you’ll be lugging back.  Once again, Longchamp is the way to go.

8) An absolute must is your phone charger and an electrical plug adapter or two.  A three-way adapter can be handy when you have a lot of things to charge.

9) Don’t even consider packing your hair dryer. Without a big bulky transformer, it will be fried, and most hotels and even some apartment rentals have one you can use.

10) Bring a map of Paris, not the flimsy thing you can get at Galeries Lafayette, but a proper map, like the one here. This one will save you countless hours otherwise spent searching for a street that’s not on the less extensive maps.


11) Print out your Girls’ Guide walking tours and all other documents related to your flight, car rental and hotel reservations, and put them in one handy file in your purse or carry-on.

12) Remember to arrange your pickup from the airport, or just grab a cab or the Air France bus at CDG or Orly. More info here.

13) Don’t forget to stop at an ATM. Having a few Euros on you won’t hurt, and having some money from the ATM at the airport or train upon arrival would be handy. Travelers checks are passé and not accepted anymore. Leave them at home.

Most important, bring your sense of humor and a go-with-the-flow attitude. Things will go wrong, but you will be in Paris, and it is magical even on the rainiest, strike-ridden, lost-baggage kind of day. Have fun, explore and an open mind.  Bon voyage!

Images: Longchamp / Paris

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