Don't forget your umbrella and other Paris, France Packing List Tips

Luggage And Bags: Everyone looks at packing differently. We check our bags through but still pack in a carryon. Most of the things you take, you never wear. Why carry them all over the world?

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Always bring at least one pair of very comfortable shoes. If tennis shoes are the only thing comfortable for you, bring them. If you look like a tourist, it's okay; you are a tourist.

Bring many light layers so you can pile them on in chilly wet weather and take them off when the temperature climbs.

Don't buy all new clothes if you don't want to look like a tourist. New stiff clothes scream "Tourist." Bring things you've worn and that are comfortable. Enjoy yourself. This is the trip of a lifetime . . . every single time it is still the trip of a lifetime.

Always bring rain gear. If you never have to use it, that's great. Be sure you have shoes you can wear on slippery cobblestones and/or wet slippery autumn leaves.

Toiletries & Medical Supplies: Don't worry about it. Anything you can get in Peoria, you can get in Paris. There are plenty of stores with every toiletry imaginable and many much better than you can get at home.

If you have prescription medicines, be sure you have the prescription written for generic drugs as the name may be different in Europe. Best to take a supply in your carryon bag.

Photo Equipment: If you are coming from the US, be sure your camera battery charger is dual voltage. Look on the back for 110-240 V and you are safe in Paris. You will need a plug adapter because in Paris the wall plug accepts two round prongs. These adapters are available at luggage stores, Target, Walgreen, Radio Shack and department stores. So are the dual voltage battery chargers. Try to find the general 3-prong adapter as these are becoming more common.


Miscellaneous: Just a reminder . . . don't forget that umbrella. Paris is beautiful in the rain, the lovely gray that you see in the 1930 and 1940 black and white Paris photos, but rain is wet. 8^)

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Toiletries & Medical Supplies: This may sound silly, but you can't buy dental floss in Paris . . . or anyplace in France that we have found. So if you floss your teeth (as you should), be sure to take an adequate supply of dental floss with you. One pack goes a long way and it is very small. It is not fun to run out if you are used to using it. We've checked groceries, discount stores, pharmacies, medical supply stores, literally any place we could think of where you can get it in the US and it simply was not available. We even knew the name in French because it's printed on our dental floss. It just doesn't seem to exist there.




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