Written by: TravelingProfessor
Saturday, May 28, 2011 

The key to successful packing for a trip to Paris is to pack light.

You will be doing a lot of walking, there are lots of stairs, streets can be hilly and paved in cobblestone.   You don’t want to be dragging heavy luggage through the streets, up and down stairs in metro stations, or trying to cram it in small taxis.    So, let me say it again – pack light!   Even if I take a two-week trip to Paris, I only take a “carry-on” bag.  I never check luggage – I have seen too many vacations ruined because luggage never arrived to its destination.     If laundry becomes an issue, I either do hand laundry in my hotel room, go to a Laundromat, or better yet, drop it off at a laundry service in the morning and pick it up later that day.

You can expect rain in Paris.  In fact, it rains about 175 days per year.   I purchase small, inexpensive umbrellas to bring along.   In New York and in the rest of the U.S.A, they have stores like “Dollar Tree” where I pick up 2 umbrellas for a dollar each and pack them in my suitcase.  That way, if I lose an umbrella (which I often do) or if I need souvenir space in my bag for the trip home, it’s not a big deal if I give my umbrella a permanent vacation in Paris.

When traveling in the winter months, I take a moderate weight coat, gloves, nice scarf, and maybe a hat.  Remember, you will be doing a lot of walking, so your body heat keeps you quite warm.
In the spring and fall, a light jacket and scarf is good.  The summer season has the most schizophrenic weather.    Sometimes it can be in the 90’s and sometimes it can be in the low 50’s.   Check www.weatherchannel.com before you go and bring the appropriate clothes.

In addition to your passport, take with you your health insurance cards, 2 credit cards, 2 ATM cards, a driver’s license, senior citizen or student id cards for discounts, and any pertinent paperwork for your trip.

Here is what went in my carry-on my last trip to Paris in February:

•    One pair of jeans (women should pack one or two wrinkle resistant skirts).
•    3 dark mock turtle neck shirts
•    1 oxford shirt
•    2 t-shirts
•    3 pairs of thick, comfortable socks
•    7 pairs of underwear
•    1 umbrella
•    1 pair of slip-on shoes (for Valentine’s dinner in an upscale restaurant)
•    6 band-aids
•    1 pair binoculars
•    1 guide book
•    Passport
•    2 credit cards
•    2 ATM cards
•    3 color copies of my passport with my home/hotel address and emergency contact info written on back.
•    Medications
•    Camera & charger
•    Cell phone & charger  (can also serve as clock/alarm)
•    Electric plug adapter
•    Two pens
•    Small notebook
•    6 plastic supermarket shopping bags
•    Extra pair of eyeglasses
•    Earplugs
•    Toiletries:  razors, dental floss, toothbrush & toothpaste, hairspray, comb, moisturizer.  All liquids must be in small, travel-approved containers.
•    Small bottle of hand sanitizer.
•    Maps of Paris metro
•    Printed documentation of my hotel and airline reservation
•    Written directions to my hotel
•    Netbook computer

If I were traveling in the springtime I would add a raincoat and travel with a lighter jacket.    If I were traveling in the summer, I would bring 2 long sleeve and 2 short sleeve shirts. 

Remember, you are probably going to wear your jacket, scarf, and hat on the plane.    Of course you are wearing comfortable shoes as you travel.  Try to avoid packing shoes as they take up a lot of space.
Dining without a jacket is fine in Paris.  However, for special occasion restaurants, I would recommend one.   Don’t bother bringing expensive jewelry or valuables.

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