Paris What to Pack

Luggage and bags: I've noticed that Parisians have a minimum of baggage when they travel. They don't hesistate to repeat the use of their clothing!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Bring outfits that you can mix and match. Depending on the weather, women can make use of scarves adn accessories to change the mood or the style of their outfits.
Elegance is important! We can tell who the tourists are. Keep your colors discrete, this would also make it easier for you to mix and match clothing.
Bring comfortable walking shoes! A good old pair of sneakers can be a tell-tale sign of a tourist. But one can find many good, comfortable and stylish walking shoes nowadays... Puma, Adidas, Camper, etc.

Ladies, save your heels for short distances and sit-down dinners! :)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: In Paris, you would easily find all the toiletries that you're used to.

Just remember that the dispensing of medicines in French pharmacies is very strict. If you don't have a prescription from a local doctor, you will have to see one first before purchasing any medicines there, other than usual over-the-counter drugs. It would be better that you bring along all the medicines that you need.

Refer to this link for information on pharmacies in Paris that are open 24h a day, and everyday: http://www.aquelleheure.com/pharmacies.htm. Most pharmacies have limited hours, closing at 7pm and are not open on Sundays.

Miscellaneous: There is La Maison de Bretagne at 203 Boulevard St. Germain. This is a good place to check out tourist info if you are heading to Brittany from Paris as they seem to cover all aspects of a holiday in Brittany.

Luggage and bags: A Backpack for a women is essencial. I don't use it at home, but during my travel my bagback was really helpful to carry from makeup to advil, wipe towels,maps, etc. Just make sure it's not easy to open for pickpockets, mine can't be open until you take it out of your sholders.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Walking shoes, not white sneakers.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: I took my Advil travel size with me everywhere, I really use it! I had headache probably from the dehydratation (the sun was hot!) plus all my body was in pain adter all the walking.

Photo Equipment: All you can! If digital don't forget the charger and an extra battery in case the charger don't work as mine =(
Memmory as much as you can. If you have a 35mm camera lots of film, color film and a couple of Black and white film are also helpful.

Miscellaneous: Umbrella. I also found this little travel bags with detergent at Wallmart and I took a few with me, it was the best thing I put on my luggage, well, that and the wipes or wet towels . I found them so helpful! To clean hands, my son's face, but most for the shoes. After walking at Jardin des Tuileries and many other places my shoes where all white. Many places have this walking areas with white sand and the shoes end up all cover in white.(You don't want to look like that in the pictures!)
It's going to sound logic, but really; Don't forget the toothbrush, it always happend to me! But this time I forgot my hair comb too and suffer the consecuences, I end up buying one, mini size of really bad quality for 8 euros!
Also a Map, I receive many at the hotel, tourist information, but the best was the one I buy before travel it was a pocket size pop up map. You don't look so bad trying to read a huge piece of paper, beacuse it;s smaall, easy to carry in your jeans, etc and it was easier to read.

Luggage and bags: If you're not likely to travel with just a carry-on, then bring a suitcase with wheels...you'll need it--much easier to drag the bag with wheels than try to carry it. Also, packed in the bottom of your suitcase, stuff a collapsible duffel bag. You can check it on the way home (after stuffing it with some dirty laundry and such). Frees up more room for souvenirs.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Try to blend in as much as possible. Opt for black as being your main wardrobe color. You can accessorize with accents of red, for example. Parisians do wear denim so feel free to bring your favorite pair along.

Bring the following, based on the length of your stay and whether or not you're doing laundry:
5 shirts, mix varies by season--include white T-shirt (for layering)
one pair of underwear and socks for each day (it may also be wise to bring at least one extra pair of each just in case your plane is delayed or anything like that)
2-3 sweaters for layering
3 pairs of pants...1 in black, 1 pair jeans, 1 in your own favorite fabric/color
dressy outfit for a nice dinner or outing to Moulin Rouge
shoes: bring 3--one dressy, two comfy for walking. Wear heaviest on plane.
black leather jacket
Pajamas
belt
tie or scarf
umbrella...as soon as the first rain drop falls from the sky, the umbrella vendors are out in full force.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Forget bringing sample sizes...if you have a lengthy stay, then you'll have to bring many samples or buy the products there.

Here goes:
Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorant
Makeup
Hair accessories/brush/spray/gel
Toothpaste/brush
Feminine hygeine products
Razor, unless you want to go "natural"
First Aid Kit: Bandaids, antiseptic, Ibuprofen/Tylenol, Moleskin for blisters, Immodium AD, cold/allergy medication, tweezers.
Spare glasses, contacts
Any medication you need, put it in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.
A loofah and soap: Many hotels don't have washcloths available.

Put your shampoo/conditioner/cleanser/anything spillable in zip-loc bags to prevent leakage.

Photo Equipment: Tons of film! You never run out of subjects to capture in Paris.
I bring a point-and-shoot camera and a small digital camera.
Bring a mix of color and black and white film. Always have the security guards in the airports and elsewhere hand inspect the film. Don't put the film in your checked luggage...the x-rays are 5 times as powerful for checked luggage.

Miscellaneous: Bring a journal, record your trip, jot down addresses, names of people you've met, that great wine you had at dinner, etc.
Zip-lock baggies: Great for food for picnics, containing wetness, bagging potential leaks before they happen. I put my toiletries that have the potential to leak in a zip-lock bag to prevent a big mess.
Address list for sending postcards.
Small flashlight, esp if you are going to the Catacombs.
Tiny locks...get the Travel Sentry locks (they have them at Target, for example). These locks allow the TSA to open your locks with a "special" key. It's also a good idea to lock your luggage in the hotel.
Bring Shout wipes to eliminate stains.

Miscellaneous: PACK IT! Umbrella, waterproof boots, etc. I was here over the winter and experienced rain, sleet, sun and snow. Be prepared for all types of weather. If you buy an umbrella from the dude outside the Louvre, he'll charge you 10 USD!!!

Miscellaneous: If you plan to rent a car to visit the area sourrounding Paris, do not forget to bring a very good route map. Signals in this area are not so good (I compare them to the ones you find in Italy) and it is easily to get lost. Then, you are never given information about how far is the destination you are about to reach.

Luggage and bags: Well, it all depends on how you are planning to move around in the city...If you want to be comfortable and practical you must definetely carry a backpack, if you are smart enough you´ll be able to pack all your stuff in there!!! Now, if you want your clothes not to get wrinkled you'd better carry a piece of luggage, but face the consequences: at many times, (i.e. when climbing stairways) you'll want to get rid of it, but remember that your belongings are there!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: In springtime, carry warm clothes and a few sweaters to wear at night..There are great sales, so you´ll have the chance to buy markdown clothes.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Band Aids, aspirins, the usual stuff.

Photo Equipment: A good digital cammera.

Miscellaneous: A Dictionary of French

Luggage and bags: Here you pay when you check out in a food store for a sack.
Bring the free ones you have collected at home, or better yet, bring a shopping bag.
You will need it here just to carry your purchases.
Bring different sizes of ziplock bags which can be used to preserve your foods.
If you are coming during the hot season, bring an insulated sack to keep your frozen things frozen.
A serrated edged knive is very useful too, so bring that. You can buy a baguette for around 1 euro, and cut it
in two for the beginnings of a great sandwich. Take a look around Paul's or other shops for your luncheon
inspiration. Napkins are also a good idea if you are going to eat your picnic properly. Many of these items
can also be purchased at the market.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: The weather in Paris changes rapidly! Bring a small weightless umbrella that provides coverage from the sun as well
as the rain, and a lite weight jacket in the summer.
July was hot this year, but August is very cool, just like late fall!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Do not rely on buying anything here that you really use and need.
Often, the store hours are short and the vacation periods long!
To adjust to their hours is stressful if you are used to a 24/7 city.
Vitamens, contact lense solution are very costly here.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: If you are going to stay here for some months or more, do bring your own measuring cups and
coookbooks. You can always translate the English/US system into the metric, but in the beginning, it is just too stressful with so much adaptation taking place.

Miscellaneous: Bring essential ingredients for your favorite ethnic foods.
For example:
Jalapeno peppers in a can are not sold here.
They are essential to making guacamole, which I love to prepare for guests.

There are no sweet pickles or sweet pickle relish is France. There are also no dill pickles here. (La russe doux is not sweet pickles, but it is the only sweet pickle in France!

Lastly, bring your own organic regular oatmeal. They only have quick cooking oats in 500 gram packages!
Since the days of being a professional model and a lover of good nutrition, I eat the stuff everyday-not croissants.
I do not intend to change this habit to one of a quick expresso and pastry. I love myself too much for that!
The best price for the oatmeal (.85 cents) is at FranPrix, and the worst price (2.75 euros) is at Monoprix and
everywhere else that I have shopped. They have no regular cooking oats in France, just the quick cooking ones.
Why?Because they don't eat a hearty breakfast here.