Traveling to France? Here's My Travel Checklist
Are you traveling to France soon? Depending on the length of time you plan to be away can make a big difference to how you approach your trip. Here's my checklist on preparing to go away that I hope will help you for your next trip to France, or indeed anytime you travel away from home.
I've taken groups of ladies to France for holidays and have helped friends plan trips to France and other countries and found that their questions were often similar. After offering recommendations based on what I do, it led me to think that a checklist would be helpful recourse for you.
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I work with checklists and diary entries every day because I find it's the only way I keep track of what I'm doing. My lists and entries also help on the days I feel a bit lazy, as scanning that long to-do list can jolt me into action!
My travel checklist is only a guide to help you think of things you might like to do in readiness for your trip. Sometimes reading what others do, can help you with your own ideas on what you'd like to do.
While not exhaustive, this is a guide that has helped my previous travel companions and friends:
- Passport
- Cash in euros (small denominations) in separate purse other than your normal everyday one. This is particularly helpful if you will be dining out as a group and you wish to cover just your own expenses for the occasion. Small denominations are best in this situation.
- Photocopies and photos on your phone of all insurance policies, emergency contact numbers and persons and health / allergy details listed
- Bag sorted with handle and wheels in good condition
- Draft clothes packing list
- Main walking shoes are purchased and are being worn in
- Exercising when possible to prepare for Metro flights of stairs and Montmartre hill (Paris) and to enjoy outdoor exploring
- Find out from doctor whether compression stockings are required for flight or anything else you need to be aware
- Have secure crossover handbag with pockets
- Have hairdressers appointment organised just before you leave and another as soon as you return home (that way you'll always look gorgeous)
- Have purchased and downloaded Kindle or similar books on your phone for reading on plane or at night in your hotel rooms (much lighter than traditional books)
- Purchased and downloaded Netflix (or similar) shows or movies to watch when you don't have Wifi
- Read related blog posts, guide books or documentaries so you can make the most of where you visit
- Have a lightweight notebook and pen for journaling. There will be special moments you will not want to forget, or maybe you are a creative who wants to capture your trip by illustration
- Have batteries for your camera. Pack the battery charger, SD cards and have the case sorted
- Have laptop, chargers, European wall socket (2 pin) adapter (or appropriate for your journey)
- Have your phone fully updated with the latest of all your apps while you have WiFi at home. Got chargers and have organised a travel data pack with your telecommunications provider for social media, family texting and emergencies
- Have any products you need to take organised in travel sizes. You can purchase more or refill your small containers to save weight, and the hotels will have supplies. I prefer to go without the luxury of my usual brands and instead use hotel supplies so my bag is lighter and more easily carried down stairs, up hotel hallways etc.
- Have a lightweight day carry bag to take your camera, water bottle, cardigan, little journal etc. This is a more elegant and helpful way of carrying extras
- Organised or rescheduled mail, bills, volunteer roster duties or anything else that you now won’t be doing whilst you’re away
- Notified or plan to notify your banks that your cards will be used overseas at airports, in France and anywhere else you may be travelling
- And whatever you think important and/or that I might have missed
Everyone's idea of travel readiness will be unique depending on circumstances, and this will change as life revolves and changes around us. The list could be endless with automated water sprinkling systems installed, animal kennel bookings made etc, but I've stuck to my more generic suggestions. I hope you enjoy travelling to France and my checklist is a helpful resource.
For more resources on travel and packing you might like these posts also:
Paris Packing Guide - Essential Tips for the Perfect Wardrobe
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