17 Critical Packing MISTAKES To Avoid for Your Paris Trip

Funny, this is the school of hard knocks. I've learned all of these. One comment on packing cubes – I use plastic compression bags instead. If I'm traveling for more than a week, I only bring enough undies for a week, then schedule a wash day in between. But, even a weeks worth take up space. Let's face it, I wash the dirty stuff after I return, not the night before I leave. So a compression bag allows more room in my suitcase in both directions.

i'd like to add ziploc bags. a few in different sizes. sometimes you want to pick up a few croissants or escargot and they tend to seep through the bags. that would stain your tote. the ziploc bag would save you. plus, if you get something wet and take it off, you can stick it in a bag until you get back to your hotel to deal with it. i carry sandwich, quart, gallon and 2-gallon bags with me. the 2-gallon bags are great for laundry. i actually pack in the 2-gallon and use them as compression cubes. bring a marker or do it at home and label clean and dirty. also, if you plan on doing laundry, throw a few softener sheets in your luggage. i didn't see those last time i was in london or milan. they also keep the dirty stuff from stinking up everything else too much. instead of a packable tote, i have a packable backpack. folds up to about the size of a grapefruit and is a pretty good size. i keep it with me until i start buying things. the plus is that it allows me to be hands-free. mine is from osprey, in case anyone was interested.

❤ travel items

Well, Paris is not longer Paris…..France..The same…? the same insanity in the main cities…..Illegal immigration open bar….This is the new rule….You have to know this …before coming in this socialist country……If you stay in " tourists places " except the tour Eiffe abd the Louvre museum….you are relatively safe….If you want to go to some places like metro " chateau rouge " or the north of Paris…..well you will know africa and algeria – middle east countries without a travel to these countries….for free….Exciting but not very safe….Only the problem you are not allowed to get your personal gun with you….

France uses both type c and type f plugs. The difference is that the type f plugs have the third ground connection. A c plug will work in an f outlet but it's a little looser because the pins are slightly thicker on the f plug.

Unfortunately many airlines are now prohibiting power banks both checked in and hand carried so mine has to stay home.

Ryanair is EXTREMELY strict on luggage size. They will charge you £75 at the gate if your baggage is too big. And you can argue but you won't win!😮

Be carenfull they buy some likes and some views . That is bad

I'm a computer consultant, so a laptop is essential for me as I'm sadly never truly “off” and have to work remotely. I also take an iPad for checking email, watching YouTube videos, looking up things, etc., because it isn’t always convenient to take out and fire up the laptop.

I don’t bring any camera equipment, though… just an iPhone. Besides the fact that I don’t OWN a modern digital camera (have several film cameras but haven’t used them in years).

My wife is German and has family there, so when we go, it is typically for 3-4 weeks, which means having a larger suitcase as well as a carry-on. I bought a European carry-on in Paris 6 years ago and tend to use that as my “carry-on” even for short trips in the US. Many international carriers won’t even let you take a US carry-on in the cabin anymore.

The advice about a USB-C thumb drive is iffy; it may or may not work. For one thing, older iPhones use a Lightning connector, not USB-C, so a USB-C thumb drive won’t even plug in. Then, even with newer iPhones, not EVERY USB-C thumb drive will work; you have to check with the manufacturer to make sure that it supports transferring data from an iPhone to the drive.

Note also that thumb drives are easily lost. Not as likely to be stolen as a phone, but you're probably more likely to lose a thumb drive than to lose your phone.

I've had a large battery (a Mophie) for years, and it is great when you’re going to be out and about for a long time. But I’ve also got extended (stick on the back magnetically) batteries for my iPhone (and my wife’s) so we can usually go an entire day with those.

My clothing is pretty simple… bunch of jeans, bunch of Polo shirts, few T-shirts for lounging around, socks, and underwear. Easy mix and match. Shoes are more problematic because I almost always take two pairs of “sneakers” with me, and shoes are always odd-shaped and take up a bunch of room (even though you can stuff them with socks and the like).

I never bother with plug adapters. Instead, I bought a few EU plug USB chargers… cheap from Amazon. Get the duals and you can charge two things from one plug. And I've got an EU power cord for my laptop, so it just plugs in directly (most – but not all – laptop power supplies can handle anything from 110-240 volts and 50 or 60 Hz).

Last time in Europe, we were in Berlin, had packed an umbrella, but left it in the hotel. And on our travels around town, it started raining. We ended up ducking into a mall and bought another. Bad thing is my wife wanted a full-sized one we saw there so it won’t fit into any luggage. Good news is umbrellas are universal – no adapters required – so we just use it at home.

Do not drag/roll your luggage noisily, you bother the locals (call a taxi or carry it). Do not take the metro or the bus with your luggage, you take too much space, you are in the way (call a taxi). Dress appropriately. Do not be loud. Not bothering other people has no price.

I understand the rationale, and the wisdom, about packing light. BUT… I want to be chic in Paris! It’s an opportunity to really style it up, unlike other muchLessChic parts of the world!