What travel accessories do I NEED before Paris trip?

well, yes, you would need an adapter if you intend to take any appliances that need one (which is a two-pronged plug). Otherwise, you wouldn't even need that. You don't need a converter if you have dual-voltage appliances, which I would highly recommend if you are planning on taking a bunch of electronic equipment.

Other than that, there isn't anything in particular I think you need for Paris specifically versus any other place. I think we've had a few threads recently on some medication issues, and it is generally advised if there is some particular brand or product you really like and might use, it would be best to take it with you (like Pepto Bismo).

How about a money belt kind of thing? How do you guys carry your money when over there?

Are most hair dryers duel voltage these days? Or is this a special kind of hair dryer I need to get?

A money belt is essential. Usually I wear the belt-type one, under my clothes. Also, if you plan to be travelling often to the continent, it may be cheaper (and less bothersome) just to buy a hair dryer or curling iron over there.

Just depends your personal preferences and style. I don't need adapters or converters because I take nothing that uses electricity. I carry my documents, money, passport in a small leather purse/pouch, that goes into my normal pocketbook.

If you want to check out some travel specific accessories TravelSmith, Magellens, and even Lillian Vernon mail order have a good selection. Or visit a luggage store where you'll also usually find items like packing cubes, money belts and pouches, neck pillows, etc.

My favorite recent addition is a set of 3 clear plastic cosmetic bags. Great for organizing your carry-on tote.

Hi suze. Thanks again for pushing me to the Europe board. It is great here. I have learned so much. What a great group of folks, and so helpful.

Where did you buy your clear plastic bags if you don't mind sharing? I love clear plastic bags. Thanks.

Try some emailing and find a local contact! Paris...Come with nothing, anything you need or want is available.

Like Suze I pack as light as possible that means only necessities like favorite shampoo and a large bar of fav soap because the bars there are small.
I use zip lock bags for lipsticks toothbrush, paste, and anything else that is small. A travelers wallet that holds my passport, documents cards and euros go into my shoulder bag that I wear bandoliere style in front. Don't take more than you can carry. The metro passages can be very long with many steps and just putting the carry-on overhead can be difficult.

Just from a drug store (Bartells or Walgreen). I use them more as wallets or organizers, rather than cosmetics.

Another thing that works great for me is a plastic pencil case like meant to put in 3-ring binders. They are clear on the front colored plastic on the back. Perfect size for small flat paperwork. Look for them in school supplies.

Hi H,

A compass.

I still don't see why a money belt is essential. If you are taking money out at the ATM and using credit cards, then you have no reason to have so much cash on you at any one time that you would need to stuff it down your pants.

Check for comfortable shoes threads, as they are helpful and the footwear is essential.

Have so much fun!

Plastic wrap anything that leaks
Handy medicine chest - I have a travel soap dish that I use - put all meds in there and leave it in there - that way it is always read to go

Wow you guys are great. I have been wondering about this too. We leave on April 22 for Dublin, spend fivish days there, then on to Paris, 7 or 8 days there with a side trip to Normandy. I am thinking it isn't likely that we will have time for laundry. Staying in a small hotel in Paris, and b and b in Bayeux. How would you all pack this? Plan to wear jeans two days? Problem with this is they are stretch jeans and lose their shape by the end of the day. Take enough for a shirt a day with one or two dressy? Anyway, very mundane, but it has been on my mind who to do.

I only pack clothes that can be worn several times without needing laundry. If those jeans are 1-day wonders, I wouldn't take them on a trip myself.

For tops I think silk or cotton knits and layering. Shake out outer layers and hand & air them after wearing. Also I'm not afraid to pay for laundry or dry cleaning a couple essential items thru a hotel service even though it's kind of expensive.

I only pack pieces that mix & match, that I really really like, and that I feel good putting on in the morning. Try on everything right before you pack to make sure it's a keeper.

hang & air 'em

I suspect most long time travelers have gotten over our American idea that anything that touches our skin must be fresh and clean each day.
A shower and deodorant and good airing of tee tops and pants works wonders and does not bother me at all. I plan to wear most items 3 times.
You'd be amazed at how liberating this is at packing time.
I am going with a 22" & a tote to carry-on.
We are lucky this time as will have w & d in our 2 week rental so I will take even less. I take all knits and roll in suitcase and almost 100% black. A couple of toppers/jackets/ big shirts in a color. (Beige/olive)(LOL)
My "dress" outfit is one of the all black outfit(s) and special scarf/stole.
2 pair of shoes..likely will wear a pair of Crocs and take a pair of leather oxfords (Ecco).
A few pr of underwear (nylon) and sox.(6 max)
Will likely wash out undies every nite so I plan on that..takes 3 minutes.
Carry a tube of Woolite for all basin wash/rinsing.

Ira, thank you for saying compass. I thought I was the only one who did this when traveling in cities. I had always used a compass in the forest, after many trips to cities where it is easy to get turned around, I thought, why not? I find it so easy when you walk out of the Metro or Tube station, or whenever you get turned around, to lay the compass down on your pocket map, turn in the right direction, and head toward where you are going. This method allows you to carry a smaller less obvious map with less detail, too.

I use a very small, inexpensive compass that is actually on the back of a whistle with a keychain. I keep it in my pocket or attach it to the strap of my purse.

I also bring a compass (actually a far better one than I really need for getting around a city, it's plenty good enough for finding my way through the wilderness, which it has done many a time when I was an active boy scout). As for clothes, it's really your decision as to how many times you can comfortably wear an item of clothing before it needs to be washed (that boy scouting made me rather tolerant; I'm planning on 2 pairs of pants for a month, you'll probably need somewhat more than that).

i wear things over and over when i travel. suze has it right...airing something overnight does wonders. a quick rinse of a shirt or underwear is all you need when it doesn't feel so fresh anymore. i see no reason to take laundry detergent for a trip of less than a few weeks.

less is more when it comes to accessories. forget all the travel cubes, neck pillows, etc.

the one thing that is indepensible for me is one of those fold out toilet bags...the kind that folds up small but can be hung on a hook or door knob...all your stuff is available and easily accessed as if it were in a medicine cabinet.

Agreed on the utility of ditty bags; they keep everything much more organized and easily accessible.

i never tried one of the rolled/hanging toiletries bag that walkinaround mentions, but my traveling companion had one and it works really great (i was jealous)

Facial make-up removal cloths and/or hygenic body cloths. They have no wash cloths in Europe. The hygenic cloths are nice for to use in their rest rooms.

The hanging toilietries bags are a godsend when travelling as so many bathrooms do not have counters around the sink like we are generally use to at home. I do not take anything electrical with me btw.

I do not take a bunch of "stuff" with me Heavens. I feel the best way to be comfortable when travelling is to pack as little as possible. But that is just my thinking. One item I do make sure I have though is a couple of books. As long as I can read I can handle delayed flights etc. Than I leave the finished book where someone else will hopefully enjoy it. So never come home with any. Of course I am referring to paperback books.

suze... i recommend that you invest in one today. i have rarely found a bathroom without a place to hang it. but as loveitaly says, many hotel bathrooms have no shelves or counters. they are light, cheap, and indepensible. mine has tens of thousands of miles on it. you need one!

i DO need one and will get one asap, i've seen them in the TravelSmith mail order catalog.

Now all i need to a plane ticket to somewhere to use it!

Dear Heavens, as a European, your thread made me smile. We have lots of things here that you can buy if and when you need them - so travel light and pick up stuff as you go. Hotels have laundrey services or there are outside laundries if you get stuck. Having said that, brits are just as bad when we go "abroad", taking our tea-bags with us. Resist the temptaiton to try to take everything with you - you'll end up carrying loads of things you don't need, and you can't think of everything. Have fun.

LLBean has those hang-up toiletry bags in a multitude of sizes and colors. (you can even get them monogrammed!) They have lots of different pockets and zippers. I love mine.

Hi,
Most hotels have hair dryers so you're ok there. The only thing I needed on my last trip to Paris (men, you can stop reading now) was "female sanitary" supplies. There are no large drug stores in Paris (well, that I saw, and who wants to wander all over for one)so I had to go to a chemist and ask over the counter. Expensive and not what I preferred, style-wise. Other than that, I can't think of anything.
Have fun!

Heavens,

Ever since we were caught in a major blackout in Italy in 2003, we have traveled with a small flashlight that sits on our nightstand every night..a bit of assurance in unfamiliar surroundings..

Good advice from all. My husband and I will be travelling to Paris this summer for our anniversary: one item I always like to pack is a scented candle. Nice for atmosphere but also to cover up smoky room smells. As far as converters go, a past post cited this: kind of wordy but lots of info.

Have a great trip! http://www.franzus.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=FOS&Screen=UE

Oh yes, a small little travel flashlight, that is one thing I do take. And I have it in my small carryone I take on the plane, have never needed it but even take it when I stay in SF as from time to time they have outages also. It is amazing how much light it give off. I always put in on the nightstand also. Do check to make sure the batteries are good.

Suze mentioned "packing cubes" which I have never heard of. Could you please tell me what they are, what they do, and where you find them?

Thanks all. Great travel advice...Will get flashlight, hang up bag for toiletries, and tissue to put in my purse for pit stops with no paper. Also some handi wipes in individual packets to carry around.

I did order a big purse from Kipling with pockets and it is very light weight. So all of that should fit.

Since I don't use wash cloths at home, don't think I should need them in France. And hopefully, will not need feminine supplies. That would be such a drag, bc it seems difficult to find a loo when you need one...I hear, in Paris...

Thanks again.

Mahya,
Since buying packing cubes, I feel absolutely liberated. It's so easy to pack & unpack when everything is right together.

3 of these babies fit perfectly in one layer at the bottome of my suitcase. I put hubby's rolled up underware in one, rolled up t-shirts in another, and my rolled up undies in the other. Outer clothing goes on top.

Several places sell different versions of them but basically here's what they look like:
http://www.magellans.com/store/Holiday_Gift_Ideas___Gifts_under__25LB397?Args=

I also love the shirt packer. It does take up a bit of room but the shirts stay nice & pressed.

My money belt contains my passport, my airline ticket if paper, any prebought train tickets, my ATM card and 2 credit cards.

Having had several encounters with would-be pickpockets in Paris last spring (only lost my book of French menu terms), I vote for being careful, especially on the Metro.

"...a quick rinse of a shirt or underwear is all you need when it doesn't feel so fresh anymore."

Uh, funny and gross!

ira, I did forget to comment on your engenious idea to bring a compass. That is great. Especially because I have NO sense of direction. That is going on my packing list. Thanks.

Wasn't me who mentioned packing cubes, unless it was to say I don't use 'em. They are mesh zippered pouches meant to organize your suitcase. To me they just seem like extra stuff in your bag, things that take up room and you can't even wear at that!

Small flashlight and earplug are musts.

DON'T bother toting detergent. In France, buy the squeeze tube of Genie or Mir at any little store. It is great, removes stains beautifully and smells divine. In fact, you may be like me and love it so that you bring back a half a dozen tubes to use at home!

How about a GPS instead of a compass?

I personally think money belts are stupid (won't work with me anyway considering the clothes I wear)... but to each their own...

I think the concept behind packing cubes is that it keeps your clothes packed in there tight so they don't move around and don't wrinkle. I used to be a FA and some swore by them. But I am just not that organized of a packer. In fact, after ten years of flying internationally I still could not ever warm up the the task of packing. Hate it really. Just not good at it...

I'd never travel without my money belt--especially after my sister had given me her passport and credit card to put in my money belt shortly before a very clever thief made off with her purse, which fortunately had nothing in it but her camera.

The compass is a great idea. I always bring a washcloth, a big bar of soap, ear plugs and eye mask, a small bottle of shampoo (mostly I use hotel shampoo) and a ditty bag. Having very limp hair, I have to use a hairdryer and a curling iron, but I just use the German ones I bought a few years ago. Even though hotels almost always have a hair dryer, they are often on the wrong side of the mirror for me to use them comfortably, as I dry my hair with the dryer in the left hand and a round brush in the right. I have inflatable hangers which helps dry tops fast.

I check before I go to make sure that I have the appropriate plugs for the countries I'll be visiting.

I use oddball clear plastic bags for underwear, socks, and anything small and that I'll have to dig around for in my suitcase.

I use a carry-on size suitcase and bring clothes that mix and match, with pants in a dark color, usually black. I also carry a tote bag with my medicines, a couple of books and my--are you ready for this?--current counted cross stitch project with which I while away long flights and boring airport waits. To each his own...

PofP, the mere mention of GPS around here will brand you with the indelible Mark of the Geek (ask me how I know).

These people pride themselves on the idea that they're leaving all their computers at home, while they blithely pack their calculator watches and cell phones and iPods and DVD players, any one of which has more computing power in it than NORAD did in 1960.

All this talk of money belts and no one recommends the inexpensive ones (probably half of what you would pay for mail order) at WalMart! They are located in their luggage dept. Also found passport pouches (to wear around your neck) at an inexpensive price.

Well, I am all excited bc the purse that I ordered from ebags came in. And I was thrilled that there was no tax and no shipping costs. It is the ?Ripling shoulder bag called the Caronia flapover in, guess what color? BLACK, but of course. It is perfect.

My teen daughter looked at it and said "Mom, that isn't such a great looking bag!" But then I showed her all the reasons that it is the pefect travel bag; lightweight, across the body, zippered compartments for tickets, personal things, digital camera, even could fit a small guidebook or two. By the time the demo was over she was begging me to let her take it on her summer trip to Italy/Greece.

So, thanks Fodors for all of your great advice. We are well on our way to get ourselves outfitted for Paris...

way to go, Heavens...

we'll get you to Paris yet!!!

I bought a little compass once I was there. At times I found it tough to decipher N,S,E,W when coming out of the metro stations.

The money belt that I use is actually just that. A belt that I bought at Dillards with a zipper in the back to stash a couple hundred in emergency currency. It's actually only been handy in Vegas!

I tend to carry all kinds of stuff

How about a cheap corkscrew. Packed in luggage of course.

You can buy sanitary supplies (without having to ask for them from the chemist) in Monoprix in France (they're like small department stores with food halls, clothes and cosmetics).

Also consider packing: a) earplugs (to muffle the noisy baby/toddler/snoring person on the plane or the street noise in your hotel); b) pashmina scarf (all purpose warm thing that packs down to nothing); c) umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (I've been living in Paris for 9 months and sometimes it seems to be as rainy as Seattle or Vancouver - it's just that it doesn't usually rain all day); d) Compeed blister patches.

As for clothes, don't forget that you could always take something to the drycleaner (just check to find out how long it will be until you get it back). I'd rather spend an extra 10-15 euros on drycleaning my favourite clothes than have to drag twice as many clothes around with me as I need to.

A small compass is a must, as is a small flashlight since hotel hallways are often unlit at night. I got severe blisters in Verseilles and now always carry moleskin. Also, a small spray bottle of Febreze and a sink stopper. No need for a hair dryer as most hotels have them.

re compasses, if I may insert a US anecdote: One time I emerged from Grand Central Terminal in NYC, wanted to head towards Madison Ave but was unsure which direction I was facing. To get oriented, I asked the newspaper stand man which way was east. His reply, "Lady, this IS East!"