deb_curtis

Thanks everyone SO much for the advice. We are from Indiana, so we will be well adjusted to the cold. (Unfortunately).

It sounds like a polar fleece jacket, such as a Columbia or North Face and a lightweight rain jacket will do the trick. I'm making all of us some of the scarves with hidden pockets, and we've also planned for some light inexpensive gloves and a hat. Those are small and won't take much space.

OK! I'll relent on the Purdue wear I realize we are going to stick out like sore thumbs anyway, so may as well have some fun with it, huh? I'm an Indiana grad, and so is my niece. We may have to flaunt our school a bit too haha. I've gotten paranoid. Some sites are so adamant to wear anything that shows where you are from.

hetismij2

I didn't even know what Purdue was, so I wouldn't fret too much about such things.

quokka

You are visiting destinations which get a fair share of international tourists - the cities have them in thousands and thousands every day, along the Mosel there will be less, but still I see no need to worry about "sore thumbs".
I looked up your university's logo, and there is a fair chance it will really work well as a conversation starter! Even more so if you travel by train.

UNCalum

I live in SC and am frequently in Paris on May. Hats, gloves, and wool coats seem like overkill to me--and a big waste of precious space. The suggestions of layers topped by a light rain jacket seem best to me as that is my own packing plan.

hetismij2

I don't think you will need hats and gloves either. It only dips below freezing in the wee small hours when you will be safely tucked up in a warm bed if it freezes at all. It could be very warm, so be prepared for that too.
You can always buy a cardigan or something a bit warmer if you need it, you aren't in the third world.
Something rainproof is probably the most important item you need to bring, but make sure it is breathable too, because if it is warm and wet you will soon be very uncomfortable if it isn't.

nytraveler

I have traveled in all of those places in May and would never consider any sort of coat - just a tissue weight rain jacket with a hood. Also a couple of lightweight cotton sweaters to put under if it is chilly at night.

The low temps you are seeing area at 3 or 4 am - not likely you will be out then. This is definitely spring - not winter. What you really need are sturdy folding umbrellas and comfy waterproof walking shoes. And a variety of things you can laryer on and off as the temps change during the course of the day.

powhatangal

You never know what the weather will be. I was in Paris last May and had a windbreaker jacket w/ hood. I layered w/ a sweater and scarves. I am cold natured and took a pair of gloves I wore in the early morning only. It rained the day I did a bike tour at Versailles so I was very glad I had gloves!

deb_curtis

Thanks again everyone for the replies. I'm glad I got Purdue a bit more recognition �� It's a well known engineering and science school in the States.

I've told the girls they are going to need waterproof hiking shoes/boots, but they say they are all "ugly" sigh. Considering how many people have mentioned waterproof shoes, I'm going to be adamant about everyone bringing a pair.

nukesafe

We were in Paris last May and though it rained quite a bit I was quite comfortable with a light windbreaker jacket, black jeans, and a sweater for the cooler evenings. I did, however, buy a scarf at an outdoor market while there, but that was mostly because all the other guys were wearing them, and my Wife nagged me.

hetismij2

They don't need hiking shoes.
Two pairs of leather shoes will be fine. Wear a pair, pack a pair. Whatever they normally wear if it is showery. We don't normally get huge downpours in May.
Personally I hate having hot feet so I usually throw in my Teva sandals too, for if it is warm, or to wear at the hotel.
Really you are overthinking this all way too much.

Wear what you would at home if you were planning a long day on your feet, and the same with clothes. Just bring a jacket. You can always buy cheap umbrellas if you need them when you get here and leave them behind when you leave.

KTtravel

I agree that hiking boots aren't necessary but it wouldn't hurt to have good walking shoes that won't get ruined in the rain.

apersuader65

Nukesafe, I think our wives must be related. Or love scarves.

nukesafe

Apersuader, I doubt they are related, but the scarf thing is highly contagious, I think. I used to have a place in our hall closet for my stuff, but it is now a mass of scarves. Oh, well, with her being content (mostly) with the enormous €5 selection in the Parisian street markets, I can't complain.

BTW, I haven't yet had the courage to wear my Parisian scarf here in our small northwestern town, but I felt really suave with it in Paris.

bvlenci

I say let your kids decide what to wear. The only thing I would veto is sloppiness, and it doesn't sound as if that's what your kids have in mind. Teenagers the world over have similar tastes. If you let them wear what they want, they'll probably fit right in with their European peers.

There's nothing wrong with people from different parts of the world having different styles of clothing. "Stick out" is such an ugly way of expressing it. As long as your clothing is neat and clean, it will be quite acceptable everywhere.

I've never worn waterproof shoes or hiking boots in a European city or town. I only wear them when actually hiking, and not always then. Hiking shoes are far too hot and heavy to wear in a city. I like to have several pairs of shoes when traveling, so that they have a chance to dry out if it's rainy. I wouldn't bring new shoes on a trip, ever, only well-broken in shoes that I can trust to be comfortable after hours of beating pavement.

Speaking of hiking, I once hiked a considerable stretch of the Na Pali trail in Kauai (a very beautiful trail, by the way) with a German colleague. She bought a special pair of expensive hiking boots, and I wore a pair of old sandals with rubber soles. Her boots got totally ruined by mud, and so did my sandals, but I was out a lot less than she was! In some of the wetter parts of the trail, I took off my sandals and walked barefoot. We saw some Hawaiians hiking the trail in flip-flops.

annhig

I live in Germany, and I'm still wearing coats in May. True, a down coat will be overkill, but generally a wool coat is perfect. And yes, you'll still need to layer the base layer, the sweater, the cardigan/vest under it to be warm on some days.>>

lol, I live in Cornwall and I'm not wearing a coat in December. it was 12C as I drove home this evening at 8pm.

who only goes to show you can't tell.

but I'd still leave the down jackets at home.

Christina

I don't think "windbreakers" are exactly stylish. I can't imagine who said a lightweight down jacket is "tacky", they are all the rage everywhere I go. Especially if a pricey brand, like Patagonia. Tons of women were wearing them in Paris last time I was there (not tourists as I don't stay in tourist areas, and I know they weren't as I can hear them talk), but that was in October. I was really glad I had mine, you can bet, those jackets are great as they are so lightweight and fold up so small.

If you have a real lightweight one, I would take it if you are going early May, as temps down to 40, you are going to like it, I bet. In fact, that's about what it was like when I was there in early October. I was also in southern Spain, and plenty of people were wearing them there, also.

I think some of these people don't understand the kind of real lightweight down jacket you are talking about. Any one labeled "packable" is fairly lightly filled, not like the real heavily packed ones you wear all winter. Mine is similar to this, only in ecru and goes with everything http://www.polyvore.com/bernardo_pac...ng?id=45237138

But if you have a "heavy" rain jacket, not just a thin nylon shell which gives no warmth, you could get by with it instead, if you make sure you have something to layer under it, I imagine. I took one of those thin rain jackets to Mexico City last July as it was rainy season and layered it over about 3 things, and it worked okay (undershirt, long-sleeved cotton T, then a cotton cardigan over that, then the rain slicker on top).

Ozarksbill

Quick answer from an old guy usually chilly...best bet is layering, adding sweater, jacket as needed...and definitely head gear and rain gear and of course good walking shoes. Why is it that tourists in Europe are in sandals or even worse flip flops?

powhatangal

Christina, that's like the lightweight down jacket I've been eyeing all fall and it could probably squish up into one hand.

nytraveler

I don;t get hauling a down jacket around when you may easily get day time temps of 80 or more.

But then I know some people are totally unable to deal with any temps below 75 due to living in places with very high average temps.

justineparis

Water proof hikers.. and you were worried about sticking out because girls wanted to wear some school logo stuff.. lol I can't imagine needing or wearing waterproof hikers in the cities ..

Running shoes. And another pair of shoes. That's it.