Tomorrow I leave for Paris from Boston. Any tips on packing/plane ride/funny stories etc... things that have been helpful to you oh wise ones?
I think I will get a travel pillow after seeing that thread on them ....

I'll start. On my last trip I found myself wishing I had brought a bathrobe.

Kelly

Why?

Have a great trip.

I am not one of the wise ones, but I had to reply because on ALL my trips I end up wishing I had brought a bathrobe. And on ALL my trips I end up not bringing a bathrobe because terry robes take up so much space. So this year I am going to try to take a short beach robe as a compromise even though I am not going anywhere near a beach!

My biggest travel-packing tip is "bring extra zip lock bags." Even when you are in places where you can buy them easily, having a couple of extras will be useful when you repack things for coming home.

But I am sure others can do better. Bon Voyage!

Anonymous, whynot?
I guess I'm just a bit nervous since its my first trip alone. Usually I have someone there for backup incase I need anything.
Reader, good idea about the bags.. same for me on a smaller robe.

Unless you're traveling elizabeth taylor style - 8 bags and an assistant to deal with them - there's really no need for a bathrobe - especially in the summer. Why not just take a long t-shirt if you must have something between shower and getting dressed?

Kelly, have a wonderful trip. (It's PARIS! You can't help it!)

Kelly, have fun!! I also am lost w/o my robe. I have an old very thin flannel robe that rolls and takes up very little space. Coming out of the shower or just the luxury of taking off clothes one has been wearing all day and sitting around for a while in my robe is my idea of a relaxing travel experience. Ditto on the suggestion for ziploc bags. I put all my flight, hotel and other confirmations and passport into one to organuze and keep track of them and have spare bags in my luggage for whatever use for them may arise. I know that the weather in Boston today is dismal so it is great that you are leaving today!!

Author: socialworker
Date: 05/24/2004, 09:48 am
Message: Kelly, have fun!! I also am lost w/o my robe. I have an old very thin flannel robe that rolls and takes up very little space. Coming out of the shower or just the luxury of taking off clothes one has been wearing all day and sitting around for a while in my robe is my idea of a relaxing travel experience. Ditto on the suggestion for ziploc bags. I put all my flight, hotel and other confirmations and passport into one to organuze and keep track of them and have spare bags in my luggage for whatever use for them may arise. I know that the weather in Boston today is dismal so it is great that you are leaving today!!

Sorry if my msg posted 2X. A half hour after I sent it, it was still not showing as having posted and since Kelly is leaving today, I decided to send it again, just in case. The site has been acting "temperamental" on my computer today-- *very* slow and/or not opening at all.

Socialworker, it's not just your computer. I have DSL, and it took me five minutes to finally get Fodors up and running.

Kelly, enjoy your trip and your bathrobe!

Just 3 tips:

Smile a lot.
Learn 50 words in French.
Remember, it is their country and you are but a guest.

ZIPLOC bags! I knew I was forgetting something! Thanks everyone. About the bathrobe, I always buy a new one at TJ MAXX or Marshalls. A light cotton one since they take up less space...something I don't mind leaving behind incase we buy too many Pope snowglobes.

Thanks for the posts everyone. I had an amazing time. The french were nothing but nice to me everyday, all the time. You probably wouldn't find that here in Boston. I will write up a trip report soon.
Kelly

Hey Kelabel--That was our experience too when we were in France in March. Given current situations, I would have understood a cool reception, but on the contrary, it seemed like everyone went out of their way to be nice to us!!

to Calamari: what are Pope snowglobes?

We were in France during the run up to the Iraq war last March and everyone was very nice to us. They seem to have no trouble differentiating between Americans and American foreign policy.