Great thoughts BOW

Can anyone suggest some small gifts to bring from the US to France? We'll be meeting a French family that we've been corresponding with for a couple of years and would like to give them a few things from home. We've bought each of them a hoody sweatshirt embroidered with the city we are from, but would like to include a few other items. Thanks.

Just returned from 7-days in Paris. Forgot my purse on the transfer flight and think plane cleaners took it in Houston(!). Since I used my money belt with all the very important stuff inside, that was all safe. But, lost cosmetics, 7-day supply of a med, and (grief!) cell phone. Note to self - Look on floor as well as in seat pockets before de-planning! And, do not separate carry-on into two carry-ons while on the plane or you will likely forget one when you do the mental "item count" later! And, always, always use that money belt! It was a "life saver!"

Things I took and used in Paris: Twist-cord travel clothes line, extra plastic baggies, wash cloth (very thin so it dries overnight & re-packs into a baggie), travel-sized toothpaste, etc., to dispose as you go, blister bandaids (take plenty!), peel-off mailing labels pre-addressed for postcards home, picnic cloth (can be a very large cloth napkin)to use as festive table or bench protection for your outdoor repas.

Take hotel business card with you on outings in case you need to hand it to someone for help with directions back, or taxi. Give one to all members of your party, including every child!! Oh, remember ID for kiddies to wear inside their clothing, too.

Plan to picnic often (save money)?
Buy on trip (easy to find), or pack along, tiny cutting board, covered cheese knife, plastic utensils, 6-pack collapsible insulated cooler, 2-4 refreezable ice packs which can rotate thru your hotel's freezer (ask politely). Those extra baggies are handy for left-overs. 6-pack cooler right size for 2-day supply of market day gourmet cheeses, meats.
We purloin extra breakfast portion of bread for lunch-time sandwiches and cop foil-wrapped butter pads, jams, too!

Buy some vino, uncork, spread the pretty cloth and presto! A little feast al fresco!

Or, skip the above and simply buy take-out sandwiches for your picnic pleasure.

Get a Capitol One credit card as they do not add on additional fees to your purchase. My husband carries that one and I carry another card in case a card would be stolen. I use my ATM card for Euros, but with the fees on both ends, the exchange rate became $1.47 per Euro on a recent trip. I never change my Euros back to dollars when I return, just keep them till the next trip. I don't want to lose on two transactions.

Dear Nancy,
Try the Bellini in the Cipriani in Venezia.
A few weeks ago, I just attended a workshop/seminar at the Gate One Conference as part of the Tax Free World Association Annual Conferernce and Exhibition in sunny Singapore , and I learned that now with the regulations on Liquids, Aerosols, Gels (LAG), you need a ziploc plastic see through bag (Security Tamper Evident Bag) for your shampoo, hand cream, perfume, etc. You are allowed up to 1 litre in total with bottles not to exceed 100ml volume. Happy Travelling from Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet who is a renowned Travel, Food & Wine Writer/Editor in Asia.

bm

What a great thread this has been! I'm off from New Zealand to France and UK for Rugby World Cup in Sept and Oct and thought I had things pretty much sorted as to the essentials but this thread has thrown up a heap of good ideas I hadn't considered. Thanks everyone!

leelo... any locally-made products would be good. I live in Texas and there are locally-made and/or produced hot sauces, honey, wine, jams, etc (jalapeno jam is always a winner!). No matter what state you live in, you should be able to find "local" product. Apple butter from Washington state? Peach preserves from Georgia? Check out websites and local markets. :) Good luck.

I have stayed at Villa d'Este for 3 years in the month of June. At Lago di Como go to Gato Nero for dinner, it is high above the lake with the most gorgeous view , reserve a window table and take a taxi. By the ferry in Cernobbio go to Harry's Bar. A hangout for George Clooney and locals with lovely fish! My phone is unlocked and I buy a local sim card. In Europe if you use a local (country) card, you do not pay for incoming calls. If you go to different countries you need to purchase their card. I ALWAYS PHONE THE CREDIT CARDS I TAKE TO INFORM THEM I WILL BE AWAY. Be careful with calling cards, each time you phoine using one an unknown amount of minutes is taken for no apparent reason. I just happened to me in Canada. A 500 minute card lasted for 20 minutes....A real scam..

to add to BOW's home preps: if no one's going to be home, turn off the water at the main control.

Yes, this is a great thread! I am leaving next week for 3 weeks in France - my seventh trip to Europe. Along with the other tips, bring two washcloths (thin). But also very important - bring two small journals. First one, a small paper cover one that easily slips into purse or pocket. Before the trip, write in a little calendar that covers your time there, ideas for each region, important numbers, etc. Use this one for the nuts and bolts. Also bring a second journal, (I particularly like the type that is small but folds open completely flat, with a little ribbon to hold your place) that is reserved just for musings,creative ideas, emotions, etc. I wrote the outline of a great screenplay while staying on Lago Maggiore!! These two journals are kind of right brain/left brain thing, I guess. Have a wonderful trip!

Lock your suitcases when travelling within Europe.

Great information. Thanks.

bookmarking- thanks for the great info.

leelo, Be careful taking food. I, too, am from TX and most of my French friends can't handle even the most minimal spice -- though they LOVE our tortilla chips. Refrigerator magnets are great. They don't use them and are perplexed if they haven't been into a US home -- you'll have to explain. But I took some to a friend who had a 2-year-old. The next time I came the first thing he did was pull me to the fridge to show me the magnets were still there! Also: local postcards; I took packets of TX bluebonnet seeds. My EU friends who visit always seem to go home w/ coffee mugs.
-Ronda

If you are a woman and have favorite feminine hygiene products, be sure to have enough. The kind you use may not be available, and stores are closed on Sundays in some countries. Sorry about this one, gents.

I think one essential I didn't see named above is to have at least one Immodium tablet with you. Just having it with me seems to act as a little insurance that I won't need it.

bookmarking!

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On our last two trips to Europe, I have taken one of those little digital recorders. It's not much bigger than a packet of gum but is great for quick notes about places, restaurants, etc., or to record the day's activities. At night I will go back over what we did and when I get home I use these notes to help me write my trip report.