Travel Packing Tips Checklist

No doubt you'll have a good idea of what to take with you, but here's my travel packing tips checklist which might help. Print it out, and mark off the items as you pack them.

For everything you're not taking, simply cross it off the list.

Let's get started with these travel packing tips

Must have on you

• Airline Tickets, taxi vouchers, train tickets/vouchers - printed receipts for all of these
• Current Passport with at least 3 months validity
• Wallet or purse
• Cellphone / mobile phone [if you own one]
• Phone card to call France or your home country if required [Buy before you leave home - click here to read how
• Credit cards
• Copy of Travel Insurance and phone numbers in case of emergency
• Picture ID [driving licence, any other ID with photo]
• Cash [in euros - buy at the airport]
• Copy of airport bus voucher, including instructions on how to contact them if necessary on arrival
• Copies of all hotel, rental car, etc. confirmations
• Emergency phone numbers of your family/friends
• Credit card company contact numbers to report lost or stolen
• Prescription, medications

Books / Maps

• French/English dictionary
• French/English language CD, iPod etc
• Travel & Guidebooks
• Maps of France and Paris
• Clear instructions to get to hotel from airport if you have not booked airport bus
• Currency converter
• Plug adaptor
• Cellphone / mobile phone adaptor

Carry-on items you might need

• Travel alarm clock - or use cellphone/mobile phone
• Umbrella
• Books and magazines
• Addresses and pens
• Reading glasses, sunglasses, contacts and cleaning products if required
• Tampons
• Birth control
• Headache pills / painkillers / allergy meds
• Anti-bacterial hand gel or wipes
• Hand lotion - check volume allowed before packing in carry-on bag, take small sachets if possible
• Small first-aid kit
• Travel pillow & cover/pillowcase if required
• Earplugs [US brand Earplanes]
• Non-perishable snacks in wrappers

Did you think that's all the travel packing tips you need? Well, you'd be wrong. Read on to see what else you need to think about.

Security items to pack

• Luggage locks
• Hidden money pack
• Travel security alarm
• Luggage name tags

If you don't have to worry about how much you take with you:

Care of Clothing

• Travel-sized washing powder like Woolite
• Sewing kit [do not carry on plane - scissors not allowed]
• Travel clothes line
• Sink plug/stopper (some French hotels might not provide)
• Compression clothing bags to eliminate air in the packing
• Oversized ziplock bags with cardboard inserts - great to pack clothes flat and avoid wrinkles
• Travel iron - a SMALL one; otherwise buy one for about $20 on arrival if absolutely required. Many hotels do no provide irons for guest use, so think about this as you pack.

The clothes

Women's clothing packing list

• Bra [if travelling for more than a week you might consider taking a soft travel bra as well]
• Undies
• Skirt
• Slacks
• Jeans or casual pants
• Pantyhose, socks, knee-high stockings
• Jacket or cardigan
• Sweater
• Shorts
• Pyjamas/pajamas [I prefer a t-shirt to sleep in]
• Shirts [long- and short-sleeved, casual/dressy)
• Folding hat if travelling in summer
• Scarves
• Winter gloves, cozy hat and coat)
• Bathing suit and sarong for summer
• For all seasons, I highly recommend a SARONG - can be used as a cover-up, skirt, top, shawl, light sheet in hot climate, hair wrap ... has many uses and is very light; I take two :-)

Men's clothing packing list

• Undershirt
• Briefs/boxer shorts/undies
• Shirts [daytime and night-time]
• Dressy trousers
• Jeans or casual pants
• Tie
• Jacket, blazer or cardigan
• Suit (if needed)
• Sweater, casual polo top
• Shorts
• Pyjamas/pajamas [consider using a t-shirt only]
• Travel hat if required
• Winter gloves, hat, coat
• Bathing suit and sarong - yes, for men - very versatile item.

Toiletries to pack

• Ccheck with airline before packing - many items cannot be taken on flights, and must be checked in your suitcase
• Small bottles [for toiletries]
• Toiletries bag
• Toothbrush / toothpaste : in Australia you cannot take a tube of toothpaste on an international flight with QANTAS, as at June 08
• Shampoo and conditioner - only small containers are allowed on many international flights as carry-on baggage; consider buying these on arrival
• Small brush or comb
• Cosmetics
• Soap
• Razor and shaving cream
• Sunblock / sun cream
• Deodorant - non-aerosol is best

Other things you might need:

• Empty collapsible bag for souvenirs
• Digital camera, or camera and film
• Backup batteries
• Extra film or memory card
• Travel diary/journal, pens
• Addresses - I always print mine onto sticky labels so it's easy to put them on postcards and letters while travelling.

Phew!

Well these travel packing tips should get you thinking about what you need. Obviously there may be things you do not need to take, so just cross those off the list.

Have a fabulous holiday!

Would you like to ask about or recommend travel packing tips? 

If you'd like to ask a question, provide a tip, or tell a story of your visit to Paris, please do! I'll get back to you as soon as I can.