Packing for Paris

If you're trying to lighten the load, I would ditch the bathing suit unless your hotel has an indoor pool.

You haven't mentioned shoes. Be sure you have a pair that is comfortable for both walking and standing around.

Your meds are okay.

It is a flat rate ( not metered) from the airport to your hotel on the Left Bank. See Pam's advice in this post for exact instructions.

Taxi in Paris

jeanm

I forgot to mention my shoes. I have a pair of Kizik's which have turned out to be a very good pair of shoes. I went to a podiatrist and he likes them. He gave me an order for inserts which I have had inserted.

I will have my cane with me which I sometimes need and other times do not need but just in case.

I have read about the taxis in Paris. For some reason, I thought you were supposed to watch to see that something was up or down such as a meter. Maybe that is when you are just in Paris it but I know that from CDG to Paris, it is a flat rate.

However there have been some mentions of persons having some difficulty with the regulated taxis at the airport. Some taxis tried to get more money because the traffic was so bad and it took so long. Others would not accept a card. There were very few when a traveler had a problem weith the regulated taxis at the airport but they were mentioned.

Just to be very safe, I have 80 euros.

Oh my bathing suit is very light and takes up very little room. I do not even swim but just being hopeful in case I come cross a spa ......

There is actually a trail of feet on the ground leading to the taxi stand. Have a great time!

Also, pharmacies in Paris are so helpful if you need something. The pharmacists are not gushy friendly like they can be in the States, but they will take good care of you. Last year my husband realized he needed compression socks. We went to a pharmacy (look for the green cross), waited in a line, remembered to say “Bonjour”, described what we needed and the pharmacist found exactly what he needed in his very small shop. That’s just an example to let you know how helpful they can be.

Phil, did you click on the link I posted above re taxi in Paris?

Do exactly what Pam says and you will have no problem. (I've edited Pam's post to apply to your hotel)

You go directly to the Taxi stand ignoring anyone who comes up to you in the terminal and asks if you are either "going to Paris" or need a taxi. Follow the round blue circles on the floor or the overhead signs to the official taxi rank. Get in line and the taxi manager will point you to a cab.

There is a fixed rate from CDG into town. Your hotel is on the LEFT Bank so will be 65E. No tip is needed.

I also have a 3x5 card on which I have my hotel name and full address including the number starting with 75. For you it will be 75005. I have written out beside it - Fixed Rate 65E. I would hold up my CC and say...."CC OK?". This way they know you are paying by CC before you get in and they can't try to tell you their machine is broken and they also know you know it's a flat rate.

Phil, I would do exactly the above and make it clear before you even get in the taxi that you will pay by credit card so there is no confusion by you or the driver.

And as Patty says, when entering or leaving a shop/Patisserie or whatever always says Bonjour to the clerk/host ... and you'll be fine.

thank you Patty and jeanm

I actually know a very little French from high school and college, just a little, but I know more than just bon jour.

jeanm, the index cards are a good idea. I was going to bring paper sheets to write on but I like the index cards better. I plan to have the name and address of my hotel on one but also places that I am trying to get to. For instance, I want to take either the Toot Bus or the Big Bus. I plan to write the address of the Toot Bus stop on an index card as I walk hopefully in the right direction. Then if I am having difficulty finding the stop, I can show it to somone.

and I read the link that you sent me but i have already read either the same link or similar as I have been researching my trip. I feel confident that I have taking a cab from CDG to my hotel down pat.

Patty, i have to keep reminding myself that I am not going to the Amazon Jungle in case I forget something.

I will be updating forum as I go along even with my experiences at CDG and my taxi to the hotel.

I do a TR as I go along.

"bostonphil goes to Paris"

Phil, are you only taking one pair of shoes? I always take two, walking shoes and walking sandals. I have foot problems and sometimes my toes like a break from being confined on shoes.
If you’re not a sandal wearer, just changing from one pair of walking shoes to another gives my feet the relief they crave.
I also take a couple pairs of cotton blend compression socks to help my legs. There was a thread a few months ago about the different brands and types of compression socks.

I would second the suggestion to take two pairs of shoes. Once on a trip my favorite shoes decided they were ready to retire and the sole almost completely separated from the top of the shoe. So I was walking in the airport with my shoe sole flapping until I got my luggage and could get my second pair. I know it may seem overkill to some people but if you have a hard to fit foot you can’t just walk into a store and pick up a new pair. Not to mention if your shoes get wet it is nice to have a dry pair to change to.

I think skirts are great for travel & especially for Paris. Do you have at least one pair of leggings to stuff in your bag in case it is chilly and you want a little extra coverage for warmth. I always stuff a pair in my carryon and have found them helpful to have. Have a wonderful time. As the saying goes: Paris is always a good idea.
P.S. I'm so excited I've now made 2500 posts and got my gold star.

About OTC meds...I know pharmacies are helpful, but I highly recommend packing Pepto/bismuth tablets. That's the type of OTC I'd want to have with me. You hope you don't need it, but I'd rather pack it than not. With that said, enjoy your trip!

Rachel

I am going to bring something for heartburn.

It will be another brand from my health care plan but I also have Tums Chewables.

It is my own fault that I get heartburn. My eating habits leaves a lot to be desired

I am packing my meds now both prescription and otc.

Horsewoofie and ncangelose

I probably should take two pairs of shoes. I have sandals. I have a pair of Chacos and a pair of Sketchers.

I also have another pair of Sketchers that I wear around the house as slippers.

As it turns out my podiatrist does not like Sketchers for walking because while they are cushy, they do not offer a lot of support. So I use my slip on Sketchers as slippers.

I spent about $200 on my Sketchers. I am not going to throw them out.

I have many pairs of compression socks but I also have Bombas. I am bringing two pairs of Bombas and wearing one pair.

I do not wear socks if it is warm.

Laurie Beth

I usually wear skirts or dresses but I am bringing one or two long pants in case it is chilly especially at night.

However I confess to you that my long pants are pajama bottoms which i am going to wear under my skirts. Thery may not match as well as I would like.

I have a London Fog Trench Coat which is a hand me down and a little big on me. It goes down to my ankles so if it is cold and or rainy, maybe no one will notice. The trench coat wiill probably also keep me warm.

Congratulations on your gold star.

I wanted to travel super light and it is not happening.

Looks like I m going to have to being more than I would have liked.

B.phil:
My rule is that every top must go with every bottom.
Pick three colours, then the tops and bottoms will coordinate.
Also, if I won’t use or wear something more than three times, I leave it at home.
You won’t need a bathing suit!
Your Chaco’s sandals should be fine for a second pair of shoes…..they’re quite supportive.
Do you have a shorter rain jacket to bring, than your great big trench coat….it might be all you need.

Happy packing.

I think you’ve done this routine for your previous trips but here goes:

If you want to pack light, do a test pack per your packing list. Note: packing list includes Everything you are taking in your suitcase, tote and purse.

Weigh and measure your filled luggage. Does it meet airline guidelines? If not, decide if you want to do carry on only or check luggage and manage the extra weight yourself.

If you want carry on only, revamp your packing list, repack, weigh and measure until you meet airline guidelines. Remember that your coat is in addition to carry on rules (most airlines).

You’ve traveled enough to know what’s comfortable for you. It’s hard not to think about the what ifs and only must needs. Your packing list as per your original post sounds fine, but further down the thread you started adding things. Keep the second pair of shoes. I’d cut the swim suit; slim to none chance you’ll wear it.

Bon Voyage!

S J

I like a rain coat rather than a rain jacket and I do not have a shorter one. The trench coat will be very useful if it is chilly or it we have a heavy rain. Of course, I have packed an umbrella.

I am going to wear my sweater and rain coat so I do not have to pack them. That might look a little strange and even be a little uncomfortable since I am in Austin Texas and we are already going into the 90's F.

However it is looking like rain every day.

I have three skirts and three blouses that match. I have a really nice simple black travel dress that I am going to wear on the plane..

I like your rule. Maybe I should go back to two skirts and three blouses.

Horsewoofie

Usually I take a cruise lasting about 10 days. Last cruise was two weeks. I pre cruise about 3 or 4 nights so this trip is several days less than my others. I have never spent one full week anywhere for many years. And I have not taken a non cruise vacation for many years.

I wear my coat and sweater to the airport and onto the plane which can look a little strange since I am in Austin Texas and we are already hitting 90 degrees. But I will be spending the night at the airport and leaving at 7 am. The airport is air conditioned and can get cold. We have been having rain, sometimes heavy so I might not look too strange. On the plane, I take off the coat and sweater but sit in them. I use them instead of a blanket and they provide some cushioning.

I have a small sling bag which holds all the important things I need including my iPad and even my travel guide book. I wear my sling bag in front. I bought a new sling bag for this trip and have already transferred items in my purse to my sling bag wanting to get used to it..

I have a back pack which is getting very heavy. Amazing how fast it goes from not being heavy to heavy . In my back pack, I will put in my chargers, my meds and my personal care items. I have plenty of room.

And I have a small rolling bag which I will be checking. Delta sent me this bag when they destroyed my last one a few trips back. It is a nice bag.

I am not certain that i need three skirts. I was going with only two but they are such nice skirts. I could not make up my mind which two. But i have a week. I probably should go back to two.

For now, I have more space than things.

I think a London Fog Trench is way too heavy for Paris. I am here for April and May and my coat is a lined mid thigh length windbreaker/raincoat -- it has a detachable hood and I spray it with waterproofing before each trip. In Rapallo Italy it started to rain during dinner and we had to walk home in the rain and so the hood came out and was perfect. May is likely to be warmish and a lighter jacket or rain garment will work better. A light jacket or raincoat that can be layered under for warmth works better than a heavy trench. (maybe yours is super lightweight -- but the London Fogs I have seen are too heavy)

I find that I either wear the windbreaker on a chilly morning or end up as I am now just in a travel shirt (with those good pocket and sun screening) over a t -shirt.

I always carry the OTC meds I might need -- I have been traveling in Europe since 1960 -- no one has every looked at my meds even back in the days when they actually routinely searched luggage on arrival. If I were carrying a narcotic or other possible to misuse medications, I would be more carefully about medical documentation -- I don't worry about it with my more benign prescription drugs.

Have fun -- Paris is wonderful this time of year.

For a 6-7 night trip, I take 3 pants (wear one, pack 2), 4 tops with a mix of long and short sleeves, a light sweater and a raincoat. I don't bring skirts mostly because skirts require certain footwear. I usually wear ankle boots when traveling and I can't see a skirt with these. Nor do I wear sandals while traveling. They just don't have enough support for me and I wouldn't wear them in the rain or chilly weather. Nor do I see myself wearing a skirt in rainy weather which I've encountered quite a bit in France.

Women always mention sandals for traveling but I walk all day--8 hours, 10 miles at least--and I don't think sandals have the support that I need for this much walking. Sandals would be okay for going out in the evening but I don't do that.

I travel extremely minimally and I never take an extra pair of shoes. It's just not necessary for me.

janettravels44

My London Fog is not lined but it is heavy. I have no other coats and it may be too late to buy one for my trip.

I checked the weather for the days that I am going to be in Paris and it is supposed to be in the high 60's to low 70's during the day. At night it will go down to the 50;s.

it will be mostly cloudy with some sun and some showers but no heavy rains.

That is what is predicted but who knows ...

I will also have a nice sweater, a long sweater tht is heavy and may be able to be worn by itself without the coat.

I am going to make an order from Amazon and see what I might be able to get for a windbreaker.

Hi daisy

You might be surprised to hear that I do not have any pants.

Well I have a couple of pants for when we have winter freezes should I need to go out.

I live in Texas and am most comfortable in skirts, blouses and dresses. We are already hitting 90 degrees and I do not go out until 7 pm unless necessary such as a visit to the doctor.

Women wear boots with dresses and skirts in Texas but I have many foot problems. Need to wear shoes recommended by a podiatrist now. I am wearing Kiziks with orthos my doctor prescribed. I have an old pair of Chaco sandals and a newer pair of Sketcher sandals but my podiatrist does not like Sketchers and advised me against wearing them.

My Kiziks are newish and look very strong. I am debating about bringing a second pari of shoes.

I find long pants very uncomfortable in warm and especially hot weather. I do have shorts.

I am fully retired and old. Usually just go out to the greenbelt in the evening or friends take me out to dinner. Every so often I go to a social event.

I love walking and once I walked 10 miles a day but am no longer able to do that. I can still walk a few miles a day but slowly and often have to sit down.

This is the one I got and I like it a lot but it is not warm at all by itself; you have to rely on a sweater, down vest etc for that. I layer. Turtleneck, polartek, windbreaker if it is chilly -- If you find you misjudged -- it is easy to acquire clothes in Paris -- I ended up buying a wool sweater a couple of years ago for a side trip where it was going to be chilly and I was traveling by backpack and so needed something less bulky to pack than my polartek.

I have found this one really does work for my spring and fall travels -- but don't worry if you can't get something else -- give the London Fog a try and see if it works. If it is fairly light weight it might be fine. But mostly don't worry about it and just cope if you get there and find out it doesn't work -- right now it is in the 70s in Paris, but it could be chillier when you are here.
https://www.amazon.com/BBX-Lephsnt-Lightweight-Jacket-Outdoor/dp/B07JWFG4B7?th=1&psc=1

Even if nights are in the 50s or upper 40s, you will be inside your hotel room sleeping. Those nighttime lows are at 4 or 5 am.

At this point, I wouldn't spend any money on a windbreaker or rain jacket that you are probably going to wear just a couple of times.

At home, what coat/jacket/sweater, if any, do you wear when the temps are in the 60s, low 70s?

You don't need to rework your planned wardrobe based on what the rest of us do. I usually travel with a blazer type jacket as my outer layer when temps are in the upper 50s/lower 60s during the day. I seldom see a blazer/jacket on anyone's packing list. You do you!

janettravels 44

I love the jacket. I have seen it before so perhaps you have already posted the link or maybe I noticed it all by itself . It is good looking. How long is it?

I have several jackets with two favorites. I have several sweaters also.

What I do not have is a coat but for my trench coat. And that is something I always mean to get but never seem to get around to it.

I am fully retired and except for doctor's visit, i usually do not have to go anywhere. If the weather does not suit me, I just stay home although sometimes it is very pleasant on the greenbelt when in the 50's.

if my trench coat is a problem in Paris, I can always buy something else. The 70's sound perfect. I do not even know if I would need my sweater.

I had a sweater / jacket that I loved and was going to bring it with me but I managed to lose it. I do not drive and have many tote bags. I waited outside for Amazon last week and left my tote bag on a chair.. The sweater was inside the tote bag. Have not seen it since but I have other long sweaters. But none of them work as well as the one that I was bringing.

Added: Looked at the coat again. Love it. Looks like it covers the butt but is above the knee. Would prefer one that covers knee/

jeanm

I usually do not need a sweater when it is in the low 70's although I might have. a sweater with me. Same with 60's. It often depends if the sun is out. Sometimes I need a sweater but if the sun is out, I often have to take it off.

I am bringing a long sweater / jacket. And the trench coat. Maybe i will find something in Paris. As I said to someone else, I am not going to the Amazon jungle. They do have stores in Paris.

Have you got time to check your local thrift stores or Goodwill for a lighter weight rain jacket?
No need to buy new if you won’t need it again.
My travel raincoat came from a thrift store and I get compliments on it!

I’m leaving soon too. My hotel told me to take an uber from airport, it’s much less than an official taxi. I checked on my uber app and it’s almost half less. Will say that if you’re arriving during a busy time, regular taxis will be faster because they can use special lanes. For regular, official taxis from airport it’s a fixed rate. I believe 56 euros to right bank and 62 or 63 euros to left bank. No meters!

Next week seems likely to be cooler than this week, currently you'd only need the lightest of jackets but a trench coat won't be a bad idea!
As for OTC meds, some US heartburn meds are unavailable here (basically anything with bismuth compounds), best to take what you need!

S J

I am short of time but maybe for the next trip. I need a coat anyways. Will have the trench coat if needed but otherwise it hangs in the closet.

I am bringing a travel umbrella and a heavy sweater as well.

debmendel

My plane is scheduled to arrive early morning but who knows. And then there is immigration, picking up my checked bag and the bathroom.

For this trip, I think I will stay with the licensed cabs at the licensed cab stand.

Thank you balso

I am wearing my trench coat to the airport with a sweater underneath. I wear these on the plane and then take them off but leave on seat during the flight.

I am hoping that it is not too hot in Austin when I leave because I am going to look really stupid wearing. a long trench coat in hot Austin weather.

I believe that I looked at the weather forecast for Paris and it said high 60's to low 70's during the day with some some sun, some clouds and some showers all now and then.

I will probably be out in the evenings to early night. Almost certainly will be back at my hotel by 10 pm if not earlier.

But I will expect the evening weather to be cooler maybe cold like 40 or 50's.

.