When you are packing, one of the biggest challenges is squeezing everything in (especially with strict regulations on luggage weight). Find out which items you can pull out when your luggage is getting too heavy.
Odds are, believe it or not, there are several things you could ditch that you think you simply must have in your luggage. Even if you can close your suitcase now, don't forget you are sure to buy something during your trip. So it should actually be a little loose, with an empty duffel stuffed inside for souvenirs.
Besides the ease of travel with a lighter bag, you could face problems at check-in. When I went to United's gate, I was informed my bag was five pounds overweight, which would cost me $250! That was almost as much as a plane ticket (perhaps I should have bought my luggage its own seat). I quickly yanked out a bathroom bag and brought it down to an acceptable level.
Here is a list of items you probably do not need. Many are items you could easily find at a local grocer (marche, prounounced "mar-shay) or drugstore (pharmacie, pronounced "fah-muh-SEE"). Others are probably free at your hotel, or available by request. If it's an absolute necessity, be sure to check with your hotel first.
Start yanking them out:
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Soap
- Laptop (unless you do a lot of business, you can easily find cybercafes in most cities)
- Second, third, etc. pair of shoes
- All those clothes! Stick to basics in coordinating colors, and use hotel shampoos to hand wash frequently (or use the hotel's laundry service)
- So many pairs of underwear. They dry quickly, so take three pairs and handwash them frequently.
- Big, bulky items like sweaters or sweatshirts. Buy one when you get there and put it in that empty duffel you packed.
- Hair dryer (but if you really must have one, check to be sure your hotel provides them. It probably does.)
- Electrical current converter (NOTE: you should ditch this ONLY IF you see that your appliances will automatically convert. You can tell by examining the plug. If it says "100-240V," then it will convert by itself. If it doesn't, this is a keeper). You will still, however, need plug adaptors (see the following list below).
- All that junk in your purse that you can only use at home. Your checkbook is pretty worthless here, although you might bring a couple checks tucked into your wallet to cash in a crunch. Your library card, department store cards, etc. do you no good here. If you are getting a ride to and from the airport at home, leave your keys with the driver.
Don't be tempted to pull these items out:
- Deodorant (the French options are awful. Who still uses roll-on? Bleck!)
- Frequently used (or very important) prescription and over-the-counter drugs. There may be no French equivalent.
- Plug adaptors. It can be hard to find ones in France that convert from other countries to French plugs.
- Maps and one comprehensive guidebook on your destination. It isn't easy to find these in English.
- Socks. Unless your socks are very thin or you plan to buy some in France, pack at least enough socks to last a few days. You can handwash them, so you don't need a pair for every day. But they take forever to dry.
- French-English dictionary. This is pretty simple to find in bookstores in France, since they usually just have the English part at one half, French in the other. But I don't recommend entering any foreign country without a way to communicate.
- Small address book with crucial numbers like the non-800 contact numbers for reporting stolen cards. This is also handy for addresses when you want to send postcards.