Six Items to Pack for Travel to Paris, France
These are the items I can't live without when traveling to Paris, France.
1. Small Tripod - The Joby GP1-D1EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod (Grey)
Gorillapod Flexible Tripod is a small, flexible camera tripod that can be positioned virtually anywhere to get a shot. Wrap it around the rails on the Eiffel Tower or a bridge over the Seine, set the timer, and take a group portrait to remember. Also doubles as an iphone/ipod touch holder for taking pictures or watching movies on the plane.
An even smaller option is the Bottle Cap Tripod. The size and weight of a bottle cap, screw this tripod onto a water or soda bottle and you're set to go. Great space saving idea.
2. Portable Wine Glasses - Do as the locals do and picnic in one of Paris's numerous parks. There are no open container laws in France, so share a bottle of wine with your meal. Stash these
unbreakable plastic glasses in your bag with a corkscrew, and you're set. The glasses are compact to carry since the stem is stored in the glass and screwed together when needed. Found at most camping supply stores (e.g., REI) for under $10.
3. Fold-up Shopping Bag - Paris is a shopper's paradise. Wander around on a Paris market street and you'll inevitably pick up some cheese, fruit, wine, and chocolate. Be prepared like the Parisians and carry a fold up shopping bag in your purse. The BAGGU Shopping Totes come in multiple colors and hold 2-3 plastic shopping bags of groceries. For a budget bag, stop by your local Target and buy when of their fold-up bags for a buck at the checkout.
4. Pashmina - Practical, elegant and lightweight, a Pashmina is a must-have item for you trip to Paris. Use it as a blanket on your overseas flight or for a picnic in a park, a scarf to dress up an outfit, or another layer over your shoulders on a chilly walk along the Seine. The pashmina below is reasonably priced and comes in 55 colors.
5. "Spinner" Suitcase - I am not picky about luggage. All I cared about when buying a suitcase was the size (carry-on a must), quality (would not fall apart if I checked it) and price (the cheaper the better). Then, by accident, I discovered the Samsonite Spinner line - 4 wheeled suitcases that you can pull or push.
Having traveled with my Spinner for my last three trips to Europe, I can't go back to pulling my 2 wheel "Wheelie". This suitcase is heaven for navigating the long train and metro stations in Paris - just easily push it around like a grocery cart. This suitcase also stays upright (no matter how much you over pack it), and is a breeze to roll the blocks from the metro to your hotel.
I use the X'ion 2 Spinner 22 for most trips of a week or longer. I also have a Samsonite Sahora Brights 20" Spinner Upright hard-case that meets carry-on requirements for British and Discount European airlines.
6. Canon Powershot Camera - Paris is a photographer's dream destination so a good camera is a must-have for your trip. Compared to other cameras I've used I recommend the Canon Powershot line of cameras. The colors are vibrant and detailed, and the shutter has minimal lag so you won't miss a shot. The optical zoom is amazing - great for zooming in on architectural details, children's expressions and fashion shots from across the street. It also uses 2AA batteries - easy to replace in a flash. The only drawback is that it is slightly heavier than many other compact cameras, but is still small/light enough to easily fit in a purse or pocket.
Below is the basic model and the advanced model with 20x Optical Zoom and a Wide Angle Lens.
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