The City of Lights is known as a fashion powerhouse. If you are planning your trip to Paris, you are likely planning out your outfits as well! Here are five things you need to consider when packing your suitcase!
Shopping
If you love fashion and plan to shop, consider leaving some clothes at home with the intention of saving space for your haul! If you know that you plan to buy pants or tops, leave one or two out of your suitcase to lighten your load.
This applies for other items too. I knew that I wanted a specific umbrella and a jacket, so I omitted those from my bag and picked them up upon my arrival. Practical souvenirs!
Laundry
Does your hotel have laundry machines for use, or offer a laundry service? Before travelling with a small capsule wardrobe that requires washing, check in with the front desk and inquire about these amenities.
During my stay in Paris, none of our hotels had laundry machines for use (something that is common for a small fee in the USA), and the prices for using the laundry service were astronomical.
If you are on a budget, look into clothes that you can re-wear, like those crafted from merino wool! One of my favorite brands is Minus 33 Merino Wool, which is also sold on Amazon. Their base layers were perfect for layering during my winter trip.
Cobblestone Streets and Public Transportation
Wandering down the streets of Paris can make you feel like you have gone back in time. Part of achieving that ambiance? Cobblestone streets. These historic streets are incredibly beautiful, and incredibly difficult to roll a large suitcase along. If you plan to take public transportation to your hotel or will have a long walk to reach your accommodations, keep these uneven pavers in mind. Additionally, if you will be hopping on the metro, try to limit your baggage. Pickpockets are common in Paris, like many other major cities. If you are wrangling multiple suitcases, you may be an easy target. You also may have a hard time boarding the trains and dragging your suitcases up and down the stairs to reach the metro!
Comfort
If you want to truly see Paris, you should plan on doing a LOT of walking. For this reason, plan on packing comfortable shoes. Please, PLEASE, break in your shoes before you arrive! Foot pain and blisters can put a real damper on your trip. Don’t let stiff shoes be the reason you have to cut something from your trip, or make you cut your day at the Louvre short.
Comfortable shoes don’t have to ruin your outfit either. Try to plan your fits with comfortable shoes you already have in mind, instead of trying to work those in at the end.
I require a wide toe box on all my shoes, so I am impartial to my Altras, Mountain Hardware Clogs, and Birkenstocks. My family and friends swear by Dr. Scholl’s. Growing up, I thought Dr. Scholl’s were for my grandmother. But in my mid-20s, I have found that I am mistaken! The two options shown below are what my fashionable sister wore during our most recent trip to Paris!
Fashionable Photos
Don’t let a fear of a heavy suitcase keep you from getting those perfect pics. For many, Paris may be a once-in-a-lifetime destination, so take these tips with a grain of salt. Consider using space saver bags when packing. I use a variety of bags from Ikea, Amazon, and Vera Bradley (for these bags, cheap ones will do, you don’t have to get a super expensive set!). In recent years, rental shops have popped up as well, where you can rent pretty dresses that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to pack.
That sums up my five top tips to consider when packing! Let me know down in the comments if you think I am forgetting anything!
Check out my post on Five Free Apps you Need for your Trip to Paris!