Rick Steves Best of Paris in 7 Days Tour Scrapbook!
Pre-Tour Tips!
PACK LUGGAGE YOU CAN COMFORTABLY CARRY!
Emphasis on the word CARRY! I made the mistake of having a huge suitcase on a multi-city tour. They advise you to pack light because your amazing hotel might not have an elevator OR you may have to carry luggage to transportation that requires a walk. Paris was on a single city tour, so I didn't think I'd have to worry about that, especially since my hotel had an elevator HOWEVER I did decide to take the train to London for a few days after my tour and lifting that heavy luggage up to the train with no help made me question my life choices. SO pack strategically!
BREAK IN YOUR WALKING SHOES
There's nothing worse than not being able to enjoy a stroll through an incredible city because your feet feel like they are on fire! Make sure you break in those lovely shoes beforehand. Even if they are a pair you've had but haven't worn for a while, re-break them in! My boots, which I hadn't worn in years, gave me painful blisters the first day! :(
LEARN A BIT OF THE LANGUAGE -
This is a big one! When traveling to another country, some people don't bother to learn the language because they fear sounding terrible HOWEVER you actually do get an A for effort with the locals! It means a lot to them that you care enough to greet them in their language (bonjour!) or learn little phrases like "please" (s'il vous plait) and "thank you!" (merci!) You don't need to be fluent, just polite!
ALSO, MAKE SURE YOU PACK
PORTABLE CHARGERS in case you want to stroll without worrying about a dead phone battery
MOTION SICK MEDICINE in case there is an impromptu boat ride!
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and BLISTER BANDAIDS! See Tip #2 for why!
Tips for the Fashion Focused!
You have to pack lightly, but you're going to one of the most fashionable places in the world! AHH!
If you're like me, you might be really excited to do your tour in style, but it's tough when you have to travel lightly. Also, saving luggage space especially becomes a conundrum if traveling in colder weather, requiring bulkier clothes! Some folks use airtight bags to pack, though you'll find yourself running out of room once you start cracking those things open. Others only pack 2 - 3 outfits and just rotate them to save on luggage space. ​ I find that tactic to be most helpful! But just because you rotate outfits doesn't mean you have to LOOK like you're rotating outfits.
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Lean on bold accessories that make each day's look distinct!
​A bold hat! A punchy scarf! Elaborate earrings! Each of these items paired with the same neutral can make create three distinctly different looks! And the great part is, they take up very little space! In fact you can trade one bulky sweater for tons of smaller accessories to create bold new looks every day! ​ And don't forget about the coolest and most versatile assessory of all -- hair! A different style can transform an outfit too!
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Okay, now that you've got your essentials and fashionables... Let's go!!!