Hello, beautiful people! I hope you’re having a fantastic day. My day is going well because I only have one upset teenage girl. A full 66% are having an okay day!!! (Full disclosure: they’re not all awake.) Today, I’m going to write some of my packing list for Normandy & Brittany.
Over the past month, my brain has been humming in the background, working on my packing list for June. The earlier I start my packing list, the less I worry about forgetting something, and the faster and more confidently I’m able to pack the day before the trip. Vicki suggested that I share my packing list, and that was a great idea. So here we go!
Step Zero
It’s unconventional, but the first thing I do in the packing process is to put on music. Packing is a drudgery, and music lifts the mood. Let’s be honest. Packing is exhausting. It induces a real psychological phenomenon called “decision fatigue.” The more decisions you have to make, the more mental fatigue you develop, and the harder it becomes to make subsequent decisions. Music provides distraction, positivity, and the occasional booty-shaking. I like to create playlists for different events in my life, and then when I want to call back memories, it’s as simple as finding my playlist.
Spotify playlist for Normandy & Brittany 2023 (Clickable link)
I don’t know if you’re able to see my other playlists, but if you can, please know that my teenagers create playlists on my account 🤪😱.
Before I start making recommendations, please know that the products I list are ones that I have bought for myself and love, along with a few other things that I will be buying for this trip, but haven’t yet purchased. I am an Amazon Associate, and I earn from qualifying purchases and would use the money to pay my website fees (about $250/year). You don’t have to click on my links, though. You can find the product directly on the Amazon page as well. And many of the items I list you may already have at home!
This post contains my “Top 10s” for when I travel. I can share my detailed packing list as well as my “pre-trip to-do checklist” closer to takeoff. Let’s dive in, shall we?
I’ll split up my recommendations into categories, so feel free to click on what most interests you to skip ahead.
Top 10 Tech and Travel Gear
10. Cord Organizer
Last on my list of necessities is a cord organizer. I always organize my cables/power bank/adapter plugs into one dedicated place so I can find them quickly and easily, and it’s nice if it also has pockets to keep everything from jumbling together into a tangled mess.
That said, you can definitely use a quart- or gallon-size freezer bag for the same purpose, or maybe use one of those cute fabric bags that you received with cosmetic or jewelry purchases. You know, the ones that are just too cute to throw out, so you end up with a ton of cute little bags sitting in your closet? Just me? If you buy a cord organizer, get one that doesn’t match the interior of your suitcase. Jet lag and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed can make you less sharp than your normal, genius-level self. Yes, you’re a genius. And if anyone asks you, I’m a genius, too. K? K!
Amazon has hundreds of cord organizers, and the one I’m linking is a small-to-medium size. If you’re traveling with a lot of gear (like an SLR camera or you’re taking a laptop and need to bring an external drive), you’ll want to search Amazon for a larger cable organizer.
9. Compact, reusable grocery bag
In 2021, France banned single-use plastic bags along with a number of other plastic types of packaging, including plastic packaging for most fruits and vegetables. Whether you’re grabbing a quick snack or picking up La Roche-Posay skincare on the cheap (recommend!), you’ll appreciate having an extra bag folded up into a small pouch in your purse. I always bring one, and I’ve never not used it. Er, I mean, I’ve always used it.
Off the top of my head, I’ve used them for: spontaneous picnics, trips to the beach, souvenir shopping, grocery runs, embarrassing baby messes (don’t ask), and especially for overflow luggage. Sometimes I overbuy souvenirs and can’t fit everything in my luggage, so I check my carry-on and carry my grocery bag on the flight.
You can get these bags anywhere. There’s nothing special about the bags I’m linking here!
8. Packing Cubes
Are packing cubes “all that”? Or just another commercialized fad? That’s a deep philosophical question that’s above my pay grade. For me, they are absolutely worth it for multi-leg journeys!
Here are the advantages:
- With packing cubes, you know exactly where everything is in your suitcase. You can get out what you need without rummaging and creating disorganization. It’s fast to find whatever you’re looking for.
- If you’re the kind of person who likes to relax into your vacation, like I do, you can set your individual cubes in the dressers of your fabulous hotel and pretend you live there. This process can be done in less than five minutes! And if you continue to put your things away within your cubes, the process of re-packing takes minutes as well. You just zip up the cubes and place them in your suitcase.
- When you’re keeping all your items within the containers, you’re less likely to leave something behind at the hotel. You never have items scattered all over your room.
I use the clear cubes from Eagle Creek because I like to be able to see what’s in the cube without opening it. I have the starter pack and a compression two-pack, and that’s enough for me (plus a cord organizer). Amazon has an overwhelming amount of packing cube options. Another good place to look is the happiest place on earth. No, not Disney. The other happiest place: The Container Store.
7. Bluetooth Headphone Adapter
Do you own AirPods or other wireless headphones? Would you like to avoid using the cheap, in-flight headphones the airline loans you? And would you like to be able to watch a movie with your travel companion or that strange rando hogging your arm rest? The AirFly Pro is your solution. It can also be used for rental car audio, stereos, gaming devices, iPads, laptops, TVs, gym equipment… basically any device that has a 3.5 audio jack can be used to connect to up to two pairs of wireless headphones or to a wireless speaker.
6. Baggage Scale
Have you ever gone to the airport hoping that your luggage isn’t overweight and then sat on the airport floor unpacking and re-arranging everything? Does your blood pressure shoot up just thinking about it? A baggage scale is tiny, and if I’m checking luggage, or if there’s any chance I might check luggage on my return flight, I bring one with me. I’d rather do my rearranging at the hotel, thankyouverymuch. If you’re traveling with me, you can just borrow mine!
5. Sleep Headphones
Do you occasionally suffer from insomnia? Are you really sensitive to hotel noise (elevator, construction, people walking the halls) or have a travel companion who snores and keeps you from falling asleep? Enter sleep headphones. Sometimes, I have trouble falling asleep, or falling back asleep in the middle of the night. When that happens, I like to get on Spotify and play a white or brown noise track, a boring podcast, or a guided sleep meditation.
Spotify has a sleep timer, so you can set it to turn off after a determined amount of time. How to set a sleep timer in Spotify: when you’re in the app, looking at the individual track that’s playing, there is an icon near the bottom that looks like a little stopwatch. Press on it, and you’ll see the sleep options.
Ear plugs are a great (and smaller) alternative. But I definitely recommend the sleep headphones if it would help you to not just muffle but counter any noise you’re experiencing.
4. European Outlet Adapter and 6-port USB Wall Charger
European countries use a different strength voltage (220v) versus what we use in the US (120v). Additionally, their plug shape is different. To use your devices from home, you’ll need an adapter so that the plug can fit in the outlet and possibly a converter to switch the device to the right voltage. I’ll be writing a post soon with how to determine which devices you need a converter for and which you just need an adapter, and I’ll link it to this paragraph. Please know that most hair dryers and electric razors cannot be plugged directly into European outlets!
Thankfully, most devices these days are already formatted to work between 100 and 240 volts. I know that the chargers from all my Apple devices, as well as my laptop, can all work on either voltage. So, all I need is an adapter. The universal travel adaptor I use is set up so it works for US, UK, European Union, Australia, China, and Japan. It lives in my suitcase.
Additionally, I like to bring this 6-port wall charger. It has a long cord that can stretch behind beds and lets me have all my devices charging on the nightstand. This wall charger works from 100-240 volts, and can be used anywhere in the world with the right adapter plug.
3. Lay-flat Multi-charger
If you have more than one Apple device, and you charge your devices wirelessly, you’ll appreciate having the ability to charge them simultaneously without taking up much space. I have an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, so I have a three-in-one travel charging station that I use for them:
It works well and is small and inexpensive. It is not exactly high-quality. If you’re looking to have a charger that’s going to last a long time, or if you only have two devices to charge, the Apple Duo charger is of much better quality. It can charge two devices at a time: iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods with wireless charging case, or any other Qi-certified device.
2. Portable Power Bank
If you have a new phone, maybe you can get away without this, but my phone is older, and there’s no way it can do 12-hours of photos and videos without dying in the middle of the day. This Anker portable power bank weighs 7.5 ounces and is small. I don’t think I’m going to carry it with me in my purse, but I may keep it in one of our vehicles!
Pro tip: Don’t forget to keep a cable with your power bank when adventuring, and don’t forget to pack the charging cable for the power bank! (TOO MANY CABLES, right!?!?)
1. AirTags
My top travel recommendation provides peace of mind. An AirTag is a small, circular disk that you can put with anything you need to keep track of. At home, I have one in my youngest’s backpack, one in my purse, and one in my husband’s wallet. Some people put them on their animals’ collars, which is smart. When I travel, I put one in each of my suitcases/carry-ons.
If you’re checking luggage, imagine the relief of knowing with certainty that your suitcase made it on the flight! Even if you don’t check luggage, if you keep an AirTag with something important, and you accidentally leave it behind, you’ll get a notification that the item is no longer with you. And if you are on the road and worry you forgot a bag, you can open the “Find My” app on your iPhone, and know immediately that your bag is in the car with you.
You save a lot of money by buying AirTags in a pack, but you can also buy them individually.
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Top 10 Makeup/Skincare/Health
10. Refillable travel-size bottles
When I travel, I either buy travel-size shampoo, conditioner, and mousse/styling cream from CVS, or I fill travel bottles with what I normally use. The CVS travel-sizes are too small for two weeks of product, and it’s really hard to get the last of the product out of them. So for this trip, I’ll be filling travel bottles.
This is another product where there are heaps of choices out there if you do a search on Amazon. You do want ones that are soft, so you can get every last bit of product out, leak-proof (of course), and have a wide-mouth so it’s easy to transfer without spilling. I also prefer the ones that are color-coded rather than labeled, because I don’t normally wear my reading glasses in the shower. 😜 Pro tip: when you get back home, continue to use the travel bottles until they’re empty. Unless you’re travelling again within a month or so, the product will dry up in the tube, making it hard to get clean.
The picture links to the medium size, which is 2.5 ounces. But they do come in a smaller, 1.7 ounce and a larger, 3.4 ounce size.
9. Eye Mask
Can you tell I’m serious about getting sleep? My sleep mask has a little pocket for ear plugs and is really thick and soft.
8. Moisturizer
When I travel, I try to find products that can pull double-duty, and here’s a favorite. This small vial of Argan Oil heals dry skin on the face and body, smooths frizzy hair, softens cuticles, and helps with makeup removal. I have sensitive skin, and it doesn’t bother me at all.
7. Fast and Easy Facial Cleanser
Here we’ve got a triple-duty product. These facial pads work as a cleanser, exfoliant, and toner. And, since it’s not a not liquid, you don’t have to pack it in your special see-through container for show and tell with the TSA. They smell really nice too! When I hug my kids goodnight, I’ve been getting compliments on how good I smell. (I don’t normally get told how great I smell at the end of a long day 😂.)
6. Electric Travel Toothbrush
My dentist switched me from a regular toothbrush to a Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush about eight years ago, and it has made a huge difference for me. I have definitely had less cavities since switching over. The model I use is now obsolete, but if I were buying one today, I’d consider getting this one because it comes with a travel case that charges it. And if you need to recharge the travel case, it has a USB cable, so you can charge with what you brought to charge your phone.
My electric toothbrush, however, is not made for travel. I will be bringing a smaller, travel toothbrush that works off of a AAA battery.
Alternatively, you can get one that has a rechargeable battery. This is the way to go if you travel frequently or if you plan on using it at home as well as on the road. They sell both types of these toothbrushes in many different colors.
5. Magnification Mirror
Now here we have a travel product that I would love to not bring with me… a magnification mirror. Alas, my vision requires assistance. Whether I’m putting on eye makeup or fishing an eyelash out of my eye, I need help. The mirror I’m linking has two mirrors, one regular and one at 20X magnification. It is lighted and it charges, but I won’t be bringing the charging cable with me. The charge should last me at least two weeks.
4. Streamlined Makeup
Everyone is different with this one! You have to do you! I don’t wear much makeup, so I’ll just bring three items with me.
Boom Stick: The color is flattering on literally every skin color, can be used as lipstick, blush, and/or a highlight color on your eyelids, and the lip color sticks around for a bit because it kind of stains your lips.
I’ll also bring mascara and eyeliner, but I don’t have a favorite, so I’m not linking anything. If you have an amazing mascara, send me the link!
3. Hanging Toiletry Bag
My hanging bag is this one. I keep jewelry in the top compartment, medicines and skincare in the second, shower products in the third, and then hair accessories in the second-to-last compartment. The very bottom compartment detaches from the bag, and that’s where I store my makeup and magnification mirror. That way, I can easily just take that bag to the bathroom for doing makeup. Warning: this makeup bag is bulky! It measures 12 x 9 x 4 inches.
I’m considering switching over to this smaller one for when I am traveling with just a carry-on. It measures 6.7 x 4.3 x 7.5 inches.
2. Hand Sanitizer/Sanitizing Wipes
I was obsessed with germs on airplanes and hotel surfaces before it was cool. I always spray or wipe down the most touched surfaces on my airplane seat/tray and in my hotel rooms. The sanitizers they have at Bath & Body Works smell wonderful (who doesn’t love them?!), and if I’m bringing wipes, I just get a small pack from the grocery store.
I’ve been wanting to buy these refillable sanitizers for a while now. I like that they’re reusable and better for the environment, and it’s cool that they’re flat and easier to tuck in a pocket of my pants or purse. There are five different scents available.
1. Sunscreen
I have an autoimmune disorder that causes my hair to fall out if I’m in the sun unprotected. So yeah, sunscreen is non-negotiable for me. I have two types that I use. In the morning, I put on EltaMD UV Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen, SPF 41. It’s the best tinted sunscreen I’ve found in terms of blending well and not feeling like my face is thickly caked. Tinted sunscreens have iron oxides in them that protect your skin from all visible light (including environmental, indoor lights and LEDs) as well as the sun. This is especially important if you have an autoimmune disorder or if your skin tends to get dark spots or melasma.
Elta MD Clear Face Sunscreen, SPF 46 is my all-time favorite facial sunscreen. It goes on clear even though it has zinc oxide. It was the one first recommended to me by my dermatologist, and it is the one I keep coming back to when I experiment with other brands. I put the tinted on in the morning, but I keep this one with me so I can re-apply sunscreen throughout the day.
Sunscreen for the body is non-negotiable as well, but when traveling abroad, I just buy a bottle of sunscreen when I get to my location.
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Clothing Considerations
This post has gone on long enough, so I’ll just share with you some principles I use in planning my clothes. As the trip gets closer, I can share photos of what I’m actually bringing. I’m still writing my packing list!
Capsule Wardrobe
If your approach is to travel light, even if you’re checking luggage, the best approach is to create what’s called a “capsule wardrobe,” so that everything you bring can be mixed and matched with everything else. It really makes it look like you brought a ton of clothes! A good strategy is to pick two neutral colors, choosing between: black, white, cream, beige/taupe, and gray; and then add one accent color of your choice. Make sure to bring a mix of casual wear (jeans, comfy pants, tailored t-shirts, tanks) and more formal clothing (blouses, light sweaters, collared shirts, wrinkle-proof dress, dress pants, blazer, etc.).
One thing I’m going to get are a few tank tops with a hidden pocket for my phone/keys/credit card. If I’m just going out for a walk, I don’t want to bring my purse with me. I like this hooded tank as well as this regular tank style.
Shoes
I’ll try to keep it to two pairs with the option of three as a maximum. The most important thing is to have supportive shoes for walking. French people do walk around in tennis shoes, so no worries with that. They are less likely to wear brightly-colored tennis shoes, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t. You’ll also want a pair of shoes for dressier occasions (nice sandals, ankle boots, or ballet flats). Make sure that one pair of your shoes is waterproof. I bought a pair of Sorel Women’s Evie Zip Leather Boots to do double-duty as my dressy and waterproof shoes. They are super comfortable and supportive! (I have a wide-ish foot and high arches, so your mileage may vary!)
I bought some new walking shoes for this trip. I tried and sent back five or six pairs, from higher-end brands like Cole Haan and Mark Jacobs to affordable (and iconic) Sketchers. The ones I found that had the best combination of aesthetics and comfort were a pair of Dr. Scholl’s sneakers! What!? Specifically, the Time Off Platform Slip on Fashion Sneaker. I was about to give up and just bring my green running shoes, when I read a blog recommending them and thought, one more try! I’m not sure why they’re called slip-ons. They have regular laces that you have to tie.
Accessories
I’ll get by on one nice necklace and a scarf/wrap like this Happyluxe Wayfarer Travel Wrap which has UPF of 50+. I haven’t decided which color to buy yet, but I like that it can be used even as a travel blanket if I’m cold on the airplane or on the windy cliffs near Étretat, where Monet would paint and regularly get sand on his canvases. Once he got knocked over by a wave while painting!
I’ll also be bringing a packable sun hat. There are many, many options from Amazon as well as specialty retailers. For Normandy & Brittany, it’s nice if you can find one with a chin strap. Unless you enjoy chasing your hat down the beach! One of my favorites is the Wallaroo Hat Company’s Sydney Sun Hat because it goes with anything from casual to dressy and there are lots of colors to choose from. It has an inner cord that you can tighten to make it less likely to fall off, but no chin strap. For this reason, I’m bringing the Somaler UPF50 Packable Hat with me. It looks really nice and will go well with casual or dressy clothes, has a removable chin strap, and rolls up neatly into its snap decoration.
Outerwear
I’m planning on bringing a light, waterproof jacket and a travel umbrella. I have an adorable Harrod’s travel umbrella that my parents got me on a trip to London. If I had to buy a new one, I’d probably get something like this Under Canopy Floral Umbrella. There are tons of different designs to choose from if you search travel umbrellas!
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Conclusion
If you’ve read this far, bless you. This was a lot longer than I expected! Hopefully, it’s been helpful. I know it’s been a helpful exercise for me to write out the things that I need to start gathering together and a few things I need to buy.
If you have some items on your “must bring” list that I didn’t mention, I’d love it if you told me about it in the comments!
