Hey everyone! I recently shared with you all that I am going on my dream trip to France over spring break, and I am leaving VERY soon! I am a little nervous but so excited! I can’t believe that I am already packing for this trip! Anyone who knows me knows that I love creating lists and planning things out, so packing for a trip is always exciting for me! Now unpacking…. that’s another story!
I am going to be gone for a little over a week, and since it is technically still winter, it is going to be a bit chilly in France. Although you can never be 100% when it comes to the weather, I always like to do a quick google search to see what the weather is typically like at the time of year I am going on a trip. I also constantly check the weather app on my phone prior to and during my trip. After checking the weather, I try to pack accordingly. I do not necessarily mind the cold weather, but I hope it isn’t going to rain too much. When I picture France, I don’t often picture a lot of sun, but I am hoping for the best!
Clothing :
Long before I go on any trip, I like to plan out different outfits to wear. I will typically take pictures of them and save them in my phone so I can remember what I wanted to bring. I also tend to go shopping before a big vacation for a few new pieces! I am not the type of person to simply throw a bunch of random things in my suitcase and call it a day (my sister does this and it drives me crazy)!
I often travel with my family, but they will not be coming with me on this trip, hence, why I am a bit nervous. I tend to over pack, and I will sometimes need someone else to carry a few of my things. This time, I need to pack light and really narrow down my options.
For clothing, I plan on bringing a couple light sweaters and long sleeved shirts. I am bringing some t-shirts, a cardigan, and a zip up hoodie for layering. I have this beautiful black pea coat that was given to me as a gift on Christmas, and it is perfect for France. The other jacket I am bringing will be more of a rain coat that I could wear on rainy/possibly warmer days.
As for undergarments, I like to bring extras. I’ll pack enough socks (long and short), underwear, bras, and a couple tank tops for layering purposes.
Two of the days will be travel days, and I want to be comfortable on the long plane rides. I will be wearing some comfortable pants (most likely leggings), a loose t-shirt, and my boots. I am also going to wear my heavier jacket on the plane. Many people say that when you are traveling, you should try to wear your heaviest items so you don’t have to try and fit it all in your luggage. I am not the biggest fan of this tip though, because when you go through security, you’ll most likely have to take off those layers.
I will be gone for over a week, so I think that bringing 2-3 pairs of shoes should suffice. I am going to try to bring a nice pair of flats, an athletic (and comfortable) pair of sneakers, and a pair of black boots.
Accessories:
I bought a matching scarf and hat set for the colder days. I also love cross body bags for travel, so I am bringing a simple black one that will match all of my outfits. At first, I did not want to bring a backpack because it is just another thing to carry, but I decided to get a small black backpack in case my necessities do not fit in my cross body. This way, if I need to, I can throw a couple things in there throughout the day. Or, if I buy something new, I can throw it in there as well!
When it comes to jewelry, I don’t go too crazy. I am going to bring a couple necklaces and bracelets, and a few different options for earrings. I also wear two gold rings every day, so these are also coming with me!
Although it may not be very sunny, I like to bring sunglasses on every trip. I bought a simple black pair from H&M recently, so I will be bringing those! I am also bringing a small umbrella, just in case!
Beauty:
When I pack my makeup, I try to think realistically about what I am going to use. I don’t really wear too much makeup on vacation (especially when I am at the beach), but I still want to look presentable. Luckily, I am a member of Ipsy, and many of the products I receive from them are sample sizes, which is perfect for travel! A few of my everyday beauty essentials are foundation (I use this as concealer. I never do a full face on vacation), powder, mascara, lip colors, and eyeliner. Since most of the beauty products I am bringing are fairly small, they can easily fit inside one of my glam bags, and inside my carry-on!
When it comes to skincare, I still do not necessarily have a set routine, but Ipsy has sent me many skincare products to try recently, so I am bringing acne wash, moisturizer, eye cream, and a facial cleanser.
I am unsure if I want to straighten my hair for this trip or leave it natural. I don’t really do too much to my hair when I am at home, so I may leave it natural because it’ll be a lot easier. I am going to bring shampoo, conditioner, a mini hair brush, as well as a few hair accessories (hair ties, hair clips, bobby pins etc.).
Toiletries:
I like to be prepared for anything and everything, so my list is a little long, but I’ll keep it short for you. I plan on packing tweezers, deodorant, body wash, contact lenses (and extra contacts), glasses, toothbrush and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and razors, just to name a few of the items. I also think that it is important to pack some kind of pain reliever such as aspirin or ibeuprofin. When traveling, there are bound to be days when you aren’t feeling so great, so it can be a life saver to have this on you.
Technology:
I ALWAYS bring my portable chargers on any trips because we are usually out sightseeing all day when we travel as a family. This is an essential in my opinion. I will simply charge my phone and my portable chargers at night, and then I am usually good to go for the day! I also try to keep my phone on low battery mode, and when I am not using it, I will keep it on airplane mode. I am also bringing my headphones for travel days!
Miscellaneous:
Since I will be traveling out of the country, I am going to need my passport. I was given the most adorable passport cover and luggage tag for Christmas! I also need to bring some Euros in case certain places will not accept cards. I am bringing both my ID and student ID (for discount prices) as well!
I am so excited for this trip! This has been one of my biggest dreams for so long now, so the fact that this is actually happening is so insane to me! I am definitely nervous to leave my family for a while, but I know that this is going to be good for me. Getting out of my comfort zone really does feel scary, but when I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone more often, I meant it. This is a big step for me, but I know I’m headed in the right direction.
I will not be blogging while I am away on my trip, but I will share my entire trip with you once I return! If you would like to keep up with my daily life, follow me on Instagram @sacchere14 (I will be posting many photos while on my trip)! Thank you for reading! Now, I’m going to go live out one of my biggest dreams! France, I’ll see you VERY soon!
Au revoir (for now)!
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