Trip Considerations

• Baggage Responsibility: You are responsible for your own baggage and personal effects. Be prepared to carry your bags to your room, which may involve stairs. You will also be traveling by train, so ensure you can move with all your belongings. Roller bags with four spinning wheels are recommended for your ease and comfort.

• Baggage Limit: Each person may bring one checked bag (maximum 48 linear inches) and one carry-on. Verify with your airline for size compliance.

• Physical Demands: Be ready for walking, hills, cobblestone alleys, and stairs. Pace yourself, and feel free to opt out of any activity.

• No Smoking: The entire trip is non-smoking, including all accommodations and group activities. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Packing Check-list

Clothing

☐ Shoes: Two pairs + water shoes (if swimming). Wear one/pack one. Good shoes are essential. Take a well-used, light, and cool pair of walking shoes and a pair for evening. For the Marseille outing, you're welcome to bring an extra pair to leave in the van for our special dinner. Brands like Bolo, Merrell, Born, Clarks, and Ecco make stylish, comfortable walking shoes that often double as evening shoes.

☐ Flip-Flops: 1 pair for around the villa and pool (in Provence)

☐ Pants: 2–3 pairs. Bring one lightweight cotton and another super-lightweight (or one dressy, one casual). Jeans are fine. Linen is great.

☐ Belt: Optional

☐ Swimsuit: 1, packed in a plastic bag. Even if you think you won’t swim, you might wish you had one

☐ Underwear: 5 pairs (silk, lace, or microfiber dries quickest) or two Ex-Officio Travel undies if you're brave (6 weeks/17 countries)

☐ Socks: 4 pairs (cotton blend for breathability)

☐ Bras: 1–2 extra

☐ Shirts: 4 (2 short-sleeved, 2 long-sleeved). Cotton/polyester blends wrinkle less and dry faster

☐ Cardigan/Sweater: 1–2 light ones for layering, cool nights, and boat outings

☐ Jacket: 1

☐ Rain Jacket: 1 lightweight

☐ Skirts/Dress: 1–2 if desired (wrinkle-resistant)

☐ Scarf: 1. A scarf doesn't take up much room and can break the monotony, and elevating your look for evening

☐ Vest: Optional

☐ Pajamas/Sleepwear: 1 pair

Toiletries + Medications

☐ Plastic Bags: Put all squeeze bottles in sealable plastic baggies; pressure changes during flight can cause leaks.

☐ Washcloth/Body Puff: Most European hotels do not supply washcloths. You can purchase a gant (wash glove) at the Vaison outdoor market.

☐ Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss

☐ Shampoo/Conditioner/Soap

☐ First Aid Kit: Include moleskin/blister kit

☐ Prescription Drugs: In original containers with your name and doctor’s name; write down the generic name as brands may differ in France

☐ Spare Glasses/Prescription or Contact Lenses + Supplies:.Contact solutions are widely available in Europe, but some find contacts less comfortable while traveling. Rick Steves wears his glasses and doesn’t pack a spare but brings a photocopy of his prescription just in case.

☐ Sunglasses + hat if avoiding the sun

☐ Vitamins + OTC Remedies: Whatever works for you (Pepto, Benadryl, Tylenol, etc.). Keep medicines and supplements in original containers.

Miscellaneous

☐ Outbound Train Ticket

☐ Trip Calendar + Itinerary: Keep in your purse for easy access. A digital copy is also useful.

☐ Small Daypack or Purse: Ideal for carrying a sweater, camera, literature, and picnic items while leaving your large bag at the villa. If you prefer hands-free, consider a modern fanny pack that securely holds your phone, cards, and small amounts of cash. Avoid bulky, old-style fanny packs as they attract pickpockets.

☐ Small Notepad and Pen: A tiny notepad in your back pocket is great for organization, reminders, and communication.

☐ Earplugs: Essential if you're sensitive to noise, especially during the flight

☐ Small Packet of Tissue: Keep one in your daypack for bathrooms that may lack toilet paper. These are sold at newsstands and pharmacies throughout Europe.

Optional

☐ Clothes Compressor Bag: A handy tool for packing bulky clothes like sweaters and jackets without taking up too much space or creating wrinkles. Pack-Mate is a recommended brand. Place the item in the bag, roll it to force the air out through the one-way nozzles, and pack it away.

☐ Tiny Lock: Use it to lock your backpack zippers. Be sure to get a TSA-approved lock.

☐ Spot Remover: Tide bleach sticks, pen-type stain removers, Shout wipes, or a dab of Goop grease remover in a small plastic container are all useful.

☐ Sealable Plastic Baggies: Ziplock Slider bags are great in various sizes. Quart-size bags are ideal for carry-on liquids, packing leftover picnic food, containing wetness, and preventing leaks. The two-gallon size is handy for packing clothing if you forgo a compressor bag. Consider bringing extras for the flight home, as they can be hard to find in Europe.