When it comes to your Paris packing list you likely have the big items down, but here’s 5 uncommon items that you won’t want to leave behind

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Building the perfect Paris packing list

Ok, you’ve already got the big ticket items on your Paris packing list in your bag and the plane leaves tomorrow. You’re excited, and you’ve reached the point that most travelers find themselves: wondering “Do I have everything that I need?”. If you’re diligent and pack smartly, the answer is most likely yes and you don’t need to go overpacking! However, there are a few very small items I’ve discovered in my own travels to Paris and elsewhere that have found a tidy and permanent spot in my bag.

These are my 5 uncommon essentials to add to your Paris Packing List.

1: A small radio so you can tune in anywhere

There are many things I’m very old fashioned in, and just one of those is listening to the radio (yes, a real AM/FM old school radio). This small radio from C.Crane made it into my Paris packing list on our very first trip to the city of light, and it’s been a welcome companion ever since no matter the destination. It takes up very little room, and it opens up a peek into a city that you might not expect.

Instead of overusing your data plan for music on your phone, pack a simple AM/FM radio and tune into local stations like TSF Jazz while you’re in Paris. Especially when you’re out for a picnic or lounging around your room, turning on the radio and bouncing around the dial for something good to listen to can be a lot of fun. You’ll experience local music tastes and train your ear to understand more of the local language.

2: Iodine Throat Spray to keep traveler’s cough at bay

It’s not the first item on this Paris packing list, but it’s likely the first one to make you say “huh?” Hear me out! An Iodine based throat spray like this one from Kobayashi is now a MUST HAVE for every trip I take.

My wife and I first came across this miracle in a bottle in Japan. We tend to reach a point in our trips where we feel a little under the weather. Between jet lag, long days of exploring and if I’m honest, a bit of over-indulgence, there often comes a time where we feel run down and susceptible to illness. 

On one such occasion when my wife was noticing that tell-tale tickle in the back of her throat, she rightly assumed a cold might be on its way. So I ventured out on a hunt and gather to bring back cough drops. Navigating the pharmacy shelves (by which I mean fumbling through google translate with the kind clerk) I came across Kobayashi throat spray.

I figured it would at least have a bit of mint to it, and help soothe a sore throat, but it was so much more! It turns out that the iodine included as an active ingredient essentially kills bacteria, viruses and other nasties by preventing them from replicating. So while you may have a tickle or scratchy throat for now, a day of using this throat spray will usually help prevent it from becoming worse. Within a day or so my wife was feeling back to normal, sickness avoided. 

We found it by accident, but it’s now an absolute essential for our trips. Pick some up if you’re in Japan or order from Japanese specialty stores and make sure you include some in your Paris packing list.

3: A Foldable Pocket Blanket is essential to any Paris packing list

Over and over I’ve recommended partaking in a picnic while traveling in Paris, but how can you take that picnic up a level? Sure you can pop in the best markets and wine shops you can find to get the ideal ingredients. And of course you’ll have a baguette. But for me, throwing a pocket size folding blanket in my Paris packing makes dining outdoors much more comfortable and enjoyable.

Instead of searching for a bench, balancing your meal on your lap or dirtying your pants on the ground, simply unfold the blanket. It packs down to the size of a deck of cards, so it’s a no-brainer to include in your own Paris packing list. Now, vistas like the Champ de Mars or the center of Place des Vosges can be yours to take in a meal and then maybe lay down for a snooze in the sun.

One of my favorite bits of advice is to “never skimp on the things that separate you from the ground. With that in mind, I can heartily recommend this pocket blanket from Matador. I received it as a gift years ago, and it’s been plenty sturdy for our travels. It even features stakes in each corner for those windy days. There are definitely others to be found in your favorite colors, patterns and a multitude of sizes, but this one I can recommend from experience. No matter what, bring along that blanket and open up those urban outdoor spaces for yourself.

4: Pack flat bag because let’s face it, your Paris Packing List will be bigger on the way home

You know it. I know it. Oh yeah, I definitely know it. We curate our Paris packing list and head to the airport, proud of ourselves for packing light, intelligently and tidy. But then on the return leg, something funny happens. Suddenly there’s a new scarf, a couple of vintage records and some gifts to bring back for the family. Naturally, your original bag won’t fit it all no matter how many times you try.

There’s much to be said for taking only memories as souvenirs, but in practicality we do wind up with some pretty great things while traveling. So, in order to save the zipper on your main bag, bring along a small empty duffel bag that can be packed flat and then filled up for your return journey.

There are many purpose built collapsible duffel bags out there but in all honesty, any soft-sided bag you have lying around that can be packed small and flat in your main bag will do. You very likely have one hiding somewhere in a closet right now!

This will necessitate some creativity when it comes to checking bags and what you take as a carry on for your return home. Yet I’ve found this to be worth it in order to not always say “no” to things I find along my journey that speak to me. 

5: A pill organizer will keep your Paris packing list free from excess bottles

You’ll want to add any prescriptions, daily medications and some practical drugs like ibuprofen and cold medicine to your Paris packing list. But all of those bottles and packets add up quickly. There’s truly not much worse in a small, European apartment bathroom than fumbling through your toiletries trying to find your allergy meds and dropping your toothbrush on the floor in the process.

To remedy this, bring along a small pill organizer to do the heavy lifting when adding your medicine to your Paris packing list. Organizers like this are handy in that they have a rotary function and are easy to look through to find your needed pills. I won’t lie, it isn’t perfect for larger pills. But for small and common sized ones it’s a breeze to push the button and rotate the dial to your needed selection. 

Bonus: Antibiotics to ward off nasties like sinus infections and traveler’s diarrhea

On the topic of medicine, one thing I’ve found to be indispensable when traveling is to get a prescription for a common antibiotic treatment before leaving. Between riding the metro, spending more time outside and being in crowded and old places, I’ve often experienced sinus discomfort when traveling in Paris. So I recently added a treatment of ​​azithromycin (commonly known as a ZPack) to my Paris packing list.

Though it’s a last resort, having this backup can be crucial should you come down with a sinus infection or other, more gruesome malady like traveler’s diarrhea. Consult your primary care provider, mention you’ll be traveling soon and would like a prescription for their recommended generic antibiotic that’s right for you.

Hopefully you won’t even need it! But in the event you do, you’ll be happy you have it in your Paris packing list and you can get on with your trip comfortably.

There you have it, 5 uncommon items you should make common inclusions in your Paris packing list

Packing for a trip can be tough! Between packing light and making sure the things you DO pack will serve you well it becomes a game of trial and error. But, whether this is your first trip to Paris, your 15th or you’re visiting somewhere else entirely, the 5 items I listed here are sure-fire hits that will make your trip better.

It’s a short list, so let me know what I missed in the comments. What do you have in your Paris packing list or your general packing list that others might not expect?