1) How much luggage can I take?
Most airlines will allow you to check one suitcase weighing 50 pounds or less for free and a personal item (flight bag or purse). Be sure to check your airline schedule a day or two before you leave.
Checked luggage means that the suitcase will be in the luggage hold-- you'll leave it with the airlines in San Francisco or LAX (or wherever you get on the first plane) and pick it up again in Paris. A carry-on bag is taken into the airplane with you.
Some airlines have recently changed the size of bags that you are allowed to carry on so we encourage you to check the website for the airline to make sure that your bag will be allowed in the cabin with you. If you are traveling on the SFO/LAX group flight, you can look here: Condor.com. Max personal item weight in economy about 18 lbs.
If you are buying luggage for the trip, be sure to consider the weight of the suitcase. Some suitcases will take up a significant portion of your weight allowance! Also very large suitcases will likely be overweight; you will be charged for the extra weight. If it is too heavy, the airline can refuse to accept it.
Please bring an Overnight bag with you for our two night weekend trip. It can be you carry-on or even a sturdy plastic bag. It's better not to bring your big suitcase on that trip.
2) How do I pack my checked bag?
Four websites for you to check out:
Don’t forget to do a search for “capsule wardrobe” to get ideas about how to mix and match so that you pack less luggage and do less laundry!
Important things to remember:
* It can be useful to place a small lock on any zippers of your checked luggage to make sure that suitcases don't open unexpectedly and spill your things out onto the tarmac. The luggage lock can also be used later on on your backpack in Paris to avoid pickpockets or to lock things up in your dorm room. Make sure, though, that your lock is "TSA Approved" or else the TSA might have to break it if they want to check your luggage.
* Don't put any valuables in your checked luggage! Carry anything valuable in your carry-on bag. This means: no computers, no credit cards, no expensive jewelry (it's better left at home-- you don't really need it in Paris), no money in your checked luggage!
* Don't overpack! Yes, you need to be prepared for weather between 50-90 degrees but this is easily accomplished with layering shirts, sweaters and your jacket. If your bag weighs over 50 pounds, you'll have to pay for it. And some airlines reserve the right to refuse baggage that is too heavy. We promise not to say anything if you wear the same outfit multiple times! The French do it all the time.
* If you have any liquids in your luggage (like shampoo), pack those items in a sturdy zip-lock bag so if they open during flight, you won't end up with soapy luggage!
* Some additional things to think about packing: a few zip-lock bags (great for storing liquids and also for storing food), some ear-plugs (especially if you are sensitive to noise), a tupperware-type container or two (for storing food)-- but pack something in it so you don't waste the space, and towels if you are staying in the dorms (you might want to take old towels that you can leave in Paris and use the suitcase space for souvenirs on the way home). Some laundry detergent for washing things out in the sink can be handy, as are a few clothespins (so you can hang things from a hanger).
* You can buy pretty much anything you'll need in Paris. Some things are more expensive (like batteries) but shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, etc. are all easily available so if you are short on room, just pack some travel/hotel-sized quantities in a zip-locked bag to tide you through the first few days. If you tend to get blisters when you walk a lot (or if you don't usually walk a lot!), some band-aids, blister band-aids and/or mole-skin (a padded bandage) might be helpful to keep on hand.
3) What do I put in my carry-on bag? The carry-on is the one bag you can take with you on the plane (see your Airlines website for information about the size of carry-on bags).
In your carry-on bag, put:
* your computer, tablet, phone, etc.
* any medications you may need. If you have prescription medications, be sure to bring a copy of your prescriptions with you. You may also want to put a copy of prescriptions in your online Dropbox or Google Drive account. See the CDC's Healthy Traveler Packing List for ideas about what you might want to pack.
* any valuables you may have (but think twice about what you really need to bring!)
* a small toiletry kit with toothbrush, toothpaste (put in liquids bag, see below), deodorant... so you can freshen up at the airport and when you arrive in the dorm
* liquids bag: you must put all liquids into a single quart-sized clear plastic bag. Nothing can be in containers with more than 3 ounces. This includes any gels, as well (such as gel deodorants or any kind of toothpaste-- but not solid deodorants). Lipstick, lip gloss, any creams, hairspray, etc. must go in the clear plastic bag. You take out the bag and put it in a bin with your shoes and jacket when you go through TSA security. Put larger items in a plastic bag in your checked luggage.
* wear your biggest shoes on the plane so that you can save room in your luggage for more things but, if these are too bulky, bring a pair of socks, flip-flops or slippers to wear around the plane. Same goes for if you are wearing sandals: the plane can be kind of cold so you might want to have some socks or slippers to wear on the plane (and, yes, they will get icky on the bottom from walking around the plane-- especially in the bathroom!-- so bring a plastic bag to throw them in when you take them off before landing!)
Essentials to carry with you on the plane:
Also, make sure that you carry the following with you onto the plane:
* your passport-- the real one, not just the photocopies!
* the dorm paper you received at orientation. Because it has the dorm address and dorm phone number, you'll need this information if your bag is delayed so that the airlines will know where to deliver it! It’s also handy to write the dorm address on a sticky note if you are taking a taxi or a shuttle— you can hand it to the driver.
* printed copy of your flight itinerary and your printed copy of your airline ticket & boarding passes (if you have them)
* medications (Note that, if your flight is particularly full, you may not be able to bring a carry-on into the plane with you. Be sure to keep valuables and medication in your personal item.)
Be careful with liquids! Any liquids carried on-board cannot be in containers larger than 100 ml (it's printed on the bottle). All of the liquids, pastes and gels must fit in a one-quart plastic zip-lock bag. (see liquids bag above.