Trip to Paris
Pack for Paris: timed Louvre and Eiffel Tower slots, the Navigo pass, pickpocket-proofing and the power of a polite bonjour. Answer one question and the list adapts.

[ ] Check passport validity and visa rules
    France is in Schengen: your passport must be valid 3+ months beyond departure. Check visa requirements for your nationality early.
[ ] Buy travel medical insurance
    Schengen visas require €30,000+ coverage. An uninsured doctor visit in Paris is pricey.
[ ] Book the Louvre and Eiffel Tower ahead
    Both use timed slots that sell out weeks ahead in season. Buy on official sites only. Without a reservation the Louvre queue can eat hours and still turn you away.
[ ] Give Versailles its own day
    Palace, gardens and the Trianons fill a whole day with the RER C ride. Closed Mondays; tickets are timed and sell out too.
[ ] Sort out money: euro cash and cards
    Cards work almost everywhere; cash helps at flea markets and bakeries with card minimums. Skip airport exchange rates.
[ ] Make copies of your documents
    Photos of passport, visa and insurance in the cloud; paper copies separate from originals.
[ ] Plan against pickpockets
    The metro, Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower area are their turf. The petition clipboard, the found gold ring, the friendship bracelet — all distractions. Bag in front, phone out of back pockets.
[ ] Pick a pass: Navigo Easy or weekly Navigo
    Navigo Easy holds pay-per-ride fares; the weekly Navigo (bring a 3×2.5 cm photo) runs Monday–Sunday unlimited and wins from 3+ days. Single paper tickets are being phased out.
[ ] Broken-in walking shoes
    Paris is a walking city: 15–20k steps over cobblestones, metro stairs and the Montmartre climb is a normal day.
[ ] A compact umbrella or rain jacket
    Weather flips several times a day in any season. A light umbrella in the bag is the Parisian norm.
[ ] Remember: bonjour and merci open doors
    Say bonjour when entering any shop or cafe — greeting before asking transforms the service. Launching into English without it earns the famous Parisian chill.
[ ] Know: the counter is cheaper than the table
    The same espresso costs less standing at the counter than seated on the terrace — legally. Service is included in the bill; extra tipping is optional coins.
[ ] Bring a refillable bottle — Wallace fountains
    The green Wallace fountains dispense free drinking water city-wide since the 1870s. The Eau de Paris app maps them.
[ ] Pack a compact first aid kit
    Painkiller, blister plasters, your regular meds. Green-cross pharmacies are everywhere, but much needs a prescription.
[ ] Chargers and a power bank
    Type E sockets — standard EU plugs fit; US/UK need an adapter. A power bank is a must: navigation and photos drain phones by evening.
[ ] Set up an eSIM or local SIM
    An eSIM beats roaming; keep access to your bank's SMS codes from home.
[ ] Download offline maps and a translator
    Offline French helps with menus and markets. The Bonjour RATP app routes the metro without data.
[ ] Mind restaurant kitchen hours
    Kitchens run roughly 12–2 pm and 7:30–10 pm; in between it's cafes and bakeries. Book popular dinner spots ahead.
[ ] Kids' documents
    Each child needs their own passport (and visa where required). Birth certificate if surnames differ; check single-parent travel rules.
[ ] Plan kid stops: Luxembourg Gardens and beyond
    Toy sailboats at the Luxembourg Gardens fountain, carousels, Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne, the science city at La Villette — kids forgive every museum for these.
[ ] Disneyland — book ahead, plan a full day
    Online tickets are much cheaper than the gate and priced by date. The RER A ride takes about 40 minutes from the center.
[ ] Kids' first aid kit
    Child-dose fever reducer, thermometer, plasters. Familiar meds beat explaining symptoms at a pharmacie.
[ ] Baby carrier over stroller for the metro
    The Paris metro has almost no elevators and plenty of stairs and turnstiles. Save the stroller for parks — underground it's a struggle.
[ ] Snacks and entertainment for transit
    Offline cartoons and familiar snacks save flights and queues. A pâtisserie croissant is a bribe that never fails.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/paris