×
Logo
Holidaying in France

What to take with you

Whether you are a regular visitor to France or travelling abroad for the first time you will find this check list an invaluable aid to ensure that nothing has been overlooked.

Documents
Car accessories
Books and Guides
Camping/Caravanning Equipment
Clothes
For the Children and Sport
Food
Linen
Kitchen Items
Medicine, Toiletries etc
For the baby
Other Items

Documents

  • Passports, Camping Carnet*
  • Ferry crossing reference no.*
  • Insurance certificates*
  • EHIC card*
  • Car Registration Document*
  • Driving Licence*
  • MOT certificate where applicable
  • Car Manual
  • G.B.sticker
  • Written authority to drive car from owner if it is not owned by you
  • Certificate of ownership for boats
  • Written permission from parents if taking another family’s child.

Car accessories

  • Red Warning Triangle*
  • Reflective jackets x 2*
  • Spare Parts Kit
  • Spare bulbs and fuses*
  • Cycle Rack
  • Tyre Pressure Gauge
  • First Aid Kit*
  • Spare set of car keys
  • List of foreign service agents
  • Tool kit and Tow Rope
  • Deflector tape for lights
  • CDs or Ipod
  • Car repair manual
  • Towing mirrors
  • Tow bar cover.

Books and Guides

  • Maps
  • Any guides to area (e.g Michelin)
  • French Dictionary
  • Phrase Book
  • Personal Reading books or kindle
  • Address Book

Camping/Caravanning Equipment

  • Tent/Awning, groundsheet, gazebo
  • Pegs and Mallet (strong pegs for hard ground when very dry or stony)
  • Step for caravan
  • Gas cylinders, Spanner for gas cylinders
  • Table and chairs
  • Adaptor Plug for hook-up with 50m of cable
  • Water Carrier, Bucket
  • Waste water container
  • Spare guy ropes, elastics, “D” rings
  • Levelling aid or spirit
  • Levelling blocks or chocks for caravan/motorhome
  • Spare Wheel/Tyre for caravan/trailer
  • Chemical fluid
  • Polarity tester
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Caravan door keys
  • Barbecue (check if allowed on site)

Clothes

  • Light clothes (T-shirts, shorts, skirts, sandals etc)
  • Sundresses and sunhats
  • Sweaters and jeans (for cool evenings)
  • Track suits
  • Swimming costumes, goggles etc.
  • Beach shoes,
  • Cagoules and wellingtons
  • Canvas shoes or rubber shoes for rivers/lakes
  • Walking boots for rambling
  • Nightwear

For the Children and Sport

  • Buckets and spades, Plastic balls, football etc.
  • Games, Comics, Books
  • Tennis rackets, Dinghy, Windsurfer, Bicycles
  • Table tennis bats and balls
  • Binoculars and compass

Food

  • Tea bags,Coffee, Sugar, Salt and Pepper
  • Breakfast Cereal, Fruit Squash.
  • Favourite foods so that you don’t have to shop as soon as you arrive.

Linen

  • Sleeping Bags or similar
  • Pillows
  • Tea Towels
  • Towels for shower and beach

Kitchen Items

  • Washing up bowl, Washing-up liquid
  • Washing powder, Dishcloth/Scourer
  • Kitchen cleaner
  • Broom, Dustpan and brush
  • Clothes line,and pegs. Airer
  • Cooking pans/frying pan
  • Kettle/Teapot
  • Chopping board, Knives (incl bread knife)
  • Cutlery, Plates, Bowls, Cups, Mugs, Glasses
  • Measuring jug, Mixing bowl, Colander/Sieve
  • Tin opener/bottle opener, Cork screw
  • Kitchen roll, Tinfoil and Clingfilm wrap
  • Plastic Waste Bags, Scissors
  • Cool box, Plastic Food Containers

Medicine, Toiletries etc

  • Toilet Paper not always provided on sites
  • Basic First Aid Kit
  • Aspirin, Paracetemol, Travel Sickness Pills
  • Personal medicines and pills
  • Antiseptic cream, Plasters
  • Insect Repellent, Ant Powder
  • Fly and Insect Spray
  • Sun Screen and After Sun cream
  • Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrush
  • Razor, Shaving Cream, Shampoo
  • Hair Dryer,Mirror, Brushes and Combs
  • Cotton Wool,Tissues
  • Toe clippers and scissors, Tweezers

For the baby

  • Disposable nappies/trainer pants
  • Potty
  • Changing bag, wet wipes, creams
  • Feeder mug, baby foods
  • Bottles and sterilising unit
  • Buggy/backpack, travel cot and high chair
  • Sunshade for pushchair
  • Sunhat and sleep suits
  • Armbands, plastic sandals

Other Items

  • Matches, Torch, Tissues
  • Travel Plug (for razors and hairdryers)
  • Travel Iron, Coat hangers
  • String, Rubber bands, Insulating tape
  • Thermos, Alarm Clock
  • Mobile phone and Charger
  • Camera (video, digital and still) Films,Discs
  • Binoculars, Spare Batteries
  • Sewing Kit, Shoe Cleaning Kit
  • Beach items, Parasol, Windbreak, Mats
  • Sunglasses (essential for driving)