Leaving Seattle, WA USA to begin our French adventure in 2010 with my husband and two daughters. It still makes me smile that the airport porter decided to pose with us as well – I was so excited that I didn’t even notice at the time!

France Travel Guide

If you’ve never been to Aix-en-Provence, this France travel guide is designed to help with your planning. Aix is situated near the port city of Marseille in the Region Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and is roughly mid-point between the Spanish and Italian borders. If you have enjoyed a vacation in Aix-en-Provence before, you know that the sandy shores of the Mediterranean are just a short 30-minutes drive, skiing in the southern Alps is 2-hours to the northeast, and Paris is only 3-hours away via the TGV high-speed train. You could easily wake up in Aix, hop a 9a train at the gare, and be climbing your way up the steps of the Eiffel Tower by early afternoon.

Trip Packing Suggestions

Whether it’s your first time to Europe or you’re a seasoned veteran, deciding what to pack for your trip may begin to feel a little overwhelming. France has a surprisingly diverse climate from north to south considering that the country has about the same land mass as the state of Texas. The season is also a something to consider. While it’s true that southern France enjoys a generally warm climate, winters can be chilly and temperatures will often dip below freezing in January and February, so make sure to adapt your clothing choices! Daytime outfits typically vary from casual to sophisticated – and of course lots of scarves! – while evenings tend to be more casual chic (although you’ll probably notice a range of styles given the city’s international influence).

3 pairs pants (jeans + khakis/other)
2 pairs of shorts (May – September)
1 bathing suit (year-round, as many hotels have pool/spa facilities)
5 t-shirts
3-4 nicer shirts/tops
(Europeans tend to dress up, particularly in the evenings)
1 scarf (any time of year!)
1 pair of flip-flops or sandals
1 pair of sneakers
7 pairs of socks
7 pairs of underwear
1 coat (light in spring-summer, heavier in fall-winter)
1 sweater/sweatshirt (more in winter)
1 compact umbrella
1 towel
Hat/sunglasses

Adjust all suggestions and quantities of this France travel guide as necessary depending on your length of stay, physical requirements and personal style preferences.