I'm from Paris, and travel with a toddler and elementary schooler, plus husband, to that city regularly.

We do one small carry-on per person, with raincoat. Can't stand lugging things around the airport. Kids entertain themselves perfectly well with what's on board.

Last time we traveled in April for a short 2 week trip, we checked 2 suitcases total. If you will do a lot of sightseeing or go to the country, take walking shoes AND dinner shoes, like PP said.

Spring can be cold and rainy. Bring a warm sweater to ear under your raincoat. Umbrellas are too cumbersome.

Enjoy!

One small suitcase per person - checked
Small bags for plane

Big luggage is cumbersome and tougher to lug around on cobblestones, up stairs, stuff in cab, etc. Smaller bags provide more flexibility. Expandable helps if you plan on bringing home purchases.

For shoes: It's nice to have some ballet-type flats, soft, light, that can be stuffed in a purse and worn for more dress up. Athletic shoes for lots of walking. I carried a big bag. Our girls slipped off their athletic shoes and changed into their flats before we entered a restaurant - you may not want to go back to the hotel to change for dinner.

Make sure each member of the family knows what bags they are responsible for - keep that consistent, or else it will be, "I thought you had it!".

Usually international flights include one checked bag for free. I pack light but I'd check a bag for a week in France. It's not warm yet so you will need layers/sweaters which are a little bulkier. Are you staying with family or friends and have access to laundry facilities?

Anonymous wrote:Please, please, please, watch "Taken" before making this rash trip.

Huh? Why?

Anonymous wrote:Please, please, please, watch "Taken" before making this rash trip.

OK... I think you are a troll. If you are not a troll, you are very paranoid and illogical.
(1) It was a movie
(2) In the movie, the teens went on an unaccompanied trip -- and OP is talking about a family trip with at least one parent present. Nowhere near the same thing, nowhere near the same target on OP's daughters
(3) In the movie, the two teens knew next to nothing about the people they were going to stay with, and the whole setup was very questionable -- presumably the OP has made some more concrete, sensible plans for her family trip
(4) We are talking about a trip to France, where tons of people live, work, or travel all the time -- mostly safely with horror stories (true ones not movies) being the exception not the rule
(5) The claims back in 2011 that the movie was based on a true story were not substantiated in court and the guy who claimed that was convicted of fraud
(6) The US Department of State, which is a far more credible source than a Hollywood action thriller, has exactly zero current travel warnings or travel alerts relating to France

OP, ignore the troll or paranoid poster and enjoy your trip. As others have stated, I would check a few bags and travel with lighter/smaller carry on luggage. There's never enough room in the overhead bins, and you almost always end up wanting to pack more than you initially thought you would anyway. Plus, extra space in luggage means space for souvenirs.

Given that it's France and spring, I'd go with a duffle for the girls and one for you and DH and check those and then everyone having small carry on.

Anonymous wrote:Please, please, please, watch "Taken" before making this rash trip.

You're kidding, right?

Please, please, please, watch "Taken" before making this rash trip.

Why limit yourself to carry ons? I would do one large suitcase for you and DH, one large suitcase for your girls to share. Then travel light on the plane with just a large purse or backpack each with a book or kindle, magazines, snacks etc.

Will you be gone for just a week? Even so, prepare for rain in April. And although you will want to bring comfortable shoes for sight seeing, French people don't wear tennis shoes out to dinner, so each person will need to fit another pair of shoes in their carry-on.

You mean just carry-ons with no checked bags? That seems ambitious but maybe you guys travel light. If each of your children is able to manage her own carry-on, then sure, bring a carry-on for each and maybe you can combine the rest of your things into one large additional checked suitcase. Can the 10-year-old really deal with her own suitcase for the whole trip?

Huh

I am going to France with my family (15 and 10 year old daughter over spring break). How many carry on suitcases would you suggest? I was thinking each person carry a carry on with everything in it.