Planning timeline · Blue Passport Travel

BLUE PASSPORT Travel · FrancePrintable checklist · verified October 2026

Your planning timeline

9–12 months outDream, decide and check your passport

Pick your season with our month-by-month guide. Summer and Christmas need the most lead time.
Check every traveler's passport: it must be valid at least three months beyond your departure from Europe and issued within the last 10 years. Renew now if it's close. See entry rules.
Sketch a route with the trip builder and a budget with the budget calculator.
Staying more than 90 days, moving, or bringing a pet? Start now: visas and pet paperwork take months. See long stays and pets.
Watch flight prices on your route and set fare alerts. See flying to France.

4–8 months outBook the big pieces

Book flights. Consider flying into Paris and home from another city (an open-jaw ticket) to avoid backtracking.
Book hotels, especially for Paris in June–September, the Riviera in July–August, Christmas-market towns in December, and anywhere during big events (see festivals).
Planning to drive? Get an International Driving Permit from AAA shortly before you go, and read driving in France.
Buy travel insurance soon after paying deposits, so cancellation coverage starts early. Most US health plans and Medicare don't cover you abroad. See health and safety.

2–4 months outTrains, tours and timed tickets

Book fast trains as soon as sales open for your dates; the cheapest fares go first. See trains in France.
Reserve guided tours that sell out: D-Day battlefield guides, Champagne houses, small-group wine tours, cooking classes.
Reserve timed entries as they open: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, Lascaux IV. See Paris sights.
Book special restaurants. Top Paris tables open reservations 30 to 60 days ahead.

3–6 weeks outMoney, phone and paperwork

Check whether ETIAS travel authorization is required yet for your dates, and apply only on the official EU site. See entry rules.
Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and confirm your PINs. See money and cards.
Choose a phone plan: your carrier's international plan or an eSIM. See phones and apps.
Enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Learn ten phrases. “Bonjour,” “Merci” and “Excusez-moi” go a long way. See the phrasebook.

1–2 weeks outFinal checks

Check the forecast and any strike notices for your travel days.
Download the apps you'll use and your offline maps.
Save copies of passports, tickets and insurance to your phone and to email.
Pack with our packing checklist, including a Type C/E plug adapter.
Order a small amount of euros if it gives you peace of mind. You can also use an airport ATM on arrival.

Travel dayArriving in France

Keep your passport, accommodation address and return ticket handy for passport control, where first-time entrants under the new Entry/Exit System give fingerprints and a photo.
Take the RER B, a flat-fare taxi or a pre-booked transfer into Paris. Ignore drivers who approach you inside the terminal. See getting around Paris.
Stay awake until evening, eat on local time and get outside in daylight to reset your body clock.

Coming homeTax refunds and US customs

Validate any VAT refund forms at the airport before you check your bags.
Declare food and goods on your US customs declaration. Hard cheese and chocolate are fine; meat products such as saucisson are not. See shopping and coming home.

Prices and rules were checked in October 2026 and change often. Confirm tickets, hours and entry rules on official sites before you travel. €1 ≈ $1.12.