First, ensure that your paperwork is in order. Check your passport to make sure that it is current and doesn’t expire while you are away. Verify that you have the proper drivers’ license. You’ll want to reconfirm your airline, rental car and hotel reservations. Contact your local post office and stop your mail or make arrangements for a trusted friend to collect it. Ensure that any bills coming due while you are away have been paid. Prepare a list of emergency contact numbers and check on health insurance coverage should you need medical care.

Plan what you will pack in your checked bags and what essential items, such as medications, will be in your carryon luggage. Ensure that your carryon bags meet the size restriction for the type of plane on which you will be travelling. When packing, make sure that your clothes are appropriate for the season and that you are dressed properly when you first arrive.

Review online travel alert sites or call the French consulate for information on weather warnings, medical precautions or terrorist alerts that may affect security and travel. You will also want to know about any food recalls.

Contact your bank and credit card companies. You will want them to know that you will be travelling overseas so that your credit and ATM cards will work. Have a sufficient amount of Euros to cover your incidentals when you arrive, such as tips and small purchases.

Finally, plan your first few days in France. Consult guidebooks, maps and online tourist sites to determine what you will want to see and do. If necessary, call and book ahead. This way, if an exhibit is due to close or a venue is open only certain days, you won’t miss it. Remember to keep jet lag in mind when making your plans.

A little organization will help you have a positive experience sampling all that France has to offer.

Louvre

The Louvre museum is the leading art museum in the world for tourists. This museum holds collections including items from prehistory to the 1800s. Egyptian antiquities, Near Eastern antiquities, ancient Greek and Roman art, Islamic art, paintings including the Mona Lisa, sculptures, prints and drawings fill this world renowned museum.

Musée d\’Orsay

After visiting the Louvre, art lovers and historians must stop by the second most commonly visited museum of art in France, the Musée d\’Orsay. This museum hosts impressionist work from the masters of France.

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is Europe\’s leading amusement park, and is the go-to place for thrill seekers. Visitors enjoy the experience of rides and adventure along with the familiar Disney characters in costume.

Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is home to more than 300 of France\’s castles, or chateaux, including royal residences such as Château de Beaulieu. Romance and leisure abound in the Loire Valley, as the scenery and history are breathtaking.

French Riviera

Known for its mild climate and beautiful beaches, the French Riviera, or Côte d\’Azur, beacons lovers of sunshine and crystal clear Mediterranean waves. Modern resorts offer all the conveniences any traveler could imagine, including fine dining and yachting. The French Riviera offers visitors 300 days of sunshine every year.

Notre-Dame de Reims

The Notre-Dame de Reims is filled with history and beauty as the official Roman Catholic cathedral where the rulers of France were lifted to the throne until 1825. Both the interior and exterior architecture of the Notre-Dame de Reims are stunning and the cathedral is a must-see for Catholics and fans of classic design.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the icon of France and offers the best views of Paris. The tower reaches 81 stories in height and contains two restaurants for the tourists\’ dining pleasure.