Backpack or suitcases for a working holiday in France

Backpack or suitcases? The choice might not be immediately obvious for those planning their working holiday abroad. It all depends on the type of experience you want. Some prefer the nomadic lifestyle with just their essentials, while others want to bring more familiar things from home.

To illustrate both approaches, here are two real examples of Canadians in France: Meghan from Quebec who arrived with a backpack, and Jackson from British Columbia who came with two suitcases.

The pros and cons of each approach

Suitcases: the pros

• There is less need to buy a bunch of stuff once at the destination
• One can more easily feel at home in his or her new home
• One is more prepared for all the seasons and unforeseen occasions

Suitcases: the cons

• Moving is more complicated
• There’s less reason to buy interesting local things at the destination
• Depending on the airline and ticket, one might need to pay extra for checked bags

Backpack: the pros

• It’s easy to move around
• One has more flexibility and freedom
• One learns to appreciate minimalism

Backpack: the cons

• There’s less space
• One has fewer choices in outfits
• If packing is not done very carefully, the backpack can be uncomfortable to carry*

What time of the year did you move?

Meghan: I moved at the end of August. The forecast showed very high temperatures in France so I had to choose some lighter outfits. It wasn’t easy packing for arrival near the transition between seasons.

Jackson: I arrived in Paris in February. Even though spring was just around the corner, it was still quite cold at that point so I made sure to bring all my winter clothes.

How did you pick which clothes to bring?

Meghan: I arrived in France with the clothes that I had brought to Belgium. I liked them and I knew I would be happy to continue wearing them. I had picked ones that were rather neutral, classic, and wouldn’t easily go out of style.

Jackson: For my choice of clothing, I basically took what I knew I would need while also trying to ensure that they would be acceptably fashionable for Paris. I was never into fashion or anything, but since Paris is the world capital for it, I wanted to bring a bit more than just ugly sweatpants. So it was also an opportunity for me to go through and sort my wardrobe.

Did you bring anything that you ended up never using?

Meghan: In my case no, I use everything that I brought. Since I packed so few items, I really do wear all the clothes that I packed.

Jackson: My swim shorts. I learned that in France, swim shorts are banned from swimming pools. So what do the men wear? Tight Speedo style shorts. Loose swim shorts are, however, still allowed on beaches and outdoor spaces. I just haven’t had the chance to visit any beaches in France yet.

Have you accumulated more things since your arrival?

Meghan: Of course. My parents sent me a couple of packages three months into my time in France. My mom also often travels to Paris for work, so she brings me extra things here and there. I’ve also bought some clothes and decorative souvenirs for my room. I don’t think everything will fit into my backpack now…

Jackson: No, since coming here I’ve barely bought anything and no new clothes at all. My parents didn’t send me any packages either. I had packed with the exact goal of buying as little as possible in France. That’s why I even brought boring things like hangers and a towel. Obviously I couldn’t avoid buying certain essentials, including a few pieces of furniture for my room. But overall, my budget has been reserved for new experiences and travel. So even if my list seems long, it has allowed me to spend less on my move to Paris.

What is most essential to absolutely bring?

Meghan: I think the most important is to bring a generous quantity of undergarments. Jeans can be worn many times before a wash, but that’s not the case for underwear (hopefully). Also, a warm comfortable sweater is a great piece of home to bring. Trust me, winters here can be colder than you think, you don’t want to be surprised…

Jackson: A small hiking backpack. When living abroad, it’s no surprise that one will travel at least occasionally, or maybe even full time. While walking in the streets of Brussels, Rome, and Strasbourg, I carry my water bottle and umbrella (or rain jacket, depending on the season) in my light hiking backpack and it’s perfect. A second essential item is an adapter. Sockets in Europe are not the same as those in North America, and you will need one from day 1.

Did you forget to bring anything?

Meghan: One of my favourite sweaters… Actually I didn’t forget it, I just had to make some tough decisions when packing. Upon arriving in France, I remember saying to myself “How nice it would be to have the sweater that had travelled with me throughout Belgium”. But given that it was still hot in late August, I couldn’t allow it to take up limited valuable backpack space.

Jackson: My beanie (or tuque, as we say in Canada). I didn’t think I would need it, but I didn’t expect Paris to get so cold in the winter. It’s less cold than Canada, sure, but with windchill the temperature can still drop pretty low. Thankfully I’ve been back to Vancouver since and brought it back with me, so I’m ready for my second hiver in Paris.

Something unusual that you would suggest bringing?

Meghan: Maple syrup. In all seriousness, I didn’t expect to miss food from home so much. But I do especially miss maple syrup. I hadn’t even realized it was something that I consumed so regularly. And when I tasted the syrup sold in France, I told my mom to bring SEVERAL cans on her next visit. So my advice would be to bring some food from your culture, because sooner or later you will have cravings. Besides that, an umbrella is also very important, especially during winters in France.

Jackson: I would suggest bringing your favourite pillow. I’ve been using mine for years and it has never disappointed me. Even though it took up quite a bit of room in my suitcase, it was well worth it because it’s not easy to find a good pillow, especially in a foreign country where you don’t even know which stores sell them. For someone like me who values a good night’s sleep, my pillow brings me a bit of familiar warmth from home, wherever I am in the world.

Questions for Meghan

Why did you bring just a backpack?

Because before coming to France, I had travelled in Belgium for three months with just a backpack and I managed to live very comfortably. People have even told me that I dress well for someone with so few belongings. Even though my plan was to stay in the long term, I nevertheless told myself that if ever I did decide to return home early, I wouldn’t have lugged everything over for no reason. Personally, I don’t plan on ever travelling with a suitcase in the future. I find the backpack to be very convenient for someone like me who is restless to move around.

Is it annoying to have to do laundry more often?

Not at all, because I brought a good number of undergarments, which is the most important thing. Additionally, I always had housing that came with a washing machine, which makes things convenient. However, I have had the experience of going five weeks without a washing machine, during which I had to wash everything by hand, but even that didn’t bother me too much. I could have gone to a laundromat, but I just preferred to do it myself.

Questions for Jackson

Why did you bring a suit?

That’s a great question. Originally, I brought my suit because I had been invited to a wedding in the US that would take place 7 months after my arrival in France. Since I didn’t plan on going back to Vancouver before the wedding, I knew that I had to bring the suit with me in the initial move. It turned out that the suit became useful even for a couple of job interviews that I had in France, which I hadn’t anticipated. So I advise potential working holidayers to think about that as well.

Did you ever consider bringing just a backpack, like Meghan did?

I had decided in the very beginning that my plan was to stay at least a few years in Paris. Therefore I had a good idea of what I would need, and I wouldn’t have been able to get by with just a backpack. If I tried to, I would have just had to buy a bunch of stuff in France anyway, which would defeat the whole purpose. As much as possible, I wanted to reduce the number of things I buy in France, for economic and environmental reasons.

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We hope that this article will be useful in helping you choose an approach. Think about your ideal lifestyle, the duration of your stay, your budget, and the choice will come naturally.