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Food, toiletries or stuff you wish you’d taken to France

16 replies

ladybirdm · 11/08/2022 15:19

Hello,

We are going to France (Brittany) for the first time in a caravan.

I wondered is there anything that you would recommend that I take? Maybe something that was difficult to get or expensive? I’m going to take tea, coffee and the all basic toiletries and cleaning products we will need. Is there any thing that stands out I should take?

Many thanks

OP posts:
A580Hojas · 11/08/2022 15:26

I've recently been to Normandy. We took a few bin bags (to save having to buy a big roll if there weren't enough), a sharp knife and some marmite. I think every other type of food, drink and toiletries you could possibly want are easily obtained in France.

ladybirdm · 11/08/2022 22:23

Thanks so much 😀 xxx

OP posts:
Jellybean23 · 11/08/2022 22:31

Some decent biscuits

ForSaleChesterDraws · 11/08/2022 22:34

We always take a sharp knife and a pair of our own mugs and glasses as well as ice cube bags. The provided mugs and glasses tend to be tiny in caravans and we get dehydrated in the heat.

Abzs · 11/08/2022 22:43

A loo roll.

Anything you might want the first night, in case you arrive after the nearest shop shuts.

Rainallnight · 11/08/2022 22:47

A580Hojas · 11/08/2022 15:26

I've recently been to Normandy. We took a few bin bags (to save having to buy a big roll if there weren't enough), a sharp knife and some marmite. I think every other type of food, drink and toiletries you could possibly want are easily obtained in France.

This. Unless there’s something really specific you can’t live without like, say, Marmite, you’ll be able to get everything you need in France.

Snid · 11/08/2022 22:48

Sink plugs.

ivykaty44 · 14/08/2022 21:23

I like to take a few bits, not because you can’t get them but because I don’t want to be shopping for them whilst away

sugar
washing powder
washing up liquid

stuff like that

itrytomakemyway · 14/08/2022 21:26

Coffee and biscuits are lovely in France so I would not take those.

Teabags, yes if you like a particular brand - Liptons is the usual brand in France and I find it very bland.

The things I do take are suncream and paracetemol as they are much more expensive in France.

BiddyPop · 18/08/2022 10:06

When going to what are effectively caravans in France, we have bought sheets in local supermarket (the ones provided were like paper and ripped on 1 bed on 1st night, we bought sheets for about €10 each and DD brought hers home as she loved it so much).

I have long had a tradition of buying a mug on our first trip to the shop on holidays (SC places almost NEVER have a decent sized mug) and often a couple of cheap glasses.

I bring a sharp knife, small chopping board (thin plastic one from Ikea), and corkscrew. (Having had to buy these on numerous trips over the years). But there is usually a decent large shop/hypermarket relatively close that has essentials cheaply enough. And we nearly always end up buying coffee filters for their machine as well (I never remember to bring those - leftovers from previous trips).

And we will be there on day 1 or morning 2 at the latest in any event for food.

I DO bring a ziploc bag of my preferred teabags (as I like proper tea and the French don't get that, and don't stock my brand). Occasionally I bring a bag of naice coffee from a local roastery but ground for filtering rather than cafetiere. And I will often bring 1 sachet of fajita mix for an easy dinner (it used to be hard to find the mix, but plenty of the rest of ingredients needed for that 1 pan dinner).

France has great food, proper chocolate, good jam, you can get salted butter, etc. So unlike trips to the US, I bring very little to France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium etc. as I find more than enough locally. (Except a decent mug and the tea to put in it!).

Inmyownlittlecorner · 18/08/2022 10:16

I always take things that I don’t want to buy & bring home eg small bottles/containers of washing powder, washing up liquid, sugar etc, tea bags, washing up sponge, tea towel, sheets, towels, couple of bin bags & loo roll.
I love a French supermarket so happily stock up there. We’re only passing through this year on our way to The Netherlands but I’ll be getting Oasis tropical for the kids & petit Marseilles shower gel for me. Looking forward to the Dutch & German supermarkets!

LiliansViewScarborough · 18/08/2022 10:22

Masks for the ferry, a euro coin for supermarket trolleys and a citronella candle were things we needed and didn’t have on a recent trip. Have a great holiday !

helpfulperson · 18/08/2022 10:29

This was a long time ago so it may have changed but I was surprised to find ibuprofen was a prescription only drug. Someone who has been more recently may be able to comment.

BarryBiscuit · 18/08/2022 10:31

Canestan. Terrible experience where DH nearly had to resort to mime in a chemist. Never going without it again.

A580Hojas · 18/08/2022 10:35

Ibuprofen is not prescription only but you can't buy it or lots of other day to day medicines in the supermarket. You have to go to a pharmacy.

BiggerBoat1 · 18/08/2022 10:39

Paracetamol/ibuprofen as they are only sold in pharmacies.

If you are arriving on a Sunday you might want to take a few basic as most shops are still closed on a Sunday.

Most other things are better and cheaper in France!

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