Packing List--#3 in a series

This one is a must.

Take your passport, driver license, debit card and whatever credit cards you plan to bring with you to France and head to your scanner or a photocopier. Then photocopy the inside page of your passport (the page with your picture and other basic data like passport number, etc). Also photocopy both the front and back of your debit and credit cards.

Once you've done that, make sure you can clearly read the numbers on your credit and debit cards on the photocopy you just made. If not, then write them down on your sheet of paper next to the image of the card. Then make sure you can read the emergency phone numbers on the photocopy of the reverse side of your cards. If not, write those down on your sheet.

You don't need to take more than one debit card and one credit card, by the way, so leave those library cards, Sears cards, grocery store cards etc. at home in a drawer. If you were planning to take a Discover card with you, don't bother--they're useless in Europe. Visa, MasterCard and Amex are the only ones you should consider bringing.

Here's the next step--on your trip make sure you have your photocopies stored safely in a place separate from your actual passport and credit cards.

The whole idea is that if any of these items are lost or stolen along the way, it will be much easier to replace them.

One other thing about credit cards. Make sure you've signed the back of your credit cards before you go. For some reason, they make a bigger deal of this over there than they do here--and you will find that store clerks and waiters will actually scrutinize your signature on the card and receipt to make sure they match.