You
wanted them, you got them baby. Only the best travel tips for you! 
Take Garbo with! He packs light,
speaks many languages, has a good knowledge of fine wines and liquors,
a decent sense of direction, is a true omnivore, is always ready to go,
and when applied with the correct amount of fermented beverages, can perform
amazing tricks on demand!
Seriously, do not discount your travel partners. The people you travel with will make or break your trip. I will not travel with people that are closed minded, picky eaters, tightwads, or are a half glass empty kind of folk.
Good
Shoes. I cannot stress this enough. You will walk, and walk, and walk, and
walk. Prepare for it, love it, and live it. I like something like these
Doc Martins - they have enough sole to hold up for a lot of hiking around,
they can be waterproofed, and still look decent with a pair of khakis for
dinner. Summers, I always take some good sandles too - ones with some toe
protection - no flip flops!
A nice sized pocket camera. I use
this Olympus APS automatic camera. It takes great pictures (almost everything
here, and in the Galleria
BelGarbo site was taken with this guy. They run just over $100, and
I have lost two so far, much to the consternation and displeasure of a former
travel companion.
A
good pair of pocket binoculars. I use Nikon Travelite IV's, 10x25, which
I got for about $100 from BH
Photo in NY
Good
travel guides and maps. If you can't take Garbo with you (you cheapo)
than pick up one of these instead. I like the Michilen Guides, for four
major reasons - 1, they're accurate; 2, they're arranged alphabetically;
3, they are easy to carry; and 4, they're French. Buy them where ever
you like, such as 
.
Here's a list for you!
Rental
Car. Unless your all by your lonesome, or your are never going to leave
the city of Paris, rent a car. They are not that expensive (and trains are
much more than you think), and they give you a freedom you just can't have
with a bus or a train. Besides, if you can't find a hotel, you can always
sleep in the car! Gas is expensive, and parking is a pain, but you can handle
it. Try to get at least a mid size, the comfort level is worth it (and ideally,
you don't want any luggage showing - it should all fit in the trunk). I
also use an American company, in case of billing disputes, and check your
credit card before you leave - a lot of cards cover all of your insurance
when you rent - a big savings on site.Picnic bits. Here is the GIAK recipe for a great day.
At a bare minimum
you should take with you
bottle
opener/corkscrew, and a knife for cheese and sausage, and
when your local, pick up
- wine/beer/cider
- water
- cheese
- bread
- sausage
- fruit
- fresh cut flowers
keep
in the car, and when you see a good place, stop the damn car! Eat lunch!
Enjoy! (picture taken in France, 2000)