Shopping in Paris

Shopping in Paris is quite the experience and honestly, it can be a bit
overwhelming if you aren’t exactly sure where to go or speak the language.
However, I am sharing all my favorite places I love to shop in Paris and providing
easy tips on how to enjoy your shopping experience. There are several
categories listed depending on where you like to shop. Let’s start with some
basic tips that apply to any shop in general.

• Anytime you enter a store in Paris or France, you must say BONJOUR (Hello) to the people working in the store. Even if you don’t speak any French, they will appreciate you at least saying this.
• When you leave the store, say MERCI (Thank You) and I also add Bon Journee (Good Day).
• When you are checking out at the register and it asks if you would like to pay in euros or dollars, I always pick the euros option. You will usually save money in the end by doing this.
• I always suggest buying pieces that you can’t purchase at home in the States. Many designer labels will have specific items sold only in Europe, that I love to take advantage of.
• Make sure to get your tax refund if possible (I will discuss this more in another section).
• If you are making large designer purchases, I always advise you to take those bags back to your hotel or where you are staying, before walking around the city, specifically for safety reasons.
• You can shop with euros or credit cards. Always try to use a VISA or Mastercard if you have one. A lot of places in Paris and France do not take American Express, although on the last two trips I have found more places accepting AMEX.
• If you are shopping at a flea market, ensure you have euros on hand, as the vendors likely won’t take cards.
• If you want to look like a local, carry around a canvas tote while out and about shopping. Paris is trying to ban plastic of any sort, so you will see all the locals carrying canvas totes along with their handbags.