Paris 01.2019

Paris
January 2019

Paris is one of my favorite destinations, between the food, culture, beautiful sites, and the history of the city it is always a tried and true choice for me. So whenever I find a great deal on a nonstop flight to CDG I book and begin planning. 

Les Soldes

Winter in Paris while it may not seem to be the the ideal time of year for many tourists, it is one of the seasons you can really get in touch with the culture of Paris. Additionally, if you plan accordingly you can catch Les Soldes!

Les Soldes is the national sale that occurs twice yearly- once in Winter (usually January-February) and again in the Summer (mid to late June through August). Stores are able to slash prices and discounts compound as les soldes gets closer to its close. However, for coveted designer items go quickly so being in town the first day is your best shot to get what you would like at a 20-30% discount, plus tax free if you are from outside of the EU. 

As of this past year many designer stores have limited their participation to just the first week of the sale on big ticket items like designer bags. Some stores like Chanel, Prada, Hermes may not place any of their designer bags on sale during this time, but tax free is always available and prices in Europe may also carry a bit of a discount as supply chains are shortened. Department stores often have the best selection after the first week or weekend of the sale, and as they carry multiple brands they also allow you to jump from brand to brand quickly to check what is on offer. 

Top Tips for Les Soldes: 

• Bring your passport for your tax refund
• Do your research before leaving home- if you have your eye on something be sure to know the price at home to compare to prices in France
• Remember the exchange rate- this will factor into what you purchase and may impact how much you are actually saving
• If you are unsure of what you want start at the department stores- Le Bon Marche, Galeries Lafayette, and Printemps are always great places to begin and have great selection. They are also some of the stores that will still have deals even after the first week of the sale.