Shopping in Paris: Budget Travel Guide

When it comes to the age-old struggle between eating in and dining out, Paris is no exception. Restaurants are top-notch, with prices to match. Cooking your own meals (if you’re lucky enough to have access to a kitchen) or even picnicking outside will save you loads of euros. However, tourists might find it difficult to navigate » Read more

It’s the only time that anyone in Paris will be excited to hear the word puces — or fleas. The city’s iconic flea markets, often just called les puces, allow tourists to spend hours browsing everything from vintage prints and dusty books to tarnished jewelry and Louis XV furniture. The odds of finding an affordable, one » Read more

Grab your canvas bags. It’s market day in Paris! While the supermarkets in Paris provide all the food necessary to survive, the outdoor markets offer more variety of fruits and vegetables, often at lower prices. It’s a weekly ritual for many Parisians, but there’s no reason that the casual tourist can’t stock up on a few snacks » Read more

Got passion for fashion? Cuckoo for a steal? Join the club! Nothing gives me more pleasure than finding quality garb at a discount price. For years, I’ve celebrated bargain shopping in the City of de-Light, like there’s no tomorrow. Based on my experience, here are a few tips on how to experience a guilt-free shopping » Read more

Heading to Paris and love to shop? Many tourists arrive in Paris eager to snag fabulous deals on high-end fashions, accessories and perfume. They think, quite understandably, “hey, it must be cheaper to buy it here because it’s French!” Alas, this is not always the case. Even with a stronger dollar, very few made-in-France goods » Read more

For some people, vintage shopping in Paris means buying a second-hand Chanel bag or Hermès scarf from a high-end resale boutique. But Paris has always had its friperies, inexpensive secondhand clothing shops where you have to dig through piles of cast-offs to find a vintage pearl. Here are a handful of top good value addresses » Read more

The first thing many American women notice when they land in Paris is the dearth of affordable nail salons on every corner like you might find in NYC or Los Angeles. French magazines and bloggers have long extolled the joys of the American nail salon and the affordable stateside luxury that is the mani-pedi. But » Read more

One of the benefits of being a tourist is the 12% tax refund that is available to non EU-residents who plan on shopping while on vacation in Paris (and throughout most of Europe). There is a minimum purchase and a bit of paperwork to fill out, plus you will need to leave extra time at » Read more

Models, beauty editors, bloggers, make-up artists and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are always obsessing about the French pharmacy and its legendary selection of cult beauty products. These secret weapons aren’t overpriced luxury items sold in department stores but no-nonsense everyday staples that can be found in every French person’s medicine cabinet (and in every make-up » Read more

It’s time for a French lesson in shopping.  While tourists in Paris love heading to the city’s flea markets for treasures and inexpensive gifts, they might not be aware of how many different types of flea markets there really are in the city. Here’s a quick overview of the markets selling secondhand goods in Paris: » Read more

Tripping to Paris? Do you plan to shop? Well then, look and listen! Throughout Paris, there are shopping zones where you can buy anything, as well as scattered districts where clusters of stores carry similar items. Shopping fanatics, unite. Here’s a mini-guide. So dust off the printer! But first, a few tips: 1. In France, » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Cuckoo for classic French dishes, pots and pans? Join the club! I, too, possess a mad penchant for collecting kitchenware from yesterday. Fret not, I’m okay! You’re okay! So where to find the beauties in Paris? I recommend trekking it to the Porte de Vanves flea market. I’ve been shopping » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Bookworms, ignite! This week, we’re headed to my new favorite bookshop in Paris. Located in historic Montmartre, the cozy, century-old Librairie Robert Jonard softly glows with vintage reading lamps, books, art and antiques. Truth unfold, the shop’s ambiance and eclectic collection stole my book-collecting heart immediately. For the love of » Read more

If you’re playing Santa from Paris this year, you might be hard-pressed to find any elves to help you with your list. With overpriced Christmas markets and no sales until January, shopping for friends and family can be a daunting – not to mention costly – task. So for each person on your list, be » Read more

Here’s a quick tip for you: When traveling in Paris (or really in any city in our guide), buy your bottled water at a nearby supermarket and not at a newsstand, sidewalk vendor, or train station kiosk where they will have tacked on a steep mark-up. The supermarket is the obvious “local” way to go » Read more

Calling all fashionistas and fashionistos! Last week were you caught madly zigzagging between utter love and frustration with Target by Missoni’s recent launch? Well, lean in because this Paris insider tip is for you. (Target by Missoni’s 1960s Italian film-inspired campaign featuring Margherita Missoni was pretty marvelous, I must say. It definitely caught my eye. » Read more

Cozy up because this week we’re going lingerie shopping in Paris. Lightweight and affordable, they’re my favorite souvenirs. Truth be bold, if buying dozens of French slips and strings is wrong, I don’t want to be right! But first things first, let’s prepare for our voluptuous quest. Looking for discounts? Schedule your trip during either » Read more

This week, let’s go-go vintage clothing shopping! Throughout Paris, you’ll find “friperies” (second-hand clothing shops) and “depôts-ventes” (consignment shops). Possessing a mad penchant for collecting the garb of yesteryear but on a budget, I’ve three favorite hunting grounds: Abbesses, the Marais, and the Porte de Vanves flea market. But first, let’s look to Oscar Wilde » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— This week, let’s go fabric shopping in Paris. Whether your place is in need of a supreme makeover, with some classic French upholstery retouches, or you’re on the make for material worthy of a wedding (New Yorkers, I’m talking to you!), Paris has what you need. One of my favorite textile » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Recently one of our Cheapo readers asked us for a few shopping tips. Emily plans to visit Paris with her teenage daughter in July, which is the parfait time because “Les soldes d’été 2011” (the big summer sales) kick off on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 and last through Tuesday, July » Read more

By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— Whether you’re navigating the stalls of the outdoor organic market at Boulevard Raspail or elbowing your way through the international clientele at the market in Belleville, there are a few things to know before braving a marché in Paris. Each market is unique and offers a local and intimate peek » Read more

Recently my sister Wendy flew to Paris for a short jaunt, so I spun a special day tour, tailor-made to suit my very stylish and au courant sibling. With a little pre-planning, we were able to visit two fashion-related exhibitions, three historical monuments, four grand magasins, along with five prime (and oh-so-affordable) shopping districts. And » Read more

Rise and shine because it’s high time to trek it on down to the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris. Like my dad always says, we’ve got places to go and people to see! Delightful dealers This week I’ll introduce you to a few of my favorite dealers at the flea » Read more

Make no tips, hands or buts about it, “Les soldes d’hiver 2011” (big winter sales) are in full and vibrant swing here in Paris! They began on January 12, 2011 and last through Tuesday, February 15, 2011. So this week I’ve decided to don my faux fur tour guide hat, and create a special excursion » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Oh, the weather in Paris has been frightful, but the city is still delightful. So crank up Tino Rossi’s classic “Petit Papa Nöel” on the gramophone, or pull on your boots and bravely hot step it outside. For your wandering pleasure, I’ve created a personal list of my favorite holiday » Read more