For the first time, Rachel Kaplan is offering private guided tours to the Louis Vuitton exhibition “Paris en Capitale” at the Carnavalet Museum as well as to the privately-held Goyard Museum on the rue Saint Honoré. This is a unique opportunity to discover the history and craftsmanship of two of the leading luggage and leather-goods makers in the world—whose success stories began with the Second Empire of Napoleon III and Eugénie, as well as the Universal Expositions. This exclusive tour is also a chance to have a VIP shopping visit at the flagship store of Louis Vuitton on the Champs-Elysé es as well as at Goyard. All appointments are pre-booked by French Chic Shopping so that you avoid waits on any lines.

The cost of this unique tour which is available for a limited time only is 675€ plus VAT Tax.

French Chic Shopping is offering all 2010 bookings a 10% discount on this tour, including for tours offered in 2011. All English-language tours will be given by Rachel Kaplan, president of French Chic Shopping and author of Best Buys to French Chic.

As a tourist, shopping in Paris can feel intimidating and a bit like a battlefield- the choice, the prices, the pure chic. It’s hard to manoeuvre around these factors to find something that fits both body and budget, so many people end up either paying too much for designer goods in the big ‘name’ department stores, or looking longingly into shop windows but returning home empty-handed. It doesn’t have to be that way!

There’s no need to feel overwhelmed any longer-take heed of the following hints from this Paris expat. Soon it will be second nature to claim money back on purchases, chase discounts and find bargains. Learn to start negotiating Paris shopping like a true ‘Parisienne’. (more…)

I bet there are a lot of people who still believe that Paris is the most expensive city in the world! Not true-and that there is little or next to nothing that they can afford to bring home, apart from an Eiffel Tower key chain and a bottle of Chanel No.5. Yet, I can prove to you that by taking tips from the French themselves, visitors to Paris can come home feeling both chic and happy knowing their checking accounts haven’t gone into the red.

While it’s certainly true that you can limit your shopping to the posh streets of Paris and stick to such global brands as Hermès, Vuitton and Dior, you will only end up buying what you find in other major financial capitals, and you certainly won’t have the kind of fun that comes from venturing off the beaten track.

Location & Timing

Location and timing are crucial aspects of shopping for the best deals in Paris. Some of the best deals are in the least expected places. For instance, if you shop at an open-air food market, it’s a good idea to go mid-week, when it is less crowded and the prices are lower. Make a point of shopping a half-hour before the market shuts down (12:30 p.m. instead of 1 p.m.), because the stall keepers will often offer some great bargains to unload leftover merchandise.

Browsing the Market

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