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 26, 2011. Now that’s planning.

So in celebration, I’ve fashioned a special day tour for the voguish mother-daughter team. This week, let’s visit one of my favorite shopping districts, the always hustling, bustling rue de Rennes. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock!

The Zara location in the Félix Potin building

Getting there

Make your entrance at the Métro Rennes (line 12) sortie. Don’t forget your flats, sunscreen and sunglasses, too.

Thanks to Haussmann, this super-wide boulevard was made for non-stop walking, gawking and talking. Stealing from Capote, just like at Tiffany & Co., nothing ever “very bad” could happen to you here, but do keep a tight grip on your bags. Pickpockets like to promenade, too.

Layout of the land

Rue de Rennes stretches from the Montparnasse Tower to Boulevard Saint-Germain. Truth be bold, rue de Rennes has always been one of my favorite hot spots for window-shopping. Cheapos, I dig the mix. For the love of juxtaposition, here the trendy chains and boutiques coolly mesh with classic Parisian shops.

Documentary photographer Eugène Atget would have had a field day. Wait. Stop the presses. Actually, Atget shot a dragon here ’round 1900 at 50 rue de Rennes. Today the façade has dramatically changed, but the dragon still frolics in a land called “Paree.” Look for the perfect blue door.

Plastiques (103 rue de Rennes)

Where else in this world is it possible to fall madly for a spectacular turban window display after trying on gorgeous maillots de bain (bathing suits) at Etam? And yes, feeling all pin-uppity, I bought both (in noir, of course, Mr. Wilder. How could I not?).

Cinematic buffs, Billy Wilder made his directorial debut in Paris. Can you name the film? Hint: It wasn’t “Sabrina.” Guess again!

Designs on you

Here you’ll also find affordable chains like Etam (135-139 rue de Rennes), Zara (two boutiques, at 45 and 140), and Naf-Naf (143-145), along with Kookaï (155) and Darjeeling (152).

Zara zealots! The Zara location in the Félix Potin building is a personal favorite because it usually serves as one of last stops for the chain’s closeout clothing sales. Also, the fair sight of the stunning Art Nouveau dome topping off the bargains inside is heaven. So gaze up, but do look both ways before crossing!

Need a soda pop or a sturdy bag for your purchases? There’s a Franprix grocery store (71), along with a Fnac (136). Pronounced “fuh-nack,” the largest French entertainment retail chain discounts their inventory of books, including the latest exhibition catalogues.

Boutique Jacques Darcel

Fnac also carries cameras, camera chips and batteries (not to mention DVDs, CDs, and tons of French comic books, an art form all their own). For the love of Julia Child, three other practical and whimsical shops definitely worth a pop-by are La Vaissellerie (85), Culinarion (99), and Plastiques (103), where the umbrellas are the cat’s meow.

Here’s your hat

After strolling your heart out up and down the rue de Renne, make a beeline to Saint-Germain-des-Prés for some high-ticket boutique browsing.

Need a special gift for an equally special garçon? Check out the splurge-worthy cotton hats at the très cool agnès b shop on 6 rue Vieux-Colombier. Now in lavender, olive and black, they’re hard to find outside of France and terribly expensive online. Designer/founder Agnès Bourgois Troublé has also created inexpensive unisex red scarves (€15). Available in cotton during the summertime and wool during the winter, the profits go to various humanitarian causes, including the fight against AIDS.

Cafe de la Mairie

La vie en pêche

Afterwards, grab a café and a fromage Cantal sandwich at the Café de la Mairie at Place Saint-Sulpice.

Next door to this famous but reasonably priced café (with a view!), you’ll find one of the Annick Goutal perfume shops. Again, difficult to find outside of France, Mimosa (with a hint of peach) is this year’s featured scent. A fan for a decade, I usually buy the body cream because it’s less expensive and the scent isn’t as strong but still possesses staying power. Ask for their carte de fidélité. Return visits are rewarded!

Still in the mood to shop ’til you drop?

Well then, jump on the “95” bus line and take it to any of several other lively shopping meccas along its route, like the Carrousel du Louvre or the ’hood surrounding the Opéra (wannabe Black Swans, Répetto is just a hop, skip and a pirouette from the Opéra Garnier!), or the grand magasins along Boulevard Haussmann, or the funky boutiques, vintage shops and bargain bins in the Montmartre-Abbesses area. Pinch yourself! ALL these happy-hunting-grounds are on the scenic “95” bus line. It’s another “win-spin.”

Keep asking!

Emily, thanks for a great question! So, Cheapos, do you have other Paris shopping questions? Ask away in the comments section!

The post Paris Shopping Spree: The wonderful rue de Rennes appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Cheapos, here’s the scoop: The “80” bus line connects two of my favorite shopping districts in the city: rue des Abbesses in the 18th arrondissement and rue du Commerce in the 15th arrondissement. Nestled in cobblestoned ’hoods with views to boot, both boast a cool blend of bargain bins, “indy” designer boutiques, funky shops, and trendy chains.

For the mere price of a metro ticket (the same tickets work for both buses and Metros), you’ll not only cruise between the shopping havens with the greatest of ease, but also boast about your first scores of the day while the panorama of Paris rolls by en route to the next shipping district. The 80 is one of the most scenic bus lines in the city, so keep your camera handy and eyes open!

Related: How to save big when shopping in Paris

Rue des Abbesses

We’ll first hit Abbesses (Métro Abbesses) in the morning. The neighborhood has a bustling village vibe about it, and is chockfull of shops, cafés, and hair salons. Even Louis Vuitton recently fell under its spell, and named one of their messenger bags “Abbesses.”

Beloved national and international chains sit pretty on rue des Abbesses, while most of the vintage shops and funky designer boutiques hold court on the side streets. On Sundays the area becomes a pedestrian-only and traffic-free district!

Something old

Looking for fine vintage? Dial back the clock at Le Caverne à Fripes at 25 rue Houdon. Here the inventory is eclectic, and may seem chaotic but don’t let looks deceive you. The collection is quite organized. Looking for a specific item? Don’t hesitate to ask. They once tracked down a French sailor hat for me. Prices are super reasonable, too.

Something new

Bargain bin shopping Sympa is located nearby at the foot of Sacré-Coeur. Inventory rotates. Here you’ll often find Best Mountain, Etam, Naf-Naf, Sinéquanone, Sandro, and Undiz Lingerie Planet but for a wee fraction of their original cost!

Something borrowed and stunning blue

While trekking about, check out Van Gogh’s old third floor apartment on 54 rue Lepic. A plaque marks the spot where he lived with his brother Theo for a few years.

Feeling all inspired and starry, starry eyed after the visit? Then pop by Sue’s Matière à Bijoux bead shop located directly across the street, and create your own work of art. She’ll even help you design your own bling! Tell her you’re a Cheapo.

This is our stop

After we shop till we drop in Abbesses, we’ll hop on the 80 bus. The bus stop is located at rue Caulaincourt and Tourlaque, just around the corner from the (late, great) pop star diva Dalida’s Bambino studio at 10 Rue Damrémont and Toulouse-Lautrec’s atelier at 7 rue Tourlaque! Again, building plaques mark both historical and hip hot spots.

Oh, the places we’ll go

On our way to rue du Commerce, we’ll pass the Cimetière de Montmartre, Place Clichy, Gare Saint Lazare, the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris, the unofficial Princess Di memorial at Pont de l’Alma, École Militaire, Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower, and the Le Mur pour la Paix created in 2000 by artist Clara Halter and architect Jean-Michel Wilmote. Here the word “peace” in 49 languages is inscribed on large glass panes and tall, slender metal columns. From our rolling catbird seats, we’ll also spot legendary fashion houses like Valentino, Dior and Jimmy Choo!

Rue du Commerce

Hold onto your hat and signal the bus driver because we’ve reached our final destination! First we’ll fortify ourselves with a soda pop at the café, located next to La Motte Picquet Grenelle bus stop. A favorite of the locals, this is prime people-watching zone, any time of the day or year.

Got passion for fashion?

The Rue du Commerce shopping district runs from from Boulevard de Grenelle to Rue des Entrepreneurs. I love this place. The shops are just beyond the bridge. Here you’ll find Cheapo iconic darlings like Monoprix, Etam, Cameliau, Zara, and H&M—where, by the way, rumor has it that the fabulous Jimmy Choo shoe line for the celebrity embracing chain can still be found at the very back of the sale racks! How cool is that? Oh, la la.

Happy Hunting, Cheapos! May the shopping force be with you.

The post Paris Winter Sales: Our 2 favorite shopping neighborhoods appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are my favorite hot spots for picking up kitchenware, guaranteed to make you the toast of the town! So shop to it, Cheapos!

1. Let’s dish at La Vaissellerie

La Vaissellerie is a Cheapo’s cup of tea.

Beloved chain La Vaissellerie has five locations peppered throughout the city. For your bargain shopping pleasure, may I suggest starting out at the shop at 85 rue de Rennes (Metro Saint-Sulpice). Here you’ll find baskets of porcelain tableware, wedged in between towering stacks of dinner plates.

Slashed prices are usually hand-written in thick black dry marker across each dish in a Zorro-like fashion. Keep your eyes peeled for iconic French beauties such as ramekins, espresso cups, soufflé dishes, brightly colored café saucers, soup bowls, tarte and quiche pans, all costing just a few euros!

2. Get your kitsch-on at Porte de Vanves flea market

If you, too, believe that minor scratches and dents add value (for love of mana!), the Porte de Vanves flea market is definitely the hunting ground for you. Cheapos, the selection is beyond belief. Several stalls are even dedicated to cookware and table settings gone just to name a few. (Arrive early, though, because this flea market starts to shut down at noon.)

3. What would Julia Child do?

For culinary sakes, she’d haunt the aisles of kitchen-equipment specialist E. Dehillerin! “Thunderstruck!” was her description of the heated encounter. The attraction was instant, mutual, and long lasting.

Located at 18 Rue Coquillière (Metro: Les Halles), the centuries-old shop’s gleam has not dulled the least bit. Though not a Cheapo haven in the price tag sense, you’ll find the shop’s stock possesses all the right ingredients for dreamy window-shopping. So take in its vast collection of cookware in bright copper, cast iron, and glossy enamel, too, while mulling slowly over endless gastronomical possibilities.

Also, check out Julia’s photograph behind the cash register. Julia’s own kitchen, along with the actual culinary tools she purchased at Dehillerin, is now on display at Smithsonian!

Forever pinching from my favorite French Chef, this has been Theadora Brack! Bon appétit, Cheapos!

(And bravo Meryl Streep!!!)

The post Paris Shopping: Buy French kitchenware with the locals appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are some tips for scoring big during this glorious five-week event.

1. Get smart.

I spy. Visit your favorite shops just before the sale. Memorize the layout. Take note of “rack formations.” Also, try on clothing… you’ll avoid the lines later.

2. Befriend the staff.

Throughout the year, my savvy and smartly dressed friend Dominique drops off chocolates for the sales team at her favorite shops. Guess who hears about the bargains first? The French value fidelity. Don’t live in Paris full-time? Send thank-you notes after each visit.

3. Mind the gaps.

What’s missing from your closet? A belted trench coat with a narrow cinched waist in khaki? Striped shirt? Ballet shoes in black patent leather or navy suède? All three are timeless French classics, and quite souvenir-worthy.

“Soldes” on rue des Abbesses.

4.  Get your beauty rest…

But set your alarm, because stores open at 8:00 AM.

5. Cents and Sensibility.

Pack a survival kit: water bottle, pre-cut moleskin, candy, gum, eyedrops, Metro tickets, footies (for trying on shoes), maps with target shops circled, and coins for WCs. Also a sturdy bag, because shops give out flimsy plastic sacs.

6. Leader of the Pack.

Véronique on Boulevard Voltaire with bike and sacs of purchases.

My friend Véronique beats the crowds by scooting around by bike. “I’m able to visit at least twenty shops by 10 AM,” she boasted, while installing her new jumbo-sized basket just in time for the sale. Need a bike? Rent a Vélib’!

7. Avoid the masses.

Hate crowds? Shop weekday mornings or early afternoons.

8. Size matters.

When should you pounce? In France, “smalls” fly out the door first, but “large” and “X-large” stick around a little longer. On the other hand prices drop as the sales progress, so it’s a gamble! Know your European size numbers.

Vintage clothing in the Marais

10. Retro active.

Vintage shops often reduce prices, too. You’ll find pockets of boutiques scattered through Montmartre (start at La Caverne à Fripes at 25, rue Houdon) and the Marais, where at the Vintage Désir at 32, rue des Rosiers you’ll find a vast collection of striped shirts. For inspiration, see exposition“Les Marins Font La Mode—Sailor Chic in Paris” at the Musée National de la Marine at place du Trocadéro.

11. Don’t forget the obvious.

Discount shops like Sympa (Metro Anvers), and TATI on Boulevard Rochechouart (Metro Barbès-Rochechouart) take their already bargain basement prices to new lows. Make a pilgrimage to TATI, where Jules Ouaki introduced “discount shopping” (self-service and towering baskets of merchandise) to Paris in 1948.

12. Keep your cool.

A “Loft Design By” window.

Pick a handful of boutiques and one or two shopping districts, or you’ll end up overwhelmed before the get-go. For instance, I focus on the Spanish marque Zara, which slashes prices like almost no other store (I once scored almost 400 euros-worth for under 50 euros!).

You’ll find clusters in busy shopping districts throughout the city. Boulevard Haussmann, for instance, has five Zara’s in a six-block radius. Two are inside Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, and one even has a view of the Opéra! Divine, yes, but their proximity also saves you time. (By the way, rumor has it that a Cheapo editor once assembled a very stylish–and skinny–suit by Zara-hopping along rue de Rivoli. Très, très bien!)

Borrowing from Elsa Schiaparelli, “Buy only the best or the cheapest!”

Tell us: Have you scored at the soldes? Tell us about it!

The post Paris Summer Sales: Tips for “soldes d’été” success appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.