Shopping with Husband in Paris.
 

I love Paris. Our first trip to Paris together was unsuccessful. Dead of winter, bad weather, poorly located accommodation which was absurdly small. Now I have to sell him on going back to Paris. He likes Europe so that's not the problem. I have also helped him to see that shopping can be great fun and even therapeutic. However, he rushes me while I'm shopping. So, if we can find a great hotel near to the Galleries Lafayette and other good shopping, then it will be easy to meet him back there and he will like being there, if some waiting is necessary.

We need a central hotel within easy walking to the Galleries L., and other good shopping. $200-$500 range, which I realize is a large range but we are open to spending more if we have to since going to Paris is not a frequent occurrence in our lives. A friendly environment would be nice. Small. elegant. In Rome we usually stay at Hotel Ponte Sisto and love it-- so something along those lines if you are familiar.

Fodorites have made all my trips so much better and I thank you all in advance.
Jane

How about the Hotel Saint Vincent which is in a great location on the border of the 6th/7th? Great shopping, restaurants, museums, etc. Your husband should be able to keep himself occupied in this area. Granted it is not near the Galleries Lafayette but an all around better location IMO. Will be staying there in December. www.hotelsaintvincentparis.

Are you sure you need to be near the Galeries Lafayette? The Opéra/Boul. Haussman area, which seems to be what you are focusing on, is SO easily accessible by bus and métro, I'm not sure you need to be in a hotel there (and it sure isn't ideal, IMO). It might take you 10 minutes on public transportation each way from any number of nice neighborhoods in Paris. Surely DH can watch CNN or find a golf shop or something to pass away such a short extra time.

Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are in the 9th arrondissement, which happens to be the arrondissement with the most hotels.

Europeans know this, Americans less so.

If OP's main objective is to go shopping at Galleries Lafayette, it may be a hassle for her to schelp all her shopping bags etc on the metro or bus to go back to her hotel; hence she's looking for a hotel close by so that she can easily go back there and drop off her purchases.

Why don't you take cell phones to Paris so you can go your separate ways and arrange to meet in romantic places?

I cannot imagine enjoying being told to wait in a hotel in Paris for somebody who is out shopping and is late returning.

You couldn't sell me on that no matter what the hotel offered -- unless it offered me better company!

But I might be up for getting a phone call in Paris like "how about we meet at Cafe xxxxx?" or "by the xxxxx statue in the Jardins xxxxx?" or at the entrance to xxxxxx?

Maybe one that began "I'm back at the hotel waiting for you" but not "I'm still trying on shoes. Maybe you can find something good to watch on TV" ---?????

If you really plan on shopping till you drop with a lot of bags, it would be convenient to walk to/from those stores, I agree.

Alternatively, you could stay at the Lutetia which is about right across the street from Bon Marche, and I think a more pleasant area. I like Bon Marche as a store better than GL, also, but each has their points.

I think your husband would be nuts if he hung around a hotel waiting for you to do shopping, so I wouldn't choose on that reason, but on the shlepping bags reason.

But, if you want to stay near GL/Printemps and the Opera, here are a few choices that are very close (in practice, nothing wrong with that area, your husband can find things to do or cafes to hang out very near the hotel).
http://www.hotelqueenmary.com/
http://www.paris-hotel-massena.com/
http://www.levignon.com/

Of course, if you have the dough, you could stay at the Intercontinental Grand, not sure how much that costs. Sometimes people get some deals on that. Or the Sofitel Hotel Scribe is another choice at the high end, I get those two confused.

Thank you all so far. Let me explain: Absolutely, Romantic is what I want. That's why I don't want there to be any arguments or impatience. I want a little time in the mornings to shop which for me can also mean meandering through the neighborhoods browsing, discovering,(this is where he can become impatient) and then the rest of the time there can be lots of romance. That way he'll remember Paris in a very positive way and want to go back for more of that "romance".

I'm open to hearing of other shopping districts with charming hotels that you may think we will like. The Bon Marche neighborhood sounds good. Thank you for that. I will also look into the cell phone idea which is a very good one. Is it easier to arrange to use our own phones in Europe or get rentals?

We are really art and architecture freaks but I have found that a little shopping can be nice, too.

Thanks again.

another vote for the area near Bon Marche. Much nicer than anything near GL.

JaneRebecca wrote: " I have also helped him to see that shopping can be great fun and even therapeutic. However, he rushes me while I'm shopping." and then wrote: "Romantic is what I want."

As a husband, let me tell you that it is very difficult to have it every way. If you want a hotel near the shops, he'll get the message about your priorities. Park him while you shop, pick him up afterwards. Bang goes the romantic dimension.

I also vote for staying near (and shopping at)the Bon Marche.

We loved this store. It is close to Bon Marche. http://www.nitya-paris.com/index_nitya.php?langue=en

Usually when I shopped, mostly flea markets. My husband would sit at a nearby cafe for lunch and drinks and read a paper and watch the passing parade because he hated to shop. He was an L.L. Bean and I'm awanabee Chanel...lol

Padraig;
Is that "bang" the romantic dimension is dead or bang it explodes into existence?
What do you suggest I do then?
Jane

shopping is not romantic to a guy, Hmmm, unless you tell him you are shopping for those super expensive undies.

I'm with Padraig in saying that your priority appears to be shopping, no matter how you try to disguise it, and your husband is likely to notice as well.

As William James once (almost) said: "Men and women seldom hit what they haven't aimed at."

JaneRebecca, you're not aiming for romance in Paris. You're aiming to go shopping in Paris - with a man who finds your dawdling over shopping and stores trying, apparently resulting in lost patience and repeated arguments. I don't think you're going to hit upon romance with this strategy. You sound like a shopping addict, not somebody for whom shopping is therapy.

Not only do I doubt that bringing the hotel right into the shopping district will solve the problem. I fear -- like Padraig -- it will aggravate the problem. That is more likely to be your explosion.

Do you need more than one day to shop? How about just saying well ahead of time you're going shopping for one day, and he's welcome to join you, but if he'd rather go to do something else, you'd understand. But if he does come along, then he's not allowed to complain that you dawdle and browse like a snail.

For the rest of the trip, if you see some store you like, snap a picture, including the address, and make a mental note to come back the next time.

(and you're not allowed to pout if when you meet up, he describes having had a fabulous day in Paris while you've been shopping)

Stay in a lovely hotel picked for its charms, not its proximity to Bon Marche.

cigale, I don't think it's the cost of the underwear -- and some men would rather no underwear ever at all.

Zeppole;
You have some good ideas but you are testy and rude which ruins any good you might have done. You need to work on that. Perhaps you have an addiction to the internet and to Fodor's and you should just chill out for awhile and not take it all so seriously. No doubt you have heard this before. Now take your condescension and arrogance elsewhere and leave the people who are trying to be helpful and have some fun alone.
Jane

Um, Jane, I think the previous poster actually just said what alot of us actually were thinking.
Anyone who specifically wants to stay in a certain area JUST to shop, not asking about cafes, restaurants, or museums in the area at all, is obviously only really interested in shopping. Fine , but why not admit it?/

Really why go with hubby to Paris at all, I go with out mine, so I really don't see why you can't just go on your own for a shopping trip and then share a real vacation, one that you both would enjoy with hubby somewhere else.

You say you enjoy art and architecture, but that a little shoppping can be nice too, well, how grumpy is your hubby, most don't mind A LITTLE shopping, maybe you do more then a little. Maybe you do alot.

Dump hubby and go with a girlfriend, or on your own, way more fun.

PS tripadvisor.com has a great reader review hotel listing site.

Le Grand Intercontinental is a great place to stay if you want to stay near GL and Printemp.

We stayed in a nice 2 bedroom apartment about 2 blocks from the Galleries L. It was right next to Hediard. If you want the info, I can get it.

I don't think zeppole is rude. I think he's just pegged what you're actually thinking, and that's that shopping is some sort of priority of yours, more important than your husband in fact. Not a criticism, just an observation.

You said yourself that you have helped your husband see that shopping can be great fun and even therapeutic - um, won't comment, but clearly you've got some "thing" about shopping that borders on strange Your entire focus on hotels is related to your shopping habit.
You're not looking for romance, you're looking to feed your acquisitiveness. That's not romantic, no matter how you try to play the logistics.

Is part of the issue that Hubby does not quite know what to do with his time while you are shopping? It might be nice to help identify some of his interests so he could be doing something fun for himself while you are out entertaining yourself (instead of being in a 'waiting' mode).

There are all kinds of museums in Paris, for instance, we are going to the 'Police museum' on our next trip. After I looked at the website, it seems very interesting and not your typical art gallery type of place.

Is he interested in a particular historical period or event? Jewish history?

Does he collect anything? There's a stamp market, book markets, and of course, flea markets.

Travelnut wrote: "Does he collect anything? There's a stamp market, book markets, and of course, flea markets."

They are shopping activities.

One can shop during the day and have romantic evenings ( nights??) -
the two are not mutually exclusive!

Can men find something to do on their own? Why is a women, who wants to
enjoy shopping for part of the day, obliged to "find" something for her husband "to do".
Men are not incapable of reading a guide book, or are they?

I'm confused--what is he point of going on a "romantic," or even not so romantic holiday and spend all your time at the mall/department stores. It's not like they have clothes and such that you cannot get anywhere else at this point with the internets and mass marketing and such. Besides, with the conversion rates you are certainly not getting a bargain.

<i>Some</i> shopping at small boutiques, vintage, and flea markets makes some sense, but planning a holiday around the department store/mall--not so much.

Sorry if that isn't what you want to hear, though it is your prerogative to holiday as you please.

I guess I'd either ditch the husband who doesn't want to shop for this trip or get an apartment so he chill out there while you shop if he has no desire to or you don't want him to venture off and do his own thing while you do yours.

If you are planning to shop all days in doors weather should not be a spoiler, frankly walking in the drizzle or slight cold and warming up in a cafe with wine is no spoiler either--it's quite pleasant--it isn't like it gets tundra-like in Paris during the winter.

just my opinion for whatever you want it to be worth, and since you did ask in your post...

excuse my typos--keyboard is sticky.

My wonderful wife knows that I hate to shop. She would never insist that I park my self while she wanders off. First, we like to do things together that we both enjoy or we have a trade off, a military museum for me and perhaps the V&amp;A for her. I don't understand a trip to go shopping, seems strange and dull and way too expensive. Now, in the past, my wife has gone to Paris with a girl friend and they enjoyed the time to do stuff together. Later I did a solo tour of military sites. Based on what I have read I surely wouldn't to travel with someone with a shopping fetish.

Dear JaneRebecca,

I absolutely hate to shop, but honestly from your post did not get the impression you have shopping &quot;issues&quot; at all! Gosh, most of my friends can shop all day for days on end. I think you like strolling around looking in cute French shops. Even I like that. (After just a couple of minutes at GL or Printemps I can be a bit cranky myself though.)

Traveling with a spouse with different interests is tricky. I've noticed a lot of Fodorite's don't have this problem, but I unfortunately do. My husband doesn't do well with a touring vacation - troubles with maps and planning and making reservations - just not his strong suit although he attempts to &quot;take charge&quot; when we travel. I've yet to go with him to Paris (which is my favorite city) because I don't want to experience his crankiness and lack of planning.

We'll be celebrating our 21st in September and we're headed to Provence. It would kill a lot of people here to hear this, but he'll be at golf school 2 days of our week together and during that time I'll go off to an art museum, stroll a village, or just sit and look at the scenery for a few hours - things that would be a bit boring for his sporty pace. I had to push him to sign up for the golf because he's sweet and felt bad about &quot;abandoning&quot; me, but I'm really glad we've worked out how to both have a fantastic anniversary trip. It has taken some time for me to be at peace with this, but I'm a lot happier now that I am. And, I do travel a lot on my own. And he plays a lot of sports on his own.

We'll meet later for romance, and a wonderful dinner and sunset, and the romance part will be a lot better because we haven't been squabbling all day and we've both had fun and he'll have a cute little tan. After he's gotten the exercise out of his system, he'll be ready for a nice country drive and long, leisurely lunch another day.

I hope you can find a way to make you both happy, and maybe give up on shopping with your husband. Some of us just go nutty shopping. I understand the need to find something for your husband to do. My needs help that way too... Annoying sometimes, but then I guess he married me because he saw I could help him in certain areas - just as I love that he handles all the finances, medical insurance, and keeping us supplied with light bulbs and AAA batteries...

I hope my story helps and sorry for such a long post. <i>Separate and reunite for romance</i> to summarize!

gruezi

My mother loves to shop and would want to spend much of her time in Paris doing so. That is her personality and so being close to it would make it a lot easier. My dad would rather people watch or read in a cafe or park somewhere. Everyone finds what they need in a vacation!
There were many hotels in the GL area. I thought I saw a Ritz Carlton there, but I am not positive. Good luck and don't listen to everyone else's comments.

Thank you Gruezi that was thoughtful and helpful.

I keep going back to read my initial post to see where I said that I want to &quot;park&quot; him in the hotel or that I want to shop all the time or find something for him to do. I actually am not a shopper or even very good at it which is why it takes me longer. Addicted to shopping? I laughed when reading that because it couldn't be farther from what my life is about. I almost never shop.
Perhaps some of you are projecting or imagining something that simply isn't so.

We have amazing travels together and actually don't like to separate during travel because we both work a great deal in our everyday lives and don't feel we see enough of each other so want to be together while traveling. (I'm sure that some of you will find some psychological fault in that,too, and suggest,divorce or that we are workaholics!!) We have done trips where he takes a language class and I take a dance class (Sevilla)and we meet up later. He has also done the military museums thing, etc, but we enjoy sharing experiences more and we are there to be together so we don't do that anymore.

In truth when we do shop I end up giving him all my attention and advice which is my pleasure, but then there's no time left for me to shop. He comes home with beautiful leather coats and I have one shawl from the outdoor market. So I was thinking of an alternative. A close place,like a hotel, to meet up, in case I take longer than expected. I'm not talking hours longer but maybe a few minutes. Is that really so bad? He's a very creative man and believe me won't be bored and probably will end up not leaving my side at all and having fun in the process.
Thanks again to those who are truly trying to be helpful.

Jane

Jane: That makes sense, but no need to choose a place to stay based on a day or 2 spent shopping. How about a location that has some charm and will be near some other things you want to do. You can always taxi back if you have too much to carry. Just a thought.

BTW there is nothing wrong with going on vacation to spend time with each other, just like there is nothing wrong with splitting up for a few hours.

I abhor going to major museums/tourist attractions at this point--I hate the crowds and tour groups and stop and go meanderthaling of it all (feel free to judge), the husband digs it and schedules in his day, or 2, or hours, or whatever to go do it while I do something else. We also go on vacation to be together as our work hours don't always mesh--it doesn't make us bad people or ones who should go get a divorce. He sadly likes shopping with me though and frankly I'd rather putz online than fuss around trying on crap in stores with not only the sales staff dressing me, but him doing it as well. I try to push him into the man stores to have him get fussed over, but my wandering shopping eye doesn't always work out as planned though and I end up tired and ready for a drinks with him carrying the dress(es) I didn't mean to buy.

Take the advice you get with a grain of salt--we only know what you type us and what you typed sounded like you wanted to shop all week or whatever and &quot;teach&quot; your husband to like it--that just ain't gonna happen.

Well, Jane, things come across on the internet different than intended.

People on Fodor's often describe themselves as shopping addicts or needing gelator fixes, so I didn't know it was such an offense. And I would have sworn you were trying to park you husband somewhere while you shopped to completion, but so what?

I've re-read your first post. The problem there is identified as &quot;he rushes me while I'm shopping.&quot;

I can't see how having a hotel nearby solves that problem -- unless you are going to ask him to go back to the hotel and wait for you, and he likes that.

Some of us would not like that, no matter how nice the hotel.

We, however, are not going with you.

How does your husband feel about this plan of being told to go wait at the hotel until you are through shopping?

Maybe he would prefer to carry cell phones, or has some ideas of his own.

Just correcting your first line &quot;I love -insert here- SHOPPING in Paris&quot;. Seems to me a trip to Paris with such differences present should involve a little give &amp; take. I'm not even sure why your husband is going, honestly. Although I could find plenty to do while my spouse wasted her time shopping all day...but then I wouldn't be married to her anyway...so...do your husband a favor &amp; leave him at home, or at the very least let him stay someplace decent. Anything in moderation is fine, but your,.. um fetish, seems to expand well beyond that...Since Paris is not a frequent occurance, is it really that important to spend all your time shopping ? Let's face it, the same chains are now everywhere, &amp; if you are truly shopping Paris boutiques, you better have plenty of Euros. $500 won't buy you a wallet @ LV.

Isn't there are hotel in Place Vendome....?

The Ritz is in Place Vendome, but now we are really getting out of hand if someone would stay there just to do shopping at the Place Vendome - which is very expensive shops.

I hate shopping, also, so had my own opinions about the original thread, but whatever other people want to do, really doesn't affect me, I know.

However, one really cannot say that they have no idea why people thought this was about a shopping addict and that the husband was being coerced and being parked somewhere when the main point of the thread was that a hotel was specifically needing to be near good shopping and Galleries Lafayette. That's what it said. It also said that the husband has been re-educated to learn that shopping is great fun and therapeutic. Someone who hardly ever shops would not plan a visit and hotel around it nor say things like that. It also said the hotel had to be near the shopping so that he can wait there while she shops and she will know where to meet him when she is done.

So the later claims simply contradict the entire original post, that's all.

I hate shopping and can't imagine describing it as therapeutic as it's not. There is one ad on TV right now saying that the US is a consumer society &quot;and there's nothing wrong with that&quot;... blah blah. It's an ad for a store or credit card, I forget which. But that ad made me ill because that is part of the problem -- there is something wrong with that. Why do people find it therapeutic to buy things? I truly do not get that. Especially ordinary things in dept. stores like dept stores anywhere else. Most brands are international, there's nothing that special about shopping in dept. stores in Paris. The only thing that is a little special is just seeing the old architecture and the dome in GL, for example, that's worth it.

Try to ignore the trolls that sometime haunt this site. Hotel Ambassador should work nicely; just a few steps away from GL. And don't forget, GL has a bar/resto as well. Because this area has lots of office buildings, there are many cafes etc in the immediate area.

''Why do people find it therapeutic to buy things?''

Because it may be that they're getting pleasure from thinking about actually using the item, or searching out something that'll make an unusual present for someone else.

I've bought cookware in France and antique glassware in Austria and enjoyed both the looking for them, and actually using them to entertain other people. I've bought old books as presents, vintage costume jewellery - all sorts of things that can't be sourced in modern department stores, or that aren't necessarily easy to assess the condition of on the internet.

Overseas, you might be looking for things that serve as a momento of your trip. Or that cannot be sourced at home, or are more expensive at home.

As long as you aren't racking up huge debt, and slinging stuff in a cupboard, unused and still wrapped up - or completely forgoing the chance to see the country you're vsiting - what's the problem with using part of your trip to shop?

JaneR,

I live near the Meridien Hotel, Palais des Congres and it's a lovely area for walking around and hitting cafe's that are not exclusively pricey - also has the theater (if you both have some French), and excellent shopping in that Mall (Max Mara and MANY otheres). Quaint neighborhoods and easy access to Metro when you decide you're ready to see some sights or museums. There are also many English speaking neighbors so your husband might make some friends while sitting in a cafe ...

Good luck!

It seems to me like it would be very simple to set aside one day as the &quot;shopping day&quot; and just tell the husband that the next rendezvous will be for dinner.

Any normal man would have no problems finding something to do.

Thank you Oakglen; I didn't realize that there was a trolling problem here and took the bait. I rarely participate in Forums anymore and am out of touch with the problems. I have always found the Fodor's forum people to be so helpful. I will be aware of the problem from now on.

Thanks to those with your good ideas and understanding. It's most appreciated.
Jane

JaneRebecca wrote: &quot;Thank you Oakglen; I didn't realize that there was a trolling problem here and took the bait.&quot;

Jane, nobody trolled you in this thread. Trolling involves posting something untrue or unreasonable or outrageous simply to provoke reaction. You were the one who provoked reaction.