Assuming I even bother, that is. I was there during the July soldes in 2009 and barely did any shopping at all.

At any rate, I just sprung for plane tix to Paris for two nights the last wkd of the Monet exhibit. I have my hotel secured (Hotel des Grands Hommes) and was surprised that it was not only a little tough to find availability with the various places I checked, the rates weren't all that cheap given that it is January. I am paying 410E for the wkd and that is with a return-visitor discount.

This is officially my shortest trip to Europe. The good news is that my plane leaves at 440 PM on the day I depart so instead of only Sat and Sun, I have Monday through lunch in Paris.

I am planning on the Monet Exhibit at the Grand Palais, and as I've been to the Marmottan before I'm not certain I'll make the trek this time although I may.

For the soldes - any tips, any visitor guidebooks to max out a short amount of time, etc? I suppose I could just hit some of the bigger department stores and leave it at that. I'm also well situated for shopping in the 6th.

I lucked out in seeing a good Rodin exhibit in Vienna in November (at the Lower Belvedere) so I don't feel the pressing need to visit the Rodin Museum this time (one museum I haven't seen yet). Any current exhibits other than Monet that you'd recommend I check out? It appears I will miss the Bulgari exhibit, which would have been interesting.

Oh, and I am likely to get the Sesame card for the Monet exhibit. Would it make sense to wait until I get there to buy it directly at the Grand Palais, or do you need to stand in the same long line just to buy that Sesame card?

Thank you.

I'm pretty sure the Monet exhibit is sold out with the sesame card/online pass. We were just there and couldn't get in on the days we wanted as the lines were so long and we didn't want to wait in the cold.

Hopefully, I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure you'll have to wait in line. But, I do remember seeing something about it being open for 24 hours the last day/days? Anyone else see that?

This is on the museum web page:

Online tickets are no longer on sale for the Monet exhibition at the Grand Palais. You can, however, buy tickets online for what I believe is a superior exhibition at the Musée Marmottan Monet, also in Paris, the museum that has the World’s biggest collection of Monet’s paintings and drawings. For more information, and a link to buy tickets, click here: Monet at the Musée Marmottan, Paris.

BTW, if you are a fan of Monet's Water Lillies, you will find them at the Marmottan. Marmottan would not share the 100+ painting of Monet for the Grand Palais exhibit.

Oh well, I'll either stand in line or go shopping then!

A friend of mine is doing a similar thing, this weekend, I'll ask him to report back on the lines and the Sesame Card too.

ps. I think the Sesame card isn't an issue? It's essentially a year long pass to the Grand Palais, no waiting in line, etc.

Speak of the devil..

My friend just emailed me from Paris - he bought the Sesame pass and walked right in to the Monet exhibit. No worries. He didn't even know about the pass until I told him about it yesterday, so he didn't have time to research it or buy it online.

He said the line looked to be about 45 minutes long, and the lines for the Bulgari exhibit and the 1500 exhibit are MUCH longer (but they close this weekend I believe?)

If I were there for the soldes and had the time, I would run to the two shops in Paris where I always find clothing, Gerard Darel (on Blvd. St. Germain) and Crea Concept (rue de Cherche Midi)then just cruise rue de Four for handbag. Both shops are also in the Marais if Sunday is your shopping day.
Even with your very short trip, the Monet exhibit is worth a wait if you are not fortunate enough to walk right in.
Have a wonderful trip!

They are just sales like any sales in any city. There aren't any special tips, it's just stuff on sale in stores, so go to the stores where you think you like to shop and that has the kind of merchandise you want. They are the same as winter clearance sales in the US. Sometimes you can actually find something you like that is worth buying in your size at a discount, but mostly you can't. The merchandise is what is left over, of course, and even with the discounts, it's usually more expensive than stuff you'd buy in the US.

The only tip I can think of, which is probably obvious, is that by the end of the sales period there isn't much left, the best stuff goes early.

About the only thing that has happened in recent years is that the beginning of the sales is now set at 8 a.m. to prevent the madness that had started of beginning activities at midnight.

I love Arche shoes, so always check out the various Arche stores. later in the sale period, obviously the more reduction, so I've gotten so great prices on their shoes when we've been there later in January or Februray.

Have fun!

Thanks Judy - <b>exactly</b> what I was looking for. I simply don't know the stores/where to go. I have only a few days and don't want to merely "wander across" them. I know that the 6th has nice boutiques, but I don't know names. NYC, for instance, has a laminated map guide with store names on it - something like that would be perfect.

Yestravel, will do! I did recently here of Coclico shoes/boots - worth a look?

kerouac, I don't plan to be hoofing it at 8 AM, but you never know.

Christina, we'll see how it goes - I don't plan to scour.

flygirl, if you make it to Crea Concept, you must try on the clothes....they look soooo much better on a person than on a hangar. I had a friend who looked through the racks and saw nothing of interest to her. A few of us with her encouraged her to try a jacket on and she bought that, a few sweaters and a coat!

Judy, will do - that happens to me a lot actually...

Also, I see I need to do a better job of proofreading before I hit send - ugh!

I just thought of a specific question:

Do perfume boutiques have sales?

I know where Annick Goutal's shop is (near St Sulpice) and I will certainly visit there.. any other favored/unique perfume shops? Perhaps something not easily found in the US (sale or no sale)?

Flygirl

The reason that there is such a fuss about the start of the soldes is that there isn't really much in the way of great bargains to be had. Therefore hardened shoppers arrive at 8.00am, snap up the real bargains, and the casual shopper is left with the 10% discounts on last year's styles.

For tourists the soldes mean that stuff they might want as a momento of a trip to Paris may be slightly cheaper, but you're best off treating it as an interesting experience in a foreign land rather than a super value shopping event.

Such a quick trip for you, I don't suppose you will have time to take more of your beautiful photographs. But please try to squeeze in time for a few.

Judy, thank you SO much for the reco of Gerard Darel. I did not make it to your other recos, but I did make it to Gerard Darel and bought several items there - including a beautiful winter coat.

Funnily enough, I was strolling down rue de Bac and a sweater in a window display caught my eye. This was just a regular boutique. I loved the sweater, tried it on, and bought it along with a belt. I got home and this morning when I was selecting which item to wear to work I picked up that sweater.

It was also a Gerard Darel! I did not buy it at his store, instead that small boutique. I am drawn to it without even knowing, haha.

Cynthia, thank you. I took only a few photos, this is true. I will post some later.

Photos of the coat and sweater too?

flygirl, I'm so happy you found Gerard Darel worth a stop! I've never been in Paris during the sales but can always find something there worth buying, unfortunately at full price.
I generally buy petite clothing here but find many European brands fit so much better.
I have a friend who does go for the soldes and takes her 6 yr. old daughter now that Darel has started a children's line.....soooo cute!