Specialty Shopping

I know certain countries are known for certain souvenirs, but what items in Paris should I be looking to purchase? For example, I know in Mexico I can get tanzanite at a great price, in Venice I can get beautiful murano sculptures, or Canada I should pick up some maple syrup. :-)

I%26#39;m just not sure what to be on the lookout for in Paris for those %26#39;gotta get%26#39; items. I usually bring home a suitacse of purchases, so I just want to make sure I%26#39;m filling it with the best!

Thank you!

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Um, a mini Eiffel Tower? (I can%26#39;t afford a $300 Hermes scarf :)

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As the french are famous for wine;

it comes in half bottles.

French food comes to mind. There are

a number of shops with small cooking

implements.

You can find small tins of regional

and national French food in

numerous french food shops.

If this doesn%26#39;t fill up your suitcase,

get back to me.

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I usually stock up on lots of pantry food items (jams, pates, etc.), soaps and silly little posters and cards to bring back for friends. For those I really love I%26#39;ll smuggle cheese back (but that%26#39;s mostly for me). I always think to bring wine back - but I never see anything that I can%26#39;t get in NYC (and I%26#39;m always afraid it%26#39;s going to break open as items in the overhead bin shift).

I also love shopping at little, independent boutiques. The really good ones are run by the trend setters who all the big shops will by copying off of next year (I was seeing bohemian items in these sorts of shops well before that trend became so popular). Bags, scarves and jewelry are lots of fun to shop for and you don%26#39;t have the added pressure of trying thing on.

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Thanks everyone! I%26#39;ll definitely get the obligatory mini eiffel tower :-)

I didn%26#39;t think of the food items- but that%26#39;s a great idea! I%26#39;m sure as soon as we get back we%26#39;ll be missing all the great new things we%26#39;d tried.

And definitely a thumbs up on accessories- I%26#39;m excited about those!

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France has some of the best linen.

If you have a king size bed look for 240x260 duvet covers that fit a king size duvet. Colors and patterns are so much more interesting.

Also look for real Jacquart fabric for kitchen towels or tablecloth, napkins, high quality, lasts forever. Does not fade.

Sounds like a commercial.

From France, I bring coffee, chocolate, some creams like La Roche Posay etc.

The rest I can find in the States and often cheaper.

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I always buy a scarf,the selection in Paris cannot be beat!

Also purses are a good value.Pick one up at the cdg duty free shops.I usually get a Longchamp,they are quie a bit less expensive than in the states .

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I bought a wine pump and the 2 %26#39;corks%26#39; that go with it at BHV...use it everyday at home...

I bought a scarf with the Metro map on it... but it was %26quot;made in Italy%26quot; (all the affordable ones are!)

Also - the RATP (metro utility) has a souvenir store in the underground station at les Halles...

http://www.ratp.fr/corpo/boutique/

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What is BHV?

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Where are these little shops?

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BHV is the Bazaar Hotel de Ville, an enormous department store that stocks everything from sable coats to screws. It is a MUST SEE in Paris.