Some brands are well known outside of France, in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, just to name a few. In these countries these products would be very expensive, but in France they are pretty affordable. The difference is astounding.

Here we will share some tricks and two of the cheapest drugstores in Paris, because not everything has to be monuments, art, and history lessons.

1 . What can you find in a Paris Drugstore

In French drug stores you can find over-the-counter medicine (like cold medicine), acetaminophen, band aids and everyday things that you may need just in case. They also sell prescription medicine, homeopathic drugs, and, lastly, some skincare and beauty products for babies and grown ups: sunscreen, moisturizer, liquid soap, shampoo, body scrubs, serums, etc. It’s a whole universe. It’s a whole universe.

2 . Any place in France will be cheaper than outside of France

It doesn’t matter if you can´t go to the cheaper ones in Paris, if you can make a quick stop at any drugstore and buy anything that might be necessary to you, do it. Remember to be mindful about the weight of your bags. Sometimes we can go a little crazy over the prices and variety of products.

But it really is worth it, and it is even cheaper that in some other countries in Europe like Germany or Spain. It happened to me with an Avene sunscreen that I forgot to buy before my trip and I had to get it in Spain for 5€ more than I would have paid in France.

3 . Be patient

There are tourists everywhere, just like you, who come here to save on their skincare products. Often these two drug stores we will tell you about will be very full. Try to get to them early when they open. Try to get to them early when they open.

4 . Think about the weight of what you buy

Remember that you have a limited number of bags; unless you are planning on getting an extra bag to fill with you new goodies you will have to be careful and clever with how you distribute luggage weight. We want you to be conscious of this because many visitors have gotten carried away and then when they have to pay for the extra luggage they realize they didn’t actually get to save that much.

5 . Customer advisers are there to help you, but also to make sales:

We have to tell it like it is and the advisers or sales people in these drugstores have commissions that they have to work for, and hit a certain number of promotion sales, sometimes even paid for by the brands. This is normal. But I think it is important to be aware of it. There is helping and there is selling. Some sales people speak several languages and will be able to help you find what you want, but they will follow up with “have you heard of this better product?” And the thing is, it’s actually true! The products of Avene, La-Roche-Posay, Uriage, which are so popular in Latin America, are mainly known for sun protection and not for their skin care and anti-ageing properties. They will always try to upsell you other products with other prices and stronger formulas. We are not saying this is bad, we just want you to be aware so you feel more comfortable saying to the sales people that you don’t want or can´t buy what they suggest, or if, on the other hand, you are looking to find new brands. There are plenty of great brands like Sanoflore, Caudalie, Patyka, Filorga.

So, finally, the two cheapest drug stores in Paris:

1 . CityPharma

A couple of steps away from Saint-Germain, you can find one of the cheapest drug stores

in the corner of Rue Bonaparte and Rue du Four. It is always very busy due to their very compelling prices, and even though they have tried expanding it always fills up fast. Our recommendation is to go early in the morning and have a clear plan of what you are looking for.

The entrance floor has all the skincare and the other floors have other products.

About Détax or Tax-Free Shopping: what we have been told about this drugstore is that tax-free shopping doesn’t apply to all products and needs to be processed the day of purchase. To ask for it you will absolutely need your passport. In another entry we will explain about this interesting trick for those of you looking to do much shopping.

Practical information:

Address: 26 Rue du Four 75006

Métro: Line 10, Mabillon stop and Line 4 Saint-Germain-des-Prés stop.

Hours: During Summer, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. During Winter, open until 8:15 p.m.

Website: CityPharma

NOTE: The building where you can find CityPharma went into reparations, but the drug store remained open.

2 . Pharmacie Monge

This drug store is located in the Plaza Monge, in arrondissement 5, just outside of the metro station, Line 7, Place Monge. The prices are also very compelling, but perhaps the most interesting thing about this one is that it is open day and night. Yes! All night, and some Sundays according to the on-call drugstore schedule (there are some that have to be open through Sundays.) The staff is very friendly.

About Détax or Tax-Free Shopping: it is possible to get tax-free shopping done here and they process it themselves, which is why you have to be patient and wait for the paperwork to get done, if not you´ll have to go through the Tax Exemption Booth at the airport. You will absolutely need your passport. In another entry we will explain about this interesting trick for those of you looking to do much shopping.

Practical information:

Address: 1 Place Monge 75005.

Metro: Line 7, Place Monge station and Bus 47, Monge stop.

Hours: 24 hours! From 00:00 to 23:59. Hours: 24 hours! Except on the Sundays when it has to open, approximately two Sundays per month.

Website: CityPharma

We hope this information will be helpful to you on your trip. We want you to make the most of your stay in Paris. Don´t forget to check out all the other articles we´ve written for you on our blog.

Paris awaits…

À bientôt!

The post Shopping in Paris´s Drugstores appeared first on UAT - DescubreParis.com.

1.It had a tumultuous past

This mythical and harmonious square was commissioned by Louis XIV and gets its name from the landowner at the time, César de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, a natural son of Henry IV. Initially it was a rectangular plaza, with a statue of the monarch on a horse in its center. The square became what it is today as different buildings were erected around; high-end buildings where rich noblemen lived.

During the Revolution, the statue of Louis XIV was torn down. 20 years later Napoleon had a column built of 44 meters (144 feet), made with the molten lead from the canyons taken at enemy lines at the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1871, during the Paris Commune, the column was torn down by the initiative of the painter Gustave Coubert (who decided to exile himself to avoid repaying for the column). Today we can see a replica of the last version of the column.

2.It carries an iconic bejeweled history

This square has a strong tradition of jewelry making dating back to 1700. Back then Chaumet was already settled here and creating jewels for the courts of Europe (he was the official jeweler for Empress Joséphine.) Later came Boucheron in 1858 and after that Van Cleef & Arples, Mauboussin, Mikimoto with its pearls, and the Italian Bulgari. Jewelry stores can also be found along the iconic Rue de la Paix, where you can find the famous Cartier Boutique, and across the plaza, on Rue Saint-Honoré, where you can also find Buccellati

Today you can also find master watchmakers like Rolex, Piaget, Patek Philippe and Hublot among others, as well as Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton.

3.It houses a deluxe hotel, which further recognized it as a Luxury location

It is considered one of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels in the world, the Hotel Ritz was created by the Swiss hotelier César Ritz, who wanted to create a hotel with all the magnificence fit for a Prince (quite the ambition!) This building cemented the vocation of this iconic plaza.

It opened its doors in 1898, and it quickly became a hotel for famous writers, politicians, artists, intellectuals, designers, tycoons, and different personalities.

Marcel Proust observed Parisian society from this hotel and wrote most of his work from there. Coco Chanel lived there until her death. Ernest Hemingway made it his general headquarters during his stays in Paris; one of the bars was even named after him.

The Ritz was one of the last stops of Lady Di and her boyfriend Dodi-Al Fayed (whose father owned the hotel) before dying in Pont de l’Alma, on August 30th 1997.

4.It hides some interesting facts

• Frédéric Chopin lived and died in this plaza, where you can currently find Chaument (number 12 in the plaza). Sometimes, a few privileged clients of the jeweler get the pleasure of being invited to a private concert at Master Chopin´s old house.
• It is said that Coco Chanel was inspired by the shape of this plaza to design her famous Première watch. if you don´t know it yet, here it is.
• This square is also famous for its sober but very photogenic Chirstmas lights.

  

• Some of the storefronts of these famous jewelry houses are used in publicity and advertising, in elaborate set ups, such as the giant sun that adorned the Louis Vuitton Boutique almost two years ago, which was a reference to the Sun King (le Roi Soleil). An impeccable work by L’Atelier Anthem.

  

• The square has 158 arches, and in each one of them there is a distinctly different mask. they were all made by the same sculptor (the details really make a difference.)
• The Place Vendôme has appeared in countless fashion catalogues. it often serves as a background for fashion photo shoots. It has appeared in movies, music videos and thousands of pictures with celebrity sightings.

This square is one of our favorite places, it is an open space, harmonious and with luxury items all around. Make sure to walk around the storefronts and arches, remember, window shopping is free.

This plaza can be found in our Detailed Travel Guides Descubre Paris of 3, 4, and 5 days; or we can include it in a Personalized Travel Guide.

A bientôt.

The post Four things you need to know about the Place Vendôme in Paris appeared first on UAT - DescubreParis.com.