Galleries LaFayette, Paris

So you arrive at your hotel and you see the free map at the front desk. You pick it up and are further enticed by the offer of 10% off shopping at the Galleries LaFayette. You recognize the name and are excited to head off to one of Paris’ most famous department store.

Galleries LaFayette have been a shopping destination it was opened in 1896 by Theophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn in more or less the same location, near the Opera (40, Boulevard Hausmann, 9th Arrondissement). Probably a better description of the extensive shopping opportunities at the galleries should be called a shopping arena--the Opera location has no less than building housing the various offerings.

Do shop there—it is quite an experience.

Only one caution: if you want to do Tax Free shopping, be prepared to take all of your receipts to the main building and wait in line to fill out a piece of paper with your name, address, etc. This at first seems to be a sign-up list for a newsletter (and may still lead to that) but you are meant to give it to the associate who will then enter all your information to print out the tax refund form.

After shopping through the various galleries, it can be a bit daunting to have to face this one last bureaucratic process. Nevertheless, definitely do it if you have tax you claim back.

Tom