Normally I tell people that winter travel to France is a great idea; fewer crowds, no lines at museums, the restauranteurs have returned, and the weather's generally milder than the northern US. But at the moment Europe's suffering the aftermath of a big snow and freeze, with delayed and cancelled flights and lots of fun snafus. If you've already booked your flight, take a tip from the Parisiennes and carry a wardrobe of scarves along with you.
You can look for those scarves and a lot more at the annual winter sales (les soldes), which opened in Paris on January 6 and continue on until February 9 - that's 6 six weeks of deep discounting at major department stores and small boutiques throughout Paris, and in many other cities as well. Parisians rush to be first to these sales, which are limited by law to twice a year. If you're an avid shopper, fashionista, or frugalista, this is your moment. Plenty of hotel bargains in January and February, airfares are as low as they'll get, and the big cafés have glassed in the sidewalk tables. Combine your savings with the detaxe, the 12 percent rebate on the French VAT available to non-residents and it might make up for the dollar's still dismal exchange rate.
The detaxe has conditions. You must purchase at least 175 Euros worth of merchandise in the same store on the same day, keep your receipts and do some paperwork. However, some of the major department stores and some specialty stores will do this for you and offer on the spot processing.
And if you're not ready to leave just yet, the second round of annual sales takes place from June 30 till August 3, 2010.
