A DIFFERENT WAY TO SHOP PARIS

TOP TIPS FOR A QUICK TRIP TO DESIGNER OUTLET HOTSPOT, LA VALLÉE VILLAGE

Founded in 1995, Bicester Village sprang out of a eld in Oxfordshire, England, to become one of the world’s leading luxury shopping destinations. Today there are 11 village outlet shopping experiences across China and Europe, o ering revered lifestyle brands at exceptional value for money. ey include La Vallée Village, less than an hour from Paris’ city centre, just 10 minutes from Disneyland® Paris and promising boutiques headlined by some of the world’s leading designers.

Reminiscent of a quintessential French village, this shopping destination gives the iconic shopping streets of the French capital a run for their money. In fact, La Vallée is currently outperforming Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement (known for its high-end luxury stores) in terms of sales. With big-name brands at discount prices and both dining and art galleries thrown into the village mix, you can see why this out-of-town shopping hub appeals.

TIP 1 It’s best to arrive mid-morning to avoid the crowds that gather as the day progresses and to beat the queues. However, you can use the online digital queue service to book your slot. As you’d imagine, weekdays are quieter than weekends.

TIP 2 Purchase e Apartment VIP experience – a private space to unwind, enjoy refreshments and great hospitality. I started my journey here and was greeted with hot drinks and cookies. A concierge gave me a map of the village and o ered me hands-free shopping option, where at check-out at any one of the 120-plus boutiques, my purchases would be taken back to e Apartment so I could pick them up at the end of the day. TIP 3 Checking out the best deals works up an appetite, so I took a pit stop at Menu Palais restaurant in the centre of the village, which has an outdoor garden dining area. It serves typical French cuisine, but in a nod to the original Bicester Village in the UK, I opted for something British – sh and chips. Tempting on-the-go dining options at the village include Crêperie Marguerite and for the best macarons, Ladurée.

TIP 4 No matter what mode of transport you choose, travelling to the village is easy. Parking is free and RER and TGV rail services are convenient, with the station just steps away from the village. You can also book a luxury chau eur service online from central Paris and both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly airports.

TIP 5 A new Virtual Shopping services enables you to shop your favourite Village boutiques at a time and from a place that suits you. You can shop directly with the boutique via WhatsApp, phone or email, so if you can’t travel to Paris quite yet, you can still make the most of it brands and prices. PORTEE ALLYSON WORDS

La Vallée Village is open from 10am to 8pm, seven days a week. Visit tbvsc.com/la-vallee-village or download the app.