The 3 Best Luxury Shops to SAVE BIG in Charles de Gaulle Airport (and 1 to Skip!)
I’m sure you know by now that French luxury goods are on steep discount once you’re inside France. You can save hundreds on CHANEL, YVES SAINT LAURENT and (ohmygod yes!) even HERMES by purchasing in Paris instead of your home luxury boutique. Smart shoppers have been holding off on buying their coveted French luxury designers until they touchdown like EMILY IN PARIS. But, what I found on my recent trip to Paris was that they have an even steeper discount at Charles de Gaulle airport. Because some VAT taxes and fees are lifted at airport shops (thanks for the intel, BragMyBag.com), some things I found were half off American retail prices!
So, when I found myself 3 hours early at CDG, I made myself a little tour of the luxury designer goods offering at the airport. Here are the top three hits – and one absolute miss – for shopping luxury bags at slashed prices inside Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport.
The Top 3 Luxury Boutiques to Shop in Charles de Gaulle Airport (and 1 to skip!)
#1. CELINE
This was *hands-down* the best experience at CDG! The sales associate at Celine immediately became my best friend. He whisked me around the store, letting me in on little secrets and showing me several versions of pieces I had my eye on. He was incredibly helpful, managing three to four customers at a time and repeatedly checking the back for secret stock. I was looking at the TRIOMPHE CANVAS CELINE PRINT CARDHOLDER (US $255) and the same print in the Triomphe Small Pouch (US $530). I also tried on the REAL SUNGLASS VERSION of the Amazon Dupes I’ve been rocking for 2+ years, but liked MY $12 DUPES better!
Then he showed me the Triomphe print in the coin pouch and also a small tote bag. I could not believe the prices and really thought I might have to get a matching set. But, after clubbing in Paris the night earlier with my Valentino Rockstud Camera bag, I realized I really needed a cardholder — I was seen inside Moloko and the Moulin Rouge with a credit card and ID bobby-pinned together. The cardholder runs $255 in the US and $190 in the Paris city boutique. But at the airport, she was just $167!!
#2. BOTTEGA VENETA
This was a wiilllllld store. It’s like a Bottega store on mushrooms. You will find your expected CASSETTE BAGS and DUMPLING BAGS, but instead of having them in black or beige, they had neon lemon and lime colors. Nothing was normal there. They had the craziest metallic messenger bag I’ve ever seen. A Cassette Bag on crack, it was the size of a 19” laptop and had silver foil exterior. The crossbody strap and bag were padded with cotton to look like a Millenium Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. At a rock bottom price of $1450, you can have this plastic, padded, puffer bag (although, as most Bottega bags run $3-5K, this is actually a good deal). This isn’t the place to snag a piece for a lifetime, but if you love the unique and overstated versions that you can’t find anywhere else, this store is for you. At the very least you can spend some time getting fun Insta pics!
#3. SAINT LAURENT
The YSL store had nothing out of the ordinary — just a solid array of Lou Lous and the like in a variety of colors. It’s located next to the Celine store, so I was thankful I already spent my budget, otherwise I’d have a toy, a mini and a jumbo in the same color. I didn’t see many small leather goods or unique pieces, but if you’ve got your heart set on an Yves Saint Laurent classic, this is absolutely the place to grab one. At the time of publishing, a black YSL MEDIUM LOU LOU in the US cost $2850. One in the Paris city store would run you $2431 and in Terminal 2 of Charles de Gaulle airport, you can get the same bag for $2106. It’s like getting Saint Laurent on sale!
AND NOW THE ONE TO SKIP!:
Hermes
Hermes! Can you believe? I wish I could tell you to save all your Euros for a clearance-priced Kelly mini or an Oran sandal. But this was a skipper! I had actually visited the Hermes store in Bordeaux just a few days earlier, so had a really good comparison of what to expect. I’m guessing the CDG Airport boutique is more geared toward gifting because it had a wide selection of menswear, shoes and pet items (?!F!&#@!??). Probably not what you’re looking for. They did have some unique SLGs like coin purses and unisex bracelets, but if you’re looking for a major statement piece or an investment bag to last a lifetime, you might not find it here. What is lovely is that all the stores at Charles de Gaulle have the prices listed on every item, which saves you time on getting a sales associate… but it also means you completely lose the, “Hermes experience.” And if you’re looking to snag a Kelly or Birkin? Don’t waste your time, chérie!
I straight up asked for one (#noshame) and they let me know that they are never offered at the airport. That’s okay, because you can drown your sorrows over dinner at Yo! Sushi.
Have you ever shopped at the Paris airport? Bookmark this page for the next time you have a trip to France so you can save beaucoup bucks! NOW TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS BELOW — did you know there were such steals at the CDG Airport boutiques? Which do YOU want to spend all your Euros at?
— J
