Well, you're going to need some retail therapy, non?! Whether it's food, clothes, whatever! Supermarkets such as Auchan, E Leclerc or Carrefour (others are available!) offer a huge range of fab food and drink such as gorgeous cheeses and local wines, but don't forget that France has many independents each with their own indivuidual offerings. Our favourites include Devred and Armand Thiery for new gear, and Fnac for music and books, but we're sure you'll find plenty of others that you'll love! Essential French words and phrases below...

Printer friendly simple phrases for Shopping in France

TIP - In France, the currency is the Euro. However, it is quite usual to see the price on tags displayed in both Euros and in French Francs (ff).

Another TIP - Don't be surprised if you get asked if you want to pay with a carte bleue (CB) - literally 'blue card'. These are widely used in France as both credit and debit cards, but are not used outside France. Other international credit cards are widely accepted, but check on charges beforehand. This also applies to charges for using cash machines.