Helpful Tips for Visiting France: Part II

Photo by Rita Molnár

France has no shortage of major supermarkets that sell pretty much anything you could need. The larger chains even sell household items, toys and more. One of the best chains is Auchan. If you can get past their super large busy stores you will find that they have excellent prices. They also have good quality meats and tons and tons of choice. Another good chain is LeClerc. They also have high quality foods but their prices are a little higher than Auchan. Other common chains are Intermarche and Super U. These are both smaller chains but will have everything you need. However these stores can be hit and miss, it all depends on the management and local competition.  When they are good they are just as good as the Auchan and LeClerc, but a little pricier. Large supermarkets generally are open all day until around 8 or 9pm, including lunchtime with the stores almost always being closed on Sundays. French supermarkets follow environmental laws that require you to bring your own bags to carry your shopping. If you don't have any you can buy reusable bags at the check out counter.

In France they take long lunches. During lunchtime you will find that most local shops will close for at least two hours beginning around 12:30pm. Major shopping areas and large supermarkets are usually open through lunch. In fact around lunchtime you will find places and roads very quiet. This is the best time to go to the supermarket. There will be hardly any traffic on the roads and hardly any people in the shop so very short or no lines. It is important to be aware of these long lunch times when visiting France so you can make sure you have anything you need before the shops shut up for two to three hours each day.

Another point to make about shopping or anything that requires waiting in line like going to the bank is that it takes longer. This can be annoying if it is not what you are used to. But instead of letting it stress you out. relax and enjoy this slower pace of life. You will find that lines in shops move slower while customers have conversations with the cashier. It is also common practice for a cashier to wait until you have packed up all of your shopping before serving the next customer. This is a pleasant courtesy even though it slows things down. Also don't forget to say hello, thank you and goodbye to the cashier, they will do the same.

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