Cheap 'n' Chic

I love to shop in Paris. I found some awesome pashminas on the cheap. The ultimate bargain hunter’s dream is the Soldes de Paris. It happens January 9th to 20th, and again in July. Every store has a sale that lasts about 3 weeks. Most stores begin with 25% to 30% markdowns, but towards the end of the sales period, you can find deals with up to 70% off. Check Printemps or the Galeries Lafayette websites for updates. These are two of my favorite French department stores. If any readers have shopping suggestions, please email me or leave a comment.

Last year, my local news did a two minute report on purchasing first-class tickets at a discounted price. Basically, tickets with the Y class or Q class, generally called Y-Ups or Q-Ups, are first-class seats with a coach seat price.  So I am shouting it from the mountain tops, emailing my friends and telling you now: You can fly first-class for cheap. Go to the FareCompare web site for all you need to know. Many airline websites will not allow you to search by booking class, but if you book tickets over the phone, ask them to search for a ticket with Y or Q booking class. Happy travels!