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Shopping in La Plagne
Discover the top La Plagne shops and shopping areas
Many people would not automatically think of La Plagne as a place to shop 'til you drop. However, the town boasts a diverse range of stores that are guaranteed to suit all tastes and lifestyles.
From high-spec technical sports apparel and equipment to luxury shops and artisanal food shops, La Plagne has an array of 'magasins' that are perfect whether you need a last minute gift or just fancy a mooch.
Food & Drink
There are plenty of supermarkets which are fine for stocking up on general groceries, but if you're on the hunt for some local and regional produce on your shopping trip in La Plagne then head to any of the foody shops where you can pick up cheeses, saucisson, wine, beer, biscuits and lots of other culinary treats. Local delicatessens can be found in all of the villages, and they are great places to visit for an easy dinner and unusual souvenirs. There's a shop in Belle Plagne that has a whole host of cheeses, meats and treats for you to choose from.
Gifts & Souvenirs
If it is souvenirs and gifts you are after than La Plagne has lots of gift stores and Tabacs where you can pick up knick knacks that will remind you of your holiday in La Plagne, such as mugs, magnets, ornaments and more.
High Street fashion
Most of the clothing stores in the villages of La Plagne are of the sport variety, but you can also find a local hairdressers for a little pampering session.
If you're after some perfume and beauty goods you can head to the pharmacies - there's nothing quite like the French pharmacy beauty brands, they are known for their high quality with a whole host of great brands that are unavailable in the UK.
Sports Shops
As you would expect from an outdoor sports Mecca, there are plenty sports stores where you can get your hands on some of the top mountaineering brands such as The North Face, Black Diamond, Salomon and Burton to name a few.
Sales
If you're planning on shopping during the sales to pick up a discounted Gore-Tex jacket or designer handbag, you need to plan your visit to a very specific time of year. Unlike the UK when it appears that shops have almost permanent sales on, sale or “solde” time in France is strictly regulated and shop owners are not allowed to discount their products at any other time. End of the line (“fin de serie”) and “Promo” is acceptable but the real bargains are to be found at the specifically designated sale times, when you can get your hands on all the big brands for 40-70% less than the normal retail price.
Shop opening times
Opening hours vary to the UK with many shops and all service providers (banks, post office etc) closing for lunch.
You'll also find the banks are closed on Mondays, although they are open for business on Saturday morning to compensate. Most of the shops open between 09:00-10:00 and then close from 12.30 until 14:00 or 15:00 for lunch, re-opening again until 19:00 or 19:30, which allows you to browse the shops of an evening or on your way to dinner.