10 Days in Europe...What H Stores Would You Hit/Miss?????

[SCL]

Hehehe...planning my summer business trip to Europe...well, the business part has now been scheduled and it is time to consider the extension... :shame:

So, European H shopping experts...what boutiques would you hit or miss if you had 6-10ish days to play in early/mid July?????

Business meetings will take place in Brussels. How many days would you spend in Paris on the extension?????

Where else would you consider going?????

What is a good miss in July?????

TIA

 

[La Vanguardia]

In Belgium, if you have not been, Bruges and Ghent are lovely places to go to for sightseeing. Also, Antwerp might be interesting for some antique jewelry shopping.

I would definitely go to Paris and spend some 3-4 days there also just to hang around, people watch, visit some exhibits, and enjoy the wonderful scenery. You might also find some bargains at La Vallée Village, which is a designer outlet "village" on the outskirts of Paris. It is even open on Sundays! From Paris, you can also do sighseeing trips to the Loire Valley, especially Chambord Castle which I am dying to see. It looks really nice!!!

I would also recommend the tiny country of Luxembourg if you haven't been. The H shop there is 2 floors, average size and the people there are super friendly! I bought my 25cm prune Kelly there and since the shop is one of the few remaining privately owned H boutiques, the owners treated me like royalty. They shipped the Kelly box for free to Switzerland so that I don't have to carry it. Also, they gave me a big bottle of Rosé Ikebana as a present! Luxembourg is also a very nice little country with great people!)

Otherwise, Amsterdam is always great!

Pics of Chambord Castle:

 

[SCL]

Sounds lovely! So meetings in Brussels w/ possible Belgium side trips...3-4 days in Paris (DH might be greatly saddened if I do the Loire Valley without him)...travel from Paris to Luxembourg and/or Amsterdam...

How long would it take to travel from Paris to Luxembourg? Luxembourg to Amsterdam? I assume travel would be by train?

Thanks, LaV!

 

[Ninja Sue]

LaVan, somewhere in my house there is a pic of me in front of Chambord in 1993. I'll see if I can find it. It is a wonderful castle and the gardens are magnificent! The Loire is heavenly!

 

[La Vanguardia]

By train:

Brussels - Luxembourg is roughly 2 and half hours
Brussels - Paris with the Thalys speed train is exactly 1 hour 22 minutes
Brussels - Amsterdam is roughly 2 hours 50 minutes
Luxembourg - Paris is roughly 3 and half hours

 

[La Vanguardia]

I just checked the train connection from Luxembourg to Amsterdam and it is not so great. You have to change several times and takes forever.

 

[SCL]

^ Thank you! Does train/plane work out to take approximately the same amount of time with security, etc. at the airports?

 

[SCL]

LOL...I needed a map!

 

[La Vanguardia]

Mmmm, I'm also thinking that if you want to avoid the masses of tourists in Paris, another great option would be to fly from Brussels to either:

- Stockholm and tour a bit of Sweden
- Copenhagen and enjoy Denmark a bit

From Copenhagen, you can also take a train to Stockholm and that takes just a little bit over 5 hours

 

[La Vanguardia]

If you go to either Paris, Luxembourg or Amsterdam, I'd definitely take the train as you don't have that big mess on security issues in airports

 

[SCL]

Hmmm...options...

Paris...for sure...primarily for shopping as I have completed the tourist circuit...
Luxembourg...perhaps...have not been there before...
Amsterdam...perhaps...have not been there before...
Copenhagen, Stockholm...ditto...

Other destinations that are fairly easy trips from Paris...balance of historical/cultural significance and shopping opportunities?
Or should I just not concern myself with shopping as Paris is part of the agenda?

I have been to Italy and Spain and prefer non-summer visits...

 

[La Vanguardia]

You're right, I would also avoid Spain and Italy in the summer months!!!

Since you're right on the bulls eye with Paris, I think either Brussels-Luxembourg-Paris or Brussels-Amsterdam-Paris would be great alternatives. You have in these places a good match of culture and shopping!

If you haven't been to Amsterdam though, I would go there first before Luxembourg. Amsterdam is wonderful!!! If you're curious about Luxembourg, from Brussels you can easily just do a day trip to Luxembourg.

 

[Kellybag]

I would want to spend most of my time in Italy.

BUT...would you consider Slovenia? I think you should.

 

[SCL]

I would want to spend most of my time in Italy.

BUT...would you consider Slovenia? I think you should.

I LOVE Italy...but...would prefer to visit in non-summer... DH and I plan to do Croatia/Venice at some point...must save that excursion for him...LOL...perhaps with a sidetrip to Slovenia...

I have visited Prague and Zurich in winter...if I venture into Switzerland I would prefer to stay east/central...Luxembourg sounds interesting as I have not considered it to date and the location is fairly central...

Love to ponder all of these options...

 

[La Vanguardia]

Luxembourg is really tiny and can easily be visited from Brussels! Did I mention the wonderful H shop there hahaha!

Switzerland is great in summer ... yoo doo leh hee hoo!!!