Four hours at Galeries Lafayette, for three generations

There is a mistake families make on a first visit to Galeries Lafayette: they walk in and follow whatever catches the eye.

Two hours later everyone is tired, the children are bored, the grandparents want to sit down, and the person who came for something specific has still not found it.

The better approach is to treat the store as a planned tour. In about four hours a family can cover fashion, beauty, watches, accessories, gifts for grandparents, something for the children, a meal and a view over Paris — without going back and forth between departments.

10:00 — start under the dome, and do not buy yet

Begin at the Coupole Store, under the famous glass dome. Give the first ten or fifteen minutes to settling, agreeing which departments matter, and to one very simple rule: everyone has their own task.

This is also the moment to plan: who is buying what, where, whether they need to try things on, which purchases need the tax refund, and which can be collected later.

With three generations, the point is not to move quickly. The point is not to let the whole party get pulled into a maze.

The Belle Époque dome is also the best photograph — take it at the start, while everyone still looks fresh and nobody is holding a stack of bags.

10:15–11:00 — fashion and beauty

If someone in the group cares about fashion and wants something genuinely particular, give the first forty-five minutes here.

Do not turn it into a sprint through dozens of brands. Choose two to four houses in advance that suit her style. A bag, shoes, a silk scarf, eyewear, jewellery, a coat, or something emblematic of Paris. What matters is quality and personal fit, not the number of carrier bags.

After fashion, move on to beauty and fragrance — a good place to find a particular scent or a product that is hard to get elsewhere.

One practical note: if you already know what you want, buy the important thing first rather than coming back at the end. The store is large, and returning to a department already visited costs real time.

11:00–11:40 — menswear, and quiet luxury

A successful man rarely needs hours of shopping. He needs the right choice.

Concentrate on things with long use: leather shoes, a belt, a wallet, a work bag, eyewear, a watch, an accessory.

And keep one rule in mind: the most expensive item is not necessarily the most elegant. A well-cut coat, a good pair of shoes or a cashmere scarf can say far more. If he does not want to try much on, thirty to forty minutes of looking is plenty.

11:40–12:10 — a gift with a story

Now the grandparents. Avoid the busiest departments and anything requiring a lot of fitting. Look for things that are beautiful, light, easy to carry, and worth keeping: a silk scarf, a fragrance, French homeware, an accessory, chocolate, tea, or something for the table.

If they would rather not shop at all, this is the moment to take them to a seat or a café instead of walking them further.

On a family trip, older members should never be treated as people who tag along. They need a part of the experience that is theirs, comfortable and unhurried.

12:10–12:40 — thirty minutes that belong to the children

Children's shopping belongs near the end. The reason is practical: take a child into the toy or children's clothing department in the first ten minutes and the four-hour plan becomes the child's plan.

Give them a budget or a small mission: find one Paris gift, a toy, a book, an accessory or a piece of clothing. “You have thirty minutes to find your Paris present.” Shopping becomes a game.

12:40–13:25 — eat inside

After nearly three hours, do not take the family outside to look for a restaurant. This is where the store's own advantage comes in: the food is already here.

Le Gourmet is a convenient choice, with plenty of options — quick, but still an experience of eating in Paris. If the weather and the schedule allow, take the upper-floor balcony instead and put the meal together with the view. It is a fine way to end the shopping: rather than sitting in an enclosed room, the family eats while looking at the roofs of Paris.

With small children and older members, the criteria now are comfort, ease of access, and no travelling time. Do not turn lunch into a two-hour occasion — this is a shopping tour, and forty to forty-five minutes is right.

13:25–14:00 — finishing in order

The last half hour is often the part guests appreciate most, because everything is closed out properly. Before leaving, check: all the bags are together and counted; receipts for tax-refund purchases are kept separately; the refund file is checked before you leave the building; valuable items are not on show; and if the party has many bags, use assistance or a left-luggage service rather than each person carrying an armful.

And there is a safety rule that matters in the busy quarters of Paris: do not let shopping turn you into a moving target.

Do not keep a phone in an outside coat pocket. Wallet and passport belong somewhere closed and secure. Do not count money, open a wallet or inspect purchases in the middle of a crowd. Expensive items should not be visible in an open shopping bag.

Above all, do not let children or older relatives separate from the group. A multi-generation family should nominate one person to do the final check: everyone present, all the phones, all the passports, all the bags, before leaving.

If you continue by taxi or private car, book it in advance and agree a clear pick-up point. Do not stand on the pavement with several expensive bags while looking for a car and unlocking a phone.

Why this plan works

The particular strength is that nobody has to follow anybody else for four hours. One person has time for fashion; another has his own department; the grandparents get something gentle; the children have a mission; and the whole family meets at the table.

That is shopping that is more sensible, more comfortable, and safer.