You wouldn’t think that just three days in Paris would be worth the transatlantic journey, but when you see Paris the way Parisians do, (or at least the way I did on my Concorde Hotels Shopping Tour) you’ll see it’s well worth the journey.

Having been to Paris before, this trip was all about the shopping. After all, besides scintillating dining and breathtaking landmarks, this is what Paris is known for, n’est pas? So, my Parisian trip this past fall began at the Hotel Concorde Saint-Lazare -- an amazing 19th century hotel that exudes Parisian glamour and seamlessly melds décor that’s graced the building for more than 100 years with updated contemporary fixtures and furnishings.

The Concorde Saint-Lazare boasts 266 guest rooms including 40 suites and junior suites where absolutely no luxury is spared. You won’t find the typically tiny European hotel rooms here; rather, you’ll relish the fact that plenty of space, WiFi, turndown service and, most importantly, down comforters are all standard amenities.

But perhaps one of the most notable features of the hotel is its prime location: it is mere steps away from some of the world’s best shopping, hands down. Until this trip, I was under the impression that the Champs-Elysées was the premier shopping destination in Paris_that is, until I got a first-class tour of the Opera district where the Concorde Saint-Lazare is situated. Within walking distance (even for us West Coasters) are Parisian boutiques, well-known chains (like the Gap) and most importantly, Le Printemps Haussmann.

A destination in itself, Le Printemps Haussmann is one of the largest fine department stores in Europe. Wowing shoppers since 1865, you’ll find every luxury fashion and beauty line, as well as contemporary lines, on each of its eight floors. Think Gucci, Lanvin, Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry boutiques -- to name just a few. Le Printemps even has an entire floor devoted just to shoes; it’s the largest shoe space in Europe with 70-plus brands. Also plentiful are the historical restaurants with contemporary cuisine like Brasserie Printemps and Ladurée. (In fact, the tearoom at Ladurée is so famous that Parisians are known to stop in just for the tea and nibbles.)

But your Parisian shopping adventure wouldn’t be complete without some perfume, and that includes a visit to the flagship Annick Goutal boutique. The luxury perfume house (said to be a favorite must-stop for Madonna) is known for its sophisticated scents and word-of-mouth success.