Paris will start the winter shopping promotion in January, the city’s travel agency said. The Shopping by Paris promotion will offer discounts, special offers at hotels, department stores and outlets throughout the city. About 190 hotels in the city hold promotional events that feature complimentary breakfast, late check-out and gifts.

Gallery Lafayette offers bags to customers who purchased more than 40 Euros ($52) worth of goods, and La Vallee Village, a luxury outlet located on the outskirts of Paris, provides a 50 percent discount on a round-trip shuttle bus tour to the shopping mall. France holds its biggest sales twice a year. The summer and winter sales usually last five weeks and offer more discounts toward the end. The Christmas shopping season runs from Dec. 1-30; Shopping by Paris runs from Jan. 1-30 and the winter sale starts from Jan. 9-Feb. 12.

(wylee@heraldcorp.com)