I Went to Costco in France and This is What It Was Like

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© Instagram - @costco_france

Getting There

As any good Parisian will tell you, anything outside of the city limits is another country. Which means that Costco France's first store, located in Villebon-sur-Yvette—some 16 miles outside of Paris—might as well be on the other side of the world. Most Costco shoppers in the area choose to take their cars, but you can also take public transportation, if you're not afraid to lug that 5 liter can of oil—that won't even fit in your cabinet—onto the bus, then the train...and then the metro. Given their plans for expansion, hopefully they'll soon have a shuttle from major hubs around the city (much like the ones for IKEA). The whole ordeal is best avoided by being sensible and driving a car—that way, you can fill the trunk with wholesale savings. 

Across the street from a car wash, the Costco looms large, seeming to arise out of nowhere. In fact, many of the locals I had asked for directions from the train station were only able to recognize what I was referring to once I described the size. "Ah, yes," they finally conceded. "The American store."