Australian - England - Europe similar stores
Just tell me where I can get…
When we started this journey, knowing something as simple as what the hardware store chains in each country are would become an ongoing googling and reading quora posts to figure it out. Below I have compiled a list of ‘equivalent’ stores to help you find what you are looking for without fuss.
A note: Very nice Travels in no way have any affiliation with any of these stores, it a merely a list that we have after months of travelling Europe. We will update as we come across new countries.
Diy or hardware stores
This was a big one for us. Installing shelves, buying a tool kit, doing small upgrades to the van and even just buying a hose for the water, knowing the name of big chain hardware stores just makes life easier. There are of course a lot of smaller local places but this is for ease of searching.
Australia - Bunnings Warehouse
United Kingdom - B&Q
France - Leroy Merlin, Castorama
Spain - Leroy Merlin, Bricor, Brico Depot, Bricomart
Portugal - Leroy Merlin
Italy - Bricocentre, Leroy Merlin
Auto stores
For this, I do not mean mechanics, but a place to get oil, coolant, snow chains, car bits and pieces for maintenance and cleaning. A place to get fuses or WD-40.
Australia - Supercheap Auto, Repco, Autobarn
United Kingdom - Halfords
France - Norauto, Feu Vert
Spain - Norauto, Feu Vert
Portugal - Norauto
Italy - Norauto
cheap homeware/clothes/department stores
Australia - K-Mart or Target
United Kingdom - Primark
France - Hema (but still a little more pricey because France)
Spain - Primark and Zara
Portugal - Primark and Zara
Italy - OVS
Supermarket chains (cheap)
Australia - Aldi
United Kingdom - Aldi or Lidl
France - Aldi or Lidl
Spain - Lidl
Portugal - Lidl
Italy - Lidl
Supermarket Chains (bigger range and slightly more expensive on basics)
Australia - Woolworths, Coles
United Kingdom - Waitrose (v. expensive) or Marks
France - Intermarche
Spain - Mercadona
Portugal - Mercadona/Intermarche
Italy - Conad, Coop, Pam and Carrefour
There are obviously other chains, smaller stores, local markets ect. ect. that you can go to but this helped us alot when we were even just trying to find a product in a different language!
Anything missing or know something better? Got a question? Post in the comment below!