We are going to Eftelingh (Holland) at Easter, and intend stocking up with fuel, booze and tobacco at the same time. I'm led to believe that fuel and tobacco are cheaper in Belguim than in France. How does Holland compare? Can anyone suggest the best place(s) for such items on the route between Calais and Tilburg / Eindhoven ?
Thanks.
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adinkerke just into Belgium is supposed to be best for baccie , think booze cheaper in Calais , although eastenders is not the cheapest in my experience , we got cheaper beer at Auchan though it wasnt stella or owt well known , still 5% proof, about £3 for a case of 30 bottles (small).
fuel , i dont know , Auchan in Calais was cheapest we saw , cant comment on Belgium cos we didnt go , but expect it will be cheaper than here or Holland.
Also most of the big hypermarkets accept sterling in Calais , although any change given will be in euro`s.
I go to Adinkerke 2 or 3 times a year cost me £2.55 a pouch of Drum compared to £8.86 in Tesco. In total 60 pouchs cost me £153 compared to UK price of £531.60, saving me £378.60 a trip. I go to Tobbaco Alley they give me free coffee and chocolates and lighters .But all shops in the road sell at roughly same price I believe. It is about 40miles north of Calais , just over border. Off motorway left at top and left again at roundabout.
France is very regulated only allowed to sell in TABAC shops so price is the same anywhere in France. I believe the the price of a pouch is over a pound more, also in France pouchs are smaller only 40G whereas in Belguim they are 50G .
I cant tell you about booze as one bad habit is enough (LOL) nor Holland never been that far.
Its to do with tax rates--beer is cheap in France-cheaper still in Germany-bit dearer in Holland--fags & baccy tax is steadily going up in France & will eventually be our levels!--but cheaper in Belgium & even cheaper in Luxemborg--if your car is petrol fill up in belguim (70p/litre)before entering Holland(90p/lit)-but diesel is similar(cheap price)in all countries(except here)(the reason most Dutch have petrol cars is cos their road tax for diesel cars is much higher)--so coming from Calais on the A16-go off at J25 towards Dunkirk-you will find an Auchan hypermkt--then over the border into Belgium-first exit is Adinkerke for yer baccy--if you want to fill up with beer on the way back--take the exit off the A16 before the ferry exit--you will see the truck stop & the Pijou cash&carry where the truckers go--park at Eastenders & you may get yer car broke into for yer fags & baccy you just got at Adinkerke!
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We went to Adinkerke last year (you might find it spelt slightly differently on different maps), Basically head left out of Calais on the motorway towards Belgium, just after the border sign take the next exit signposted Adinkerke and turn left at the top of the slip road, you will come to a roundabout, turn left again, remembering to go the "wrong" way round the roundabout in doing so. You will see a street lined with tobacco shops, plus a few side streets as well. You can park up pretty much anywhere, you'll see where others are parked so just follow suit. The other major thing is to pay in English pounds - yes you did hear that right, English money - cash, not credit cards.
Once you've finished getting the cheap fags, if you drive back to the roundabout and turn left you go into the actual town, if you go right through the town there is a nice little supermarket, and some cafe/restaurants. There is also a theme park called 'Plopsaland' they have a website if you do a search for it.
What is the position on Bank Holidays ? I am travelling on Easter Monday, and was hoping to fill up with Diesel either in Calais or Adinkerke (I'm told it is even cheaper in Belguim). Where / when would it be best for me to fill up ?
We went to Adinkerke last year (you might find it spelt slightly differently on different maps), Basically head left out of Calais on the motorway towards Belgium, just after the border sign take the next exit signposted Adinkerke and turn left at the top of the slip road, you will come to a roundabout, turn left again, remembering to go the "wrong" way round the roundabout in doing so. You will see a street lined with tobacco shops, ...
I shop there every year. Last year we ended up back up north early in the morning and found the Eastenders garage (on the right, half mile before village) open at about 04:00 am. It meant I could get my usual stock and be able to get a really early ferry back.
One thing that most people don't know, besides the restriction allowance for baccy brought into the UK, there is a restriction on baccy moved between Belgium and France.
I don't know what that is but I seem to remember my 2 kilos (I use her allowance for my habit :-) ) would be over the amount allowed for bringing INTO France.
There are no resrictions on your personal allowance, what there is Customs and excise guildlines. I cant see how there is a restriction on baccy moved between Belguim and France as there is open borders across most of Europe . So how would they know what is being moved.
Gary
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Quote: Originally posted by shaleylla on 17/02/2005
There are no resrictions on your personal allowance, what there is Customs and excise guildlines. I cant see how there is a restriction on baccy moved between Belguim and France as there is open borders across most of Europe . So how would they know what is being moved.
Gary
Foreign & Commonwealth Office ...You should also be aware that guidance levels for the importation of duty paid cigarettes into the UK are currently higher than in the rest of the EU. The current limit for importing duty paid cigarettes into the UK from other EU countries is 3,200 but the limit within the rest of the EU is 800.
Well, you can take notice of the guidelines, or not. You may get stopped, or not. But if you do get stopped then I'm sure the restrictions will be made known to you.
Have a look here for all the wonderfull things are ever loving Customs and Excise get up to. The whole point of the the EU is free movement of goods across the EU , because they are taxed at source. Shame no one has told our C+E.
Gary
Post last edited on 17/02/2005 19:49:22
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A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart x
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Quote: Originally posted by shaleylla on 17/02/2005
Have a look here for all the wonderfull things are ever loving Customs and Excise get up to.
I'm not saying I agree with the different allowances, far from it. In fact I was part of the original campaign with Day-Tripper two years back.
We each still direct visitors between our own sites due to that initial acquaintance.
We always call at the service station in Luxembourg to stock up on tobacco. It's the cheapest. The shop is like the duty free shops used to be, wall to wall, floor to ceiling tobacco. They display the comparable prices for all Europe to show how much cheaper it is. There is only one sign showing any restriction on importing tobacco for personal use into any other EEC country and yes, thats from Uncle Gordon in the guise of Her Majestys Customs and Excise.
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Topic: Cheapest Fuel, Booze & Tobacco
Gary
