Is it worth the trip and cheaper from uk to buy bulk wine from france?!
Is it worth the trip and cheaper from uk to buy bulk wine from france?
we are holding an engagement party in june and have approx 100 people coming. is it worth taking a trip to france to buy all the booze. coming from the uk.
Answers:
yes it is , i was doing the beer runs some years ago well worth it . make a weekend of it see some of the country visit some vineyards go wine tasting great fun good luck
Yes it's a very good idea and make sure you don't use a dodgy looking car and keep all your receipts in case Customs & Excise stop you.
No. It is a waste of time. It cost even more to transport them back and you might face breakage problems. I have seen many a times the 'luggage transfer' people just throwing the things in. If you just order from some winery in your country, it is safer as they help you take care of everything including delivery. Safer and better as they know better what to choose and where to get cheaper yet better wine rather than u go yourself, unless you know better than they do as to where to get them.
It is indeed worth it, If you intend to exceed you're duty free level, it maybe an idea to pay the French taxation on the excess.
Dont forget, the more people you take, the more duty free you can get (everyone has a fixed allowance).
Be great if you live near the chunnel tunnel!
It depends on two things - how far away from France you live and how good the wine you want to buy is. Good wine can be almost as expensive in France as it is here. You can get lucky, but how much money are you going to spend trying to find it? And do you know what you're looking for?
My advice is if you're looking for an excuse for a weekend away, go for it. Otherwise stay at home and order it online.
if you live in kent yes.if you just want cheep and cheerfull ,but if you want branded you can shop round in uk and get for same price
Yes -- especially if you are buying sparkling wine. Tax on sparkling wine is much greater in the UK.
But do your research first -- know what wines or types of wines you want to buy and how much they cost in the UK supermarkets who often have good deals. And remember that if you buy dirt cheap wine in France then you are getting plonk.
The person who talked about duty free is misguided. There is no duty free within the EU. It is just that French wine taxes are negliegable whilst there is a lot of tax in the UK. Buy buying in France you are avoiding UK tax.
Remember too that Champagne is 2 hours from Calais and you could buy your Champagne direct from one of the many Champagne wineries at very good prices.
It depends where you live. If you're within about 2 hours of Dover and have the time to take a cheap day trip ferry ticket then do it.
If you can't do your booze cruise in a single day then it will definatley be cheaper to buy wine cases from Tesco or Asda, even for 80 odd bottles.
The Chunnel will wipe out your savings even for a day trip.
A ferry takes about an hour for the crossing and you can easily spend an hour getting on and off (I have taken more than an hour at Calais once). That's 3 hours each way. You'll only have a couple of hours in France. So, you won't have time to waste. Go on-line to Sea France for the best day tickets and booking conditions.
Don't go to any of the "British" warehouses in Calais. You may find something looking cheap but your guests won't thank you for giving it to them. You don't have to be a 'wine snob' to recognise wine vat dregs and foul stuff.
Go to the Cite de Europe at Frethun (just south of Calais, about 10 mins from the docks). There you will find a good hypermarket and even a Tesco off-licence. It's Wine that the French buy and cheaper than in UK. You can also get some excellent cheeses and bread.
Remember that customs can - and DO - confescate not only the booze but also the vehicle used to carry it if they think that you're importing more than 'reasonable personal use'. They do not pay compensation for your loss and do not return anything.
If you're going to claim it's for a party then you'd better have evidence on hand in case you're stopped. They tend to stop 'white vans' and cars that are very low on their springs.
i would say if you were going there on your hols anyway then yes, but its not worth it for just booze. by the time youve paid for your train ticket and petrol money, constant stops for food and crisps and a travel lodge in france, then no dont go, its only worth it if you are going france anyway plus there is a limit these days on how much you can bring back.
id get someone from a cash and carry to get you cheap booze from there. they are only cheap as they come in boxes and really your not allowed to go and buy from there unless you have a card,. id just ask around friends and family to get you booze from there