Duty Free Shopping

[PintoBean]

Shoot - I just realized that international honeymoon = opportunity for duty free shopping!!!

Once we're outside the airport, on our tour, I don't see myself buying a ton of souvenirs - I'm more into picking up little hand-crafty thingies.

BUT... duty free shopping

I am definitely picking up a perfume. That's a must. I'm going to make it my tradition b/c that's what I did when I last travelled internationally, almost 14.5 years ago. I was SO young, that I, um... paid for it with my... piggy bank? (Anyways, I've only aged 4 years in the past 14.5 years... so whatever... )

Now for the luxury goods - are the prices for designer goods that much better?

What's something to definitely check out in duty free shopping?

I'm going from JFK to Beijing.

 

[sonnyjane]

I got my Cartier Trinity ring last month in Grand Cayman duty free... $1,050 plus tax in the States but I only paid $835!

You are allowed to declare up to $800 without paying at Customs, but since my amount was so little over they waived the fee.

 

[PintoBean]

Wow, Sonnyjane! That's quite the savings. Keeping my fingers crossed that I do as well as you!

 

[hippi_pixi]

It can be great but not always so anything you might get look up the price you'd pay t home or online first so you don't buy heaps assuming its cheaper and realize later it wasn't.

 

[fabulousfindk]

This makes me very excited! I am headed to St Martin June 1 and SO and I are looking forward to seeing what jewelry savings might await us!

I also love browsing places like The Body Shop in airports.. never bought perfume from duty-free shops though.

 

[sonnyjane]

It can be great but not always so anything you might get look up the price you'd pay t home or online first so you don't buy heaps assuming its cheaper and realize later it wasn't.

I definitely agree with this. Look the prices up here first, then you'll know if it's a good deal or not. I knew the price of that ring here in the US before I went, so when I saw the price there, I had to have it!

 

[OneFifty]

I bought my trinity in St. Thomas. I think the prices were the same, but I didn't have to pay sales tax!