Misc Questions
Apr 28th, 2002, 04:23 PM
#1
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Misc Questions
Just a few miscellaneous questions on London. Any help you can provide is useful:<BR><BR>1. How is 'Leicester' pronounced?<BR>2. I've read quite a bit about the VAT here but didn't see anything that said whether the VAT is applied on hotel rooms and if so if it is also possible to get that refunded.<BR><BR>I leave on Friday for London and will post a trip report when we return. I don't feel as though I've given it enough planning due to my work travel schedule, but I'm sure we will have a blast nonetheless. The information here has been aweseome!
Apr 28th, 2002, 04:33 PM
#2
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One more question. From the US Customs website:<BR>"You may import household effects you acquired abroad duty-free if: <BR><BR>You used them for at least one year while you were abroad. <BR>They are not intended for anyone else or for sale. "<BR><BR>Is that an either or a both? If they are not intended for anyone else or sale are the exempt from duty?
Apr 28th, 2002, 04:38 PM
#4
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Mike---The British pronounce Leicester as if it were spelled "Lester."<BR><BR>You cannot get a refund on hotel room tax.<BR><BR>As for bringing things into the country duty-free, the two provisions you quoted are joined with an "and"---that is, they must both apply.<BR><BR>Forget the small stuff and enjoy London. It's a wonderful city.
Apr 28th, 2002, 04:46 PM
#5
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Thanks Wayne. A few more on customs. I read on the customs site that "Duty on items you mail home to yourself will be waived if the value is $200 or less."<BR><BR>So, my wife and I have $400 in exemptions. Can we also then mail $200 worth of goods to ourselves for a total of:<BR>400 - me<BR>400 - her<BR>200 - mailed to me<BR>200 - mailed to her<BR>----<BR>1,200<BR><BR>Finally, I read something about registering things like cameras, watches and computers before you leave. Is that legit? I'd not heard or read anything about that anyhwhere until just now.
Apr 28th, 2002, 05:07 PM
#7
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Mike,<BR>1-Leicester is:+/- "Lester"but accent is important(long e,emphasize the s and t).Don't worry !You speak the same language.<BR>2-VAT is 17.5% on hotels but not refundanble<BR>There's some very helpful Londoners here in this forum,they sure have more accurate answers.<BR>All the best
Apr 29th, 2002, 05:17 AM
#8
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Mike,<BR>The reason for "registering" cameras, etc. prior to travel is to provide proof that the equipment was bought prior to your trip and not a new purchase subject to duty. I've never done it, nor has my wife, and we've never encountered any problems or questions from customs.
Apr 29th, 2002, 07:25 AM
#10
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Mike, don't worry about registering anything, or taking receipts with you for items you already own. It's completely unecessary. Don't freak out about customs. Even if you do have to pay, which I never had in my more than 20 trips abroad, it's only 10%. Not worth getting worked up about.
