What does duty-free actually mean? Free from import/export taxes? Free from VAT tax? Both? Neither? <BR> <BR>I have instructions to bring back perfumes from France. Last time I bought perfumes at Galleries Lafayette and didn't bother about the VAT tax because I didn't buy much and didn't think it was worth the hassle/paperwork. But I noticed CDG duty free shop had a large selection, and this time I'm bringing back perfume, not cologne, so I'm thinking maybe the savings will be significant at the duty-free. Anyone have any thoughts on this? <BR> <BR>Also, second question, I had heard or read somewhere that the French version of a perfume, Shalimar say, will be different than the one for sale in America. Why would that be? Don't they come from the same place?

The prices are usually pretty good at the duty free shops. To me, however, the best reason for shopping there is that you don't have the carry the stuff around with you during your trip!

I have a similar question. Does anyone know about buying French wine at the airport and then bringing it into Ireland? I've tried looking on the Irish Tourist Bureau website to see how much alcohol we can bring in, but can't find any info. Has anyone done something similar?

I'm topping in case anyone has any info. Thanks!

Meg: In Europe, in general, one is allowed to bring either two bottles of wine or one bottle of spirits. The staff at the airport duty free shop should be able to tell you whether this is correct.

Since France and Ireland are both within the European Union, you can take an (almost) unlimited amount of wine with you from France to Ireland, as long as it is for your own personal consumption. However, since both are in the EU, you cannot buy duty free wine in France to take back to Ireland. To be honest, with wine, you are much better off buying it in a supermarket or wine shop than in the airport, anyway, as you get far more choice. <BR> <BR>Sorry Ess, I don't know enough about buying perfume in France to help you there.

Just returned with perfume from dutyfree CDG. I checked the prices at Samartine in Paris and decided to chance for better prices at duty free. What I bought was less expensive at CDG. The perfume I bought (Cartier MUST and Boucheron) is the same as here. Hope this helps. A.M.

Ess, here's what I found on the CDG website... <BR> <BR>Allowances <BR> <BR>Passengers may purchase duty-free articles in the airport shops in the Duty-Free zone only if they are travelling abroad. <BR> <BR>Domestic passengers, including those flying to French overseas territories (DOM), are not entitled to purchase duty-free items. Limits are fixed for travellers bound for a European Union Member State. <BR> <BR>For alcohols, tobaccos, and perfumes, the following allowances are authorized : <BR> <BR>200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars, <BR> <BR>2 bottles of wine + 1 bottle of alcohol higher than 22°, or 2 bottles of wine + 2 bottles of alcohol less than 22°, <BR> <BR>1 eau de toilette (250ml) + 1 perfume extract bottle (50g). <BR> <BR> <BR>

Meg, thanks for the info. I hadn't even considered limits on purchases.

This is one of those marketing genius moves, but caveat emptor (means "don't take any wooden nickels"): <BR>The items in the shop are free of THAT COUNTRY'S duty and are designed for use outside that country. Example: carton of Marlboro cigarettes has no U.S. taxes (federal or state), nor has any import duty charged by France. That being said, you'd think the cigarettes would be practically free....well, wrong, they are cheaper than if you bought them at a tabac, but only a dollar or two cheaper than in the U.S. (depending upon your state's taxes). I've never understood how perfume made in France would have any duty on it when sold in France - it certainly wasn't imported into France. What it is is TAX free, as in no VAT, which is 19.6% in France (the math: 1200ff item includes 196.66 VAT which is 17% of the TOTAL, but in reality, you have bought an item for 1003ff on which 19.6% is calculated and then added for a total of 1200ff). YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO PAY DUTY TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY IF YOU EXCEED THE EXEMPTIONS!! The U.S. exemption is $400, with limits on certain items (1 litre of wine, period. If you bring 2 litres, you'll have to pay duty on that 2nd liter, even if you haven't gone over $400). <BR> <BR>There, is your brain completely addled? As for the perfume differences, I have heard the same assertion. My only guess is that there is possibly something in the French version (like musk maybe?) that can't be brought into the U.S.

Whew! Yes, Elvira, my brain is now comletely addled (it was only three-fourths addled before). Sounds like my boyfriend and I can each buy a bottle of perfume and save a total of about $50. Two bad we can only bring back two. I guess those customs guys are pretty smart. Thanks again for the info!

I have a duty-free shop sales agent tell me that there are no limits on the amount of anything you buy in their shops, and that they do not give advice on duty or other liabilites you may owe when you return to your country, state or city. <BR> <BR>Of course, they are there to sell products. <BR> <BR>I agree that the main advantage of a duty free shop is that eliminates the need to carry stuff around with you until the last minute. <BR> <BR>I bought all the "Baci di Assisi" I could carry on this last trip to Italy - - as gifts for people I didn't want to forget (or shop for on an individual basis). <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Once upon a time ... <BR> <BR>Duty free shops had spectacular bargains. But that was so long ago that dragons roamed the countryside seeking knights to roast, while flying machines whizzed overhead pulled by their spinning propellors. <BR> <BR>Since that time everyone has become very, very greedy, and it is generally the tourist that burned. <BR> <BR>Duty free shops, at least those in developed countries, offer no across-the-board bargains. Airports have become greedy and gouge the merchants with outrageous rentals, and gouge both merchant and buyer with outlandish royalties on sales. The merchants, needless to say, don't where white hats either. <BR> <BR>One will occasionally find a decent buy. Rarely spectacular, and not worth the trip by itself, but somewhat advantageous. Far more often the price will be little different, if at all, from the prices you'll find "downtown". And quite often the prices will be quite a bit higher than one would normally pay. <BR> <BR>The moral of the story. Caveat emptor. Don't save all your planned purchases for the duty free shop on your way home unless you have good G2 that what you want is well-priced there. <BR> <BR>And remember, when in the duty free shop, to keep your eyes open and your ears alert. Those knights? Gone. Gone along with the flying machines with the spinning propellors. But the dragons? They're still around ... and hungry as ever. With no knights to munch they'll settle for a tourist any day. Don't let yourself be singed in the duty free shop. <BR> <BR>twenj

I always buy my cosmetics and perfume at Dutyfree, whether in Europe, Canada or the US. I have consistently found the prices and variety better at Dutyfree. I don't know about other products ie wine, tho.

I wear Lancome foundation and have found the best duty-free price at the Vancouver Airport. A bottle that cost over $30 plus tax here was $19 there a couple of years ago. Also, I bought a bottle of Shalimar at the Athens Airport for about two-thirds the asking price at my local department store in California.

Ess, if you reread Meg's post, it appears that those limits, including the one eau de cologne and one perfume, are for people heading from CDG into another EU country. If you're coming back to the US from CDG, I believe the only duty free limit on non-alcohol, non-tobacco purchases is the $400 limit Elvira mentioned. However, remember that that $400 limit applies to the sum total of everything you buy abroad, not just from the duty-free store at the airport.

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I think the $400 limit per person should work out. Boyfriend won't want anything except a coffee mug maybe, so I can use his $400, too. All I want is a few bottles of perfume and a bagful of treats from the food shop.

Hi Ess, <BR> <BR>You and your boyfriend can EACH buy two bottles of perfume at CDG. I live in NYC and stock up on my french perfume at CDG--prices are at least 40% less than they are here--my hand to God! The difference between perfumes made in France vs. US is in the type of alcohol used (the French kind lasts a lot longer)--but you have to be careful here because often French label perfumes are made in the US for US distribution. The moral is don't worry about that stuff--wear the scent you love and buy it for 40% less at CDG.

Thank you, Carol!

I am flying in to and out of Orly airport. Does Orly have a selection of duty free shops that carry perfumes? <BR>Thank-you <BR>Lisa <BR>