Christmas is looming, and the question on everyone's lips (besides "turkey or ham?") is: Can a booze cruise to Calais still save you money in this brave new post-Brexit world?
Enter Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, the dynamic duo of drink known as The Thinking Drinkers, who bravely ventured across the Channel to investigate. Their mission? To uncover the truth behind the boozy bargains.
For decades, the allure of the booze cruise has been fueled by France's lower alcohol taxes. Those were the days!
Pre-Brexit, it was practically a free-for-all. Imagine stuffing your car with 160 bottles of wine, nearly 200 pints of beer, and around 14 bottles of spirits! As long as you could convince the authorities it was all for personal use, you were golden.
But alas, the UK's departure from the EU in 2021 brought a harsh dose of reality. Allowances shrank, and the party seemed to be over. Or was it?
Fast forward five years, and a resurgence is brewing. Thirsty Brits are once again flocking to France, enticed by duty-free discounts and a sneaky VAT loophole that makes French wine shops a treasure trove of savings.
Of the ferry options from Dover to Calais, DFDS seems to be the frontrunner, offering killer duty-free deals both onboard and at their massive port shop. We're talking up to 50% off UK High Street prices!
And the deals don't stop there! Spend £150 on the ferry or €150 in the port shop, and you snag a free day trip for future adventures. Ballin' on a budget, anyone?
Feeling flush? Drop €250, and you'll get a sweet 10% discount. But if you're really serious about stocking up and hit €350, you'll get a whopping 20% off your booze bill AND that free day trip. Cheers to that!
Their duty-free shop is stocked with all the familiar brands you know and love, from Whispering Angel to 19 Crimes, Guinness, Birra Moretti, and Captain Morgan.
The Thinking Drinkers put the system to the test, filling their trolley with a single person's allowance of premium brands. The initial bill? A hefty £921. But thanks to the DFDS 20% discount, it dropped to a more palatable £736.80 – a saving of £184.20!
Compared to the cheapest prices at UK supermarkets and online retailers, that's a saving of over 43%! And that's before you even factor in the discounts on perfume, toys, and tobacco. Hello, Christmas shopping!
DFDS even offers a "Reserve & Collect" service, allowing you to pre-purchase everything online before you even leave home. Just pick up your cases at the port before your return journey, and you're good to go.
But the real adventure begins when you venture beyond the port and explore Calais' specialist wine shops. Calais Vins, just a ten-minute drive from the ferry, is a must-visit.
It's a wine lover's paradise, with endless aisles of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Sancerre, and rosé. Prices range from a budget-friendly £2.46 bottle of red to Premier Cru Champagne costing over £1,200.
Don't worry if your French is a little rusty. English-speaking sommeliers are on hand to guide you toward some seriously good value "vins." They'll even open bottles for you to taste!
Jerome Pont, co-founder of Calais Vins, emphasizes the quality of their wines, stating, "These aren’t wines you’ll find in British supermarkets – but the prices are around 40 percent cheaper than wines of equivalent quality in the UK.”
He's noticed a growing number of British customers seeking unique wines they can't find at home, turning their trip into a weekend getaway.
The Thinking Drinkers' cart, brimming with still and sparkling wines, totaled just under £390. But before they could pay, Jerome swooped in with another perk: a 15% VAT discount for British customers!
After a quick scan of passports and credit cards, they received a tax-free form with a barcode, which they scanned at a special kiosk at the port. Easy peasy!
The VAT refund, worth £59.78, appeared on their credit card within five days. Not bad for a few minutes of effort!
In the end, they spent £330 at Calais Vins on 24 bottles of wine and a six-bottle case each of Champagne and sparkling wine. Not exactly bottom-shelf booze, but fantastic value for top-notch wines.
And to sweeten the deal, Calais Vins is currently offering a "Grape Escape" day trip. Spend €300 online, pay a €60 credit card deposit, and receive a booking reference code for a free return ferry trip with P&O.
Just remember to stay within your limits: 42 liters of beer, 18 liters of still wine, and either four liters of spirits or nine liters of sparkling or fortified wine. Customs officials are watching, and exceeding your allowance means paying duty on your entire haul.
So, is the modern-day booze cruise worth it? The Thinking Drinkers certainly think so!
Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a bargain hunter, substantial steals and deals are waiting to be discovered, especially if you take advantage of ferry company and wine shop offers. Plan your trip carefully, pre-order your drinks, and pack your car like a pro. Happy cruising!
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