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Information technology but sounds so good doesn't information technology? Surely if no duty or taxes are being charged, whatever you lot're buying is spring to be cheaper? Simulated. Well, sometimes.

Add in the emotional excitement of travel, and irrational decisions are bound to happen, and that'due south nearly what duty free is counting on. Duty complimentary can exist a great deal, but it'due south nowhere near guaranteed to salve you money, and if y'all want to exist sure, you've come to the right place. In fact, duty free being inherently cheaper is 1 1 of the x nearly popular travel myths.

Here's everything you need to know when it'southward time to run for the exit or buy, buy purchase.

Best Items

Alcohol and perfume can exist two of the "all-time buys" in duty free. Chocolates are almost e'er overpriced and things similar "I Love New York" t-shirts will always be cheaper in town, than at the airport.

The offset important thing to know is that duty complimentary prices vary by airport, country and region. Some places volition offer far better deals than others and some will accept great deals on some items, while others are atrocious. And some won't take whatever deals at all!

First Things First…

Having Working wifi or knowing a "habitation" price – aka what you lot know something costs at abode – is crucial before walking in. Know how much you lot'd pay for that bottle of champagne or that bottle of perfume at home or your destination, before seeing any of the offers within duty free, and so that you instantly know whether to purchase, or walk.

In places like Federal republic of germany or the Uk, duty complimentary and champagne are legitimately cheaper in the airport than in the city – so at that place tin exist first-class deals absolutely worth going out of your manner for – but you must first have something to compare with, just to be sure.

Best Locations

SkyScanner came upwardly with an interesting comparing, looking at prices in duty free outlets all around the world. London, Berlin, New York, Moscow, Singapore and other European countries consistently scored very well.

For booze – in general the worst values are in Center Eastern countries, or countries where alcohol is largely banned within the country. You'll get the all-time champagne deals in Europe, best whiskey deals in Japan, cheapest cigarettes in Moscow.

Key Offers

Look for the special offers, particularly on alcohol and perfume. For example, Veuve Clicquot champagne retails for around $50 per bottle in the US. But it'south non at all difficult to find two bottles for £40-50 in the UK and throughout Europe.

That equates to roughly $sixty, a savings of $twoscore or more. Perfumes and peel products likewise oftentimes include special bundles which can stand for equally excellent value. Combine these offers with express time promotions by having an email address specifically for marketing emails. Heathrow Rewards is a cracking place to start.

You never know what kind of double points, or spend $100, get $20 dorsum coupons may pop in there, and if you have a separate inbox for these kind of offers, they won't problems yous.

Do you buy things in duty free? What's been your best buy?

Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the earth, oftentimes spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly... More by Gilbert Ott