What's cheaper in Calais than here?

Awaiting

I'm driving to Calais this week for the first time by eurotunnel. Obviously, I want to make the most out of it so couple of Q's which i'd be grateful if you could help out with:

- Is petrol cheaper there? By how much? Worth bring back an extra couple of litres?

- Groceries-wise - what's worth bringing back? (non-alcoholic)

- Anything else which is much cheaper there than here?

- Also - i'm there for a whole day so any 'what to do + where to go' ideas would be great!

Thanks a million

Enterprise_1701C

Don't know what is cheaper anymore, but one tip - if you are paying by card and they ask you if you want to pay in £ or Euros, pay in Euros. If you pay in £ then they charge you for the conversion, it goes on the bill in Euros anyway, and you pay for the conversion through your card as well!! (Have been told this but never done it, always paid in Euros).

ranger1066

I have not been for a day trip to france for a couple of years now, but i used to go every couple of months.

We used to visit Cite Europe, it is basically a large shopping centre about 15mins from Calais port. It has a large Carreforre (french supermarket) and a Tesco wine store.

Both of which were considerably cheaper than the UK (this was when there was a good rate on €'s compared to £'s). So not sure what it's like now.

Searcher

The last time I was there (18 months or so) petrol was more expensive so probably worth filling up before you go.

Just found THIS so it's around 8c a litre more expensive

golfkec

Cite Europe isn't really cheap. You want to pick some wine up in Calais. www.pidou.com is a cracking wine warehouse and you can pick cheap wine up i.e J.P Chenet at approx £2 a bottle compared to nearly a fiver over here

chalkysoil

Last time I was there (xmas) I thought everything was considerably more expensive than England. The only thing we bought was Vichey bottled water which you can't get over here. But I enjoyed browsing round a couple of supermarkets, looking at different colours & designs of ordinary things.

golfkec

If your a smoker you could pop over the border to Adinkerke Belgium bout an hour away and save a few quid. Went there when I smoked and and you can pick lovely Belgium Chocs up also.

nigreeves

Booze is still cheaper in France.

I go to Cherbourg twice a year and get my booze from http://www.majesticinfrance.co.uk/

They have a shop in Calais and you can pay in sterling. If you pre-order you can get an additional discount but you have to spend more than £300.

Some good wines for £1.99-£2.50 which you would pay at least double here in a supermarket offer.

golfkec

Try this website for offers info etc http://www.day-tripper.net/ loads of different pages so takes some navigating

eezer

Have just come back from Calais. It would appear that everything apart from wine is now dearer than the UK and even then there isn't much in it. Petrol is several pence a litre dearer. Spirits and beer are also more costly there especially when you take into account the offers on at Tesco/Asda. General food and drink is costly and having been to Cite Europe many times over the years, I've never seen is so quiet. We used to load our car up with a years supply of stuff. This time we bought nothing.

As to things to do, there are some really nice beaches/cliff top walks very close to the tunnel at Sangatte/Wimereux. Think it's signposted 'Site des deux caps' It'll only take several minutes to get there and still leave time to go to Auchan/Carrefour which are both open until late - though not on Sunday's.

Awaiting

Diesel seems to be considerably cheaper.

Just wondering - would it be worth driving on to other cities in France? My return on eurotunnel is at about 7pm so can't go too far. What about driving upto Belgium that day? Worth it or waste of time?