hypermarket shopping trip

sarah1975uk

Im wanting to go on a shopping trip to france, belgium,or brussels to stock up on cheap cigarettes and booze. Never done this before and wondered if any experienced people out there could help me get the best deal on ferry, hotel/B&B as well as best and cheapest hypermarkets to shop at. im looking at travelling next week either staying over 1 or 2 nights, am dragging my mum along for moral support lol.

ka7e

Apparently the cheapest place for tobacco/cigarettes is Adinkerke in Belgium. It's known as Tobacco Alley for the daytrippers on booze cruises! Near Dunkirk, it's about 40 miles from the French hypermarkets near Calais.

sarah1975uk

ka7e wrote: »

Apparently the cheapest place for tobacco/cigarettes is Adinkerke in Belgium. It's known as Tobacco Alley for the daytrippers on booze cruises! Near Dunkirk, it's about 40 miles from the French hypermarkets near Calais.

i have sat nav for my car and for some reason i have in my head that your not allowed to use sat nav in your car in france etc, is this true?? i seem to remember that if the police pull you over and you have sat nav they fine you?? im probably having a senior moment (at 32 lol)

Ok so Adinkerke in Belgium is the favourite then. from the uk what is the best place to get a ferry from? i live in Northamptonshire was thinking Hull would be the best place ?? but bearing in mind i rely on sat nav lol i have no sense of direction pmsl. (its a female thing) oh and ive heard that its best to take sterling cash when buying the cheapies, apparently they give you better discount on the fags etc. oh and a last thing is there a web site or something that would enable me to do a comparison search on cheapest ferry to get over there? so many questions eh lol

Pink.

Hi Sarah,

You should get more help with this on the Travel board so I'll move your thread over there.

Pink

PeteMc

No problem in using Sat Nav in France, even with speed cameras marked. There is a problem with radar detectors though and the Gendarmes will be less than impressed if they catch you with one!

sprouts101

Hi
I assume that your going to Calais in which case give Cite Europe a wide birth and head for Auchan in Coquelles which is about 2 minutes away and will be on your sat nav, which is perfectly legal in France by the way. You'll find it far less busy (although still busy!) and in my opinion has a far better range of good wines and beers. You can get some fantastic wines from between 2 and 2.5 euros which is about £1.50 - £2. Let me know if you want some recommendations.
For hotels you can try the George V in Calais which is very reasonably priced or the Hotel Meurice which is a little more but worth it. Expect to pay between £40 and £60 per room, it's holiday time in France too so availability may be tight. You could also try the Kyriad which is cheap but clean and there's a whole host of budget chains in Calais which aren't grand but are clean.
For travel you can't beat the tunnel, about £54 for an overnight trip although the price depends on which time of day you go.
I don't smoke so wouldn't know where to buy cigarettes from but I understand that Belgium is cheaper, wine and beer more expensive though. Try a French tabac and you probably won't be dissapointed.
We spend a lot of time in France so if you'd like any further info just ask!
Enjoy yourself!
:beer:

jamesh

http://www.day-tripper.net/

Has lots of info.

sarah1975uk

jamesh wrote: »

http://www.day-tripper.net/

Has lots of info.

Looked on this site yesturday found a link on there which i was able to get a quote for ferry crossing and hotel included @ £140 quid travelling thursday comming home saturday with 2 nights accomodation included. i wish i had flamin booked it now cant find the link now! doh! been searching most of today and everything else is comming out more expensive. begining to do my head in now lol

sarah1975uk

sprouts101 wrote: »

Hi
I assume that your going to Calais in which case give Cite Europe a wide birth and head for Auchan in Coquelles which is about 2 minutes away and will be on your sat nav, which is perfectly legal in France by the way. You'll find it far less busy (although still busy!) and in my opinion has a far better range of good wines and beers. You can get some fantastic wines from between 2 and 2.5 euros which is about £1.50 - £2. Let me know if you want some recommendations.
For hotels you can try the George V in Calais which is very reasonably priced or the Hotel Meurice which is a little more but worth it. Expect to pay between £40 and £60 per room, it's holiday time in France too so availability may be tight. You could also try the Kyriad which is cheap but clean and there's a whole host of budget chains in Calais which aren't grand but are clean.
For travel you can't beat the tunnel, about £54 for an overnight trip although the price depends on which time of day you go.
I don't smoke so wouldn't know where to buy cigarettes from but I understand that Belgium is cheaper, wine and beer more expensive though. Try a French tabac and you probably won't be dissapointed.
We spend a lot of time in France so if you'd like any further info just ask!
Enjoy yourself!
:beer:

Thanks for your reply. i would be greatful for your recomendations on wines to get that are cheap lol i do like medium white wines not too sharp or bitter. i like red too but dont like anything to harsh or watery tasting. (gawd i really need wine education lol)

With regard to accomodation as long as is clean im not fussed about budget hotels im only on a quick shopping trip not a long term holiday so as long as friendly and clean and somewhere safe to rest my head at night im happy with that... mind you the Ritz is out of my buget radar lol and near to a few nice pubs and restaurants (that arent overpriced and where the food is good but they dont rip you off)

With regard to Cigarettes will go to Belgium and for wine i think france is best

sarah1975uk

PeteMc wrote: »

No problem in using Sat Nav in France, even with speed cameras marked. There is a problem with radar detectors though and the Gendarmes will be less than impressed if they catch you with one!

I have a tom tom 910 sat nav and it has speed camera alerts will they tell me off if they catch me with one of those. or is it the snooper road angel thingys your refering too?

jamesh

sarah1975uk wrote: »

I have a tom tom 910 sat nav and it has speed camera alerts will they tell me off if they catch me with one of those. or is it the snooper road angel thingys your refering too?

TomTom is fine, the snooper are the ones that are not allowed.