[B]Belgian Tobacco Shops[/B]

Ert

As a cigar smoker I save a fortune by shopping in Belgium twice a year. A few years ago, no credit cards seemed to work - something about preventing fraud they said.
In recent years I have taken Stirling cash, but now I'm a Money Saver I should follow Martin's advice and avoid the shops' euro/stirling conversion, and pay by credit card.
I've got a Liverpool Victoria card because of its 0% euro commission.
Has anybody recently used plastic successfully in Belgian tobacco shops?

littlereddevil

I use plastic all the time but they always ask for passport so carry it with you just in case as i had left mine in car once when I got to the till
I have used 2 different cards Bank of Scotland and Goldfish and they worked fine with pin

cullin

if driving from calais go to Adinkerke which is just over the boarder on the A16 where they will take english currancy giving you a far better rate of exchange in purchasing tobacco and spirts, last Tuesday it worked out at 1.54. Don't bother checking prices they are all at the same rate. The row of shops you need are before you go over the river into Adinkerek, take the second exit off the first roundabout after leaving the A16 hope this helps

MyUserNamesTaken

cullin wrote:

if driving from calais go to Adinkerke which is just over the boarder on the A16 where they will take english currancy giving you a far better rate of exchange in purchasing tobacco and spirts, last Tuesday it worked out at 1.54. Don't bother checking prices they are all at the same rate. The row of shops you need are before you go over the river into Adinkerek, take the second exit off the first roundabout after leaving the A16 hope this helps

JUst another vote of approval for Adinkerke. I always get my ciggies from there. The bloke on the French Fags counter is friendly and helpful.

pompeyrich

Not sure if using a credit card is that good as the shops in Adinkerke used to total your goods in Euros, then convert it to sterling at their rather poor rates, then charge that sterling amount to your card.

bwoyrough

I used to work getting tobacco a few years back, and we always used to go to Adinkerke, the shops just over the bridge, next to the river. We always used to use the power house i think it was called the shop on the corner, that place is open 24/7 and busy all day, they take some money in in a day!! For your wine EastEnders is a good bet, not sure what the name of the place is where he's located tho.
Whats the prices there these days? it used to be £1.67 for 2oz Golden Virginia when i last went, several years back.
Prices on cigarettes??

pompeyrich

The shops in Adinkerke open at 6 a.m. and shut at 10 p.m. these days, there are a couple that still open 24/7 but these are a bit out of the main area.
GV is now around £2:80 for 50g, and cigs start at £23 for JPS, £24.50 for Royals and £28 for most of the others.

loates123

what is the limit on golden v tobacco from there...
2.80 seems cheap where else can u get golden v at a good price, every time i go away i cant find it only drum.........so never bother getting any

urbanfrit

The reason for using Sterling instead of Euros or a credit card which will be charged in Euros is that tobacco and cigarettes are a fixed price in Belgium so the shops cannot sell at a lower price to get your business.
They get round this by giving you a much more favourable exchange rate if you pay in Sterling.
The differences in prices you see in Adinkerke are simply the differences in exchange rates.
Take a walletful of Sterling and you will get the best price.

pompeyrich

Customs guidelines are 3kg on hand rolling tobacco, this is not a hard and fast limit but if you are stopped with more than this they will assume it is not for your own personal use and you will have to prove you are not intending to sell any of it. If you can't satisfy them they will confiscate the lot and maybe even the car you are using to carry it in. The shops will sell you as much as you want.
Spain is also good for GV 3.9 Euros (approx £2.80) for 50g so could be worth a cheap flight from your local airport, cigs start at about £11 for JPS to around £20 for B&H at the official tabacs in Spain. Nearly all of the official tabacs in Spain close from saturday lunchtime til monday morning so bear that in mind when booking your trip.

sylwright

If you check out this website http://www.day-tripper.net/ you will be able to find the prices of all tobacco and cigarettes in Adinkerke, and all other shops around Calais.

I used it before we went on a day trip and it saves a lot of running around.