With the exchange rate as miserable as it is, I am hoping to take advantage of some duty-free shopping at the airport. However, I%26#39;m not sure about the rules. Here%26#39;s my situation: we%26#39;re flying into CDG at 6:30 in the morning on a Tuesday, and we fly out at 6:00 in the morning a week later. Am I only permitted to shop duty-free when I leave the country, or could I stick around CDG the morning I arrive? Or perhaps make a trip to CDG the day before I leave? Or does the fact that I leave at the crack of dawn just leave me out of luck?
Thanks!
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I was wondering if there is any advantage, price-wise, to duty free shopping
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Most items in France are subject to the VAT, which is pretty steep (in the neighborhood of 20%). While you can get the VAT refunded when you leave the country, you have to buy something like $200 worth in one store to be eligible. Since I just want to be able to buy some wine, some souvenirs, and some cosmetics on my way out of the country, it would be worth it to me to be able to make those purchases duty-free.
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You can only shop in duty-free stores just before leaving the country, you%26#39;ll be asked to show your boarding pass at the cash.
Brand-name cosmetics and perfume can be cheaper, souvenirs usually aren%26#39;t. Sometimes the lines at registration and security check are such, that one doesn%26#39;t have that much time left for the duty-free shops.
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Duty free shops may not be open that eary at CDG. And, you also need to know which terminal you will be using - not all have the same amount of duty free shopping available. The terminal we usually fly out of on Delta only has a wine and candy shop and a small cafe. (atleast that was true 2 years ago) There are others with more available, but you may not be able to get to them. I think www.easycdg.com is a website that will tell you what is located where.
I%26#39;ve learned not to wait till the airport to buy what I want. I had a friend not buy a piece of crystal in Paris a few years back because she was told she could get it at the airport cheaper before the flight. She might could have, but not at our terminal. She missed out on something she really wanted.
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I%26#39;ve never been able to get VAT back except in Canada, which seemed to really care if you got it back and mailed you the refund. At CDG, even when I have the forms, the lines are wayb too long to bother. Better to try to get a little off at the store...Catherine on Rue Daniel Casanova gave me 10 Euros off a purse when I said I would not be able to collect VAT.
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