Any suggestions/experiences/advice?
Having acquired a wine cellar, I really think its my duty to stock it!
Is it worth me doing a run to France, with me being Northern based? I'm thinking I'll need at least one overnight, (preferably outwards), so are the savings worth the extra costs i'll incurr?
I'm after decent wine & champagne rather than beer.
Booze Cruise
Booze Cruise
We have need of you again, great king.
Re: Booze Cruise
Eurotunnel imho is a much better bet than ferries as it is less prone to disruption, both journey and loading times are quicker and it's some 30 miles less drive this side. You get the best deals on a day return (any stay over in France immediately attracts a premium) and the best deals of the lot involve leaving at a less busy time i.e. very early or very late.
A reasonable plan of attack is crash overnight at a cheap hotel (the Travel Lodges of this world are great for this) in either Ashford or Maidstone and then shoot up the M20 early before the rush.
When you get to the other side head for the French supermarkets such as Carrefour or Auchan, rather than anonymous warehouses transplanted from deepest Purfleet doing a roaring trade in Ukrainian chardonnay. I acquired a taste for Alsace white a few years back and reasonable bottles costing ?8+ here are about ?3 over there.
If you are after smokes, it is illegal to sell ciggies at the same premises as food in France, so you have to search out Monsieur Tabac. Although not the bargain they used to be, you still save about ?2 a pack.
On the way back, be careful not to overload. Kent Police do a roaring trade in tickets for this on the M20 / A20 / A2.
C
A reasonable plan of attack is crash overnight at a cheap hotel (the Travel Lodges of this world are great for this) in either Ashford or Maidstone and then shoot up the M20 early before the rush.
When you get to the other side head for the French supermarkets such as Carrefour or Auchan, rather than anonymous warehouses transplanted from deepest Purfleet doing a roaring trade in Ukrainian chardonnay. I acquired a taste for Alsace white a few years back and reasonable bottles costing ?8+ here are about ?3 over there.
If you are after smokes, it is illegal to sell ciggies at the same premises as food in France, so you have to search out Monsieur Tabac. Although not the bargain they used to be, you still save about ?2 a pack.
On the way back, be careful not to overload. Kent Police do a roaring trade in tickets for this on the M20 / A20 / A2.
C
Re: Booze Cruise
A few years ago I drove overnight to Belgium on business and
took the tunnel.
At that time the tickets ran from midnight to midnight, so if you
had a day return for example it could be used on the first train
after midnight (not sure if this is still the case).
I got there at just before midnight, and there was a line of cars
and vans waiting in the lay-by till it crossed over to midnight so
they could check in and get the first train that day.
By the time you check in, then wait for the train, then add an
hour for French time, it is about 2 or 3am when you get there.
You can park up somewhere for a sleep (they have plenty of
roadside car parks) and then at 8am go looking for booze.
There is a huge shopping centre right at the exit of the tunnel
called Cite Europe and when I was there it had two english
supermarkets selling booze (Tesco and Sainsbury's I think)
As someone else has said, there is a huge Auchen in Calais,
(and I mean huge), like the big Asda's you get in the UK.
It is not just booze that is cheaper in Auchen, and you may
wish to stock up on clothes and other items while you are
there.
There are of course plenty of other places around Calais to
get cheap booze, even an English red double decker bus
that is parked alongside the road.
Good luck,
Guilbert
took the tunnel.
At that time the tickets ran from midnight to midnight, so if you
had a day return for example it could be used on the first train
after midnight (not sure if this is still the case).
I got there at just before midnight, and there was a line of cars
and vans waiting in the lay-by till it crossed over to midnight so
they could check in and get the first train that day.
By the time you check in, then wait for the train, then add an
hour for French time, it is about 2 or 3am when you get there.
You can park up somewhere for a sleep (they have plenty of
roadside car parks) and then at 8am go looking for booze.
There is a huge shopping centre right at the exit of the tunnel
called Cite Europe and when I was there it had two english
supermarkets selling booze (Tesco and Sainsbury's I think)
As someone else has said, there is a huge Auchen in Calais,
(and I mean huge), like the big Asda's you get in the UK.
It is not just booze that is cheaper in Auchen, and you may
wish to stock up on clothes and other items while you are
there.
There are of course plenty of other places around Calais to
get cheap booze, even an English red double decker bus
that is parked alongside the road.
Good luck,
Guilbert