Duty free shopping tips

We all know that while we’re travelling, regular stores offer expensive goods. We also know that duty free shopping can rescue us from completely emptying our pockets. That said, we can do our wallets some favour by engaging in clever ways to shop duty free. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

What is duty free shopping?

Duty free goods, in a literal sense, are free of duty. What is duty? A “duty” is a tax that the government of a country imposes on the goods for the residents of that country. However, retail outlets don’t levy this tax for travellers who will leave the country, so that they can save some money. Honestly, it’s a blessing for large-scale purchases.

Where can you buy duty free goods?

The most common spaces offering travellers to shop duty free products are international airports, on board flights, ports and cruise ships. But different countries have different rules, so make sure you read them up.

Duty free shopping in US

According to Forbes, normally, a traveller must leave the United States for more than 48 hours in order to be eligible to buy duty free goods. There are more factors to keep in mind, for instance, the quantities of the goods you buy. These items have to then be taken into another country.

Duty free shopping in India

There are different rules for travellers arriving and for the ones departing from an Indian airport. The most popular duty free items in India are jewellery, liquor, and electronics among others.

Things to keep in mind about taxes

“Duty free and airport purchases are usually more appealing for liquor and tobacco because of the heavy taxes imposed on these items, especially in Western countries. Often, you can get the value-added taxes (VAT) refunded at the airport,” said Jean Yves Chainon, Founder of the OOAworld, an online world offering travel-related multimedia content.

Are goods not available in local markets available in duty free shops?

“If you are a scotch drinker, certain brands like McCallan, Johnnie Walker, and Glenfiddich offer duty free exclusives that can only be found at duty free stores. Collectors love them”, said Lois Pasternak, Publisher and Editor of Travel Markets Insider.

You can also get last-minute souvenirs from airports. Duty free shops are truly a saviour then, because they are light on your wallet. Here are a few you can add to your collection:

From Narita Airport, Japan: Kit-kats, Matcha sweets, Kokeshi Dolls

From Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona, US: Scorpion lollipos

From Heathrow Airport, London, UK: Whiskies, wines, and champagnes

From Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea: liquor, cosmetics, and electronics