Clever Ways to Save Money on Duty Free
There are a few reasons why a person shops duty free when they are traveling domestically or internationally. One of those reasons is saving money, as duty free items are often cheaper than prices for the same products outside of airports.
The issue is that you cannot always save money buying duty free, as some online retailers may carry the item for a lower price. Below are some clever ways that you can have fun duty free shopping, and save money as well.
Buy Alcohol at Airports
If you look up alcohol prices anywhere in the world, you will likely find a lot of taxes added onto those prices. Most countries charge a “sin tax” for alcohol, cigarettes and similar items.
Anyone who drinks frequently, or wants to buy alcohol for the family, should make those purchases at duty free shops. Ensure you do a quick comparison of prices to your local shops to remain certain you are saving money.
Look Out For Cosmetic Gifts
While you can find some great prices on cosmetics and beauty products at duty free shops around the world, the savings are not tremendous. You can likely find those products for a similar price online.
The saving is often in the gifts you get when you buy duty free. Those shops will usually bundle a lot of samples and travel size products with the full size item you buy, essentially saving you money on the product.
Specialty Items
There are some items, such as souvenirs, limited edition items, and duty free specific products, which you cannot buy at any random store or online retailer. You can buy these items as souvenirs for yourself or gifts for family and friends.
Ensure you are buying quality items from reputable shops, and packing them properly so you do not have any damaged products when you open your luggage at home.
Avoid Clothes
Most clothing items and accessories are not cheaper at duty free. You may see signs about no duty and certain discounts, but with most items you can search for them online and get a better deal.
The only time you should buy clothes at duty free is when you need them for your trip, or want to give them to someone as soon as you get home.
Shop Duty Free the Right Way
Shopping at duty free stores can be a lot of fun, but you should also follow the above tips to make sure you are saving money on every transaction.
