Travelling from Canada / Duty Free question.

Greetings all. Leaving for Vegas Sunday evening, and am wondering if it%26#39;s worth while picking up a bottle from the Edmonton International Duty Free Shop, or just wait till I find a Liquor store in Vegas? For example, if I wanted to pick up a bottle of Malibu Rum, would I be better off, grabbing it passing by duty free, or waiting till Vegas? Your opinions? Thanks so much all.

Travelling from Canada / Duty Free question.

Well it would be cheaper and more convenient since you are there anyway. You will have to pack it in your checked luggage though but they will bubblewrap it for you, at least they do in Calgary.

Travelling from Canada / Duty Free question.

By all means, wait until Vegas. Why bring sand to the beach?

Went a couple of weeks ago out of Calgary. There is a duty free before you go through customs where you can get your bottle. The prices are pretty good and you can just take it as carry-on. There is also a little kiosk after you go through customs that sell your basics at a good price ( I got 2 - 40oz bottles of vodka special price - $30 Canadian ). You can take the two bottles on the plane as carry-on ( I%26#39;m not sure if they have that in Edmonton or not ). I like to have one bottle in the room in Vegas and then bring the other back to Calgary as my duty free in checked luggage ( you are only allowed one bottle per person coming back into Canada ). Not sure of the duty free hours though.

To me it isn%26#39;t really the dollar savings ( after all you are going to Vegas!) but the convenience of not having to look for a liquor store while you are there. I like to sit back and have a nice cocktail in the room as I%26#39;m unpacking before I hit the casino. Also great having a bottle with mix back in the room when you are just taking a break! Have fun - going again in october.

I agree, why waste time looking for a liquor store, when you can buy it right at the airport?

A common misconception is that you are only allowed to bring back one bottle as well. you may bring back more, but the they will be subject to small duties, which they may not bother with.

';By all means, wait until Vegas. Why bring sand to the beach?';

Sometimes you want a drink in your room instead of blowing $100 at a table waiting for one. Do the Duty Free thing. I always do.

Personally I pick booze on the way back into Canada, not going out. A minor consideration is that most duty free shops going into the US sell 1 litre bottles (since that%26#39;s the limit going into the US), but the duty free shops going into Canada sell 1.14 litre (40 oz) bottles since that%26#39;s the limit in Ontario.

As for the duties coming back in if you%26#39;re over your limit, they can be quite substantial, at least in Ontario. The LCBO has an online calculator you can use that is based both on your cost and amount of alcohol. For example, if I bought a 1.75L bottle of 40% vodka for $15 CAD, there would be $27.75 in taxes and duties making the landed cost $42.75. Most 1.75 litre bottles in Ontario sell for $52 so it%26#39;s a bit of a savings, but maybe not worth the hassle.

I bought 2 bottles of vodka going into the US from Calgary - one for Vegas and one to bring back ( can%26#39;t remember if they were the 1 or 1.14 litre bottles ). I asked the cashier if we were allowed 2 and she said yes- went on as carry-on. Not sure if that is different in Ontario?

Here we go - I am an expert on this one...at Edmonton Int there is a small kiosk liquor store in US hold area AFTER US security - assuming you have a NONSTOP flight to Las Vegas. Buy it right there - its immediately to your right after you go through US security. Small selection thought, the basics but it works. It IS cheaper than in the US after you add the exchange and tax plus it is a time saver. You can see the Americans doing the same thing.