Where to buy cheap tobacco & spirits

Hi all,

I will be going to Brussels via Eurostar in November for a week amongst other places %26amp; was wondering where the cheapest places for Tobacco %26amp; Spirit products are ?.

I understand that the Eurostar ticket gives me train coverage to Vise %26amp; even tho the train doesn%26#39;t stop there, it does allow me to get a cheap ticket to places like Maastricht.

I know that Aidenkirk does cheap products but am aware that it is difficult to get their without a car. Is anyone able to advise me where the cheapest place to go within the the Eurostar ticket or am I better off to get a cheap train to Luxembourg while I am in Belgium ?

Many thanks

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Tobacco prices are regulated in Belgium, so it doesn%26#39;t really matter where you buy. If I understand correctly, the reason why Adinkerke is cheaper than elsewhere is that they cater to day-trippers from the UK and accept Sterling at a favourable exchange rate, which amounts to a discount for UK tourists. You will not find shops elsewhere in Belgium doing this.

Luxembourg tobacco taxes are even lower than in Belgium, but I wouldn%26#39;t have thought it was worth the 6-hour round trip from Brussels have to be buying a lorry-load for the difference in price to make it worthwhile buying a train ticket there and back from Brussels (3 hours). Brussels-Luxembourg single costs €33.20, so €66.40 return; cheapest fare would be Benelux weekend return for €39.80.

For wines and spirits, try ALDI (= LIDL) and Colruyt. I couldn%26#39;t work out whether/where you are actually staying in Belgium but most towns have these.

Eurostar terminates at Brussels but you can indeed continue (within 24 hrs, so you can also stay overnight in Brussels) on a local train to Liège or - last stop in BE before NL border - Visé on the same ticket, and buy a separate ticket for Maastricht. Of course, you only have ONE %26quot;Any Belgian Station%26quot; (other than Brussels) option, so if you do this, you will have %26quot;used up%26quot; your incoming Eurostar ticket and can%26#39;t use it to go somewhere else in Belgium as well.

If you want to do your shopping on the way, Liège would probably be better than Visé, which has no Colruyt but does have an ALDI, at Allée verte 58, 4600 Visé. Liège has both: Colruyt, Bld de la Constitution 32, 4020 Liège; ALDI, Rue Saint-Léonard 199, 4000 Liège. And Brussels has plenty of both, of course, here is a map of the Colruyts: http://www.abruxelles.be/colruyt/

None of them are next to an ALDI although I think the one in Etterbeek isn%26#39;t far from one of the Colruyts. Mind you, whether it is really worth scooting around the city, presumably by taxi, is another matter.

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With the exchange rate the way it is the cheapest place to buy wines and spirits is Asda in Norwich. I’ve not found anywhere in Europe for years where it%26#39;s worth the hastle of carting the stuff back, especially without a car, with perhaps the exception of Spain. Even there, cigarettes are much more expensive these days as all governments in Europe pile on duty to try to stop people smoking.

I suppose cigarettes are around 45 euros for Regal KS 200%26#39;s so that works out at around 4 quid a pack so will save you something.

I see the exchange rate has crept up to 1 EUR = 0.906286 GBP today. That%26#39;s up 5p in a couple of weeks.

Have a good trip though

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To qaminari %26amp; RonaldoC,

Thank you so much for both your replies, you have been a great help. I will be going to Belgium probably Bruge for a day or so before going to Maastricht for a few days, but thanks for the information on the inclusive train ticket :).

I know that Amsterdam is more expensive for tobacco %26amp; spirits which is why I often go to Aidenkirk on daytrips.

I cannot believe the difference in the rail fares in Europe to here, they are so much cheaper where you guys are. I wil be sticking to Belgium for the cheaper products, I know that Lucembourg is cheaper but wouldn%26#39;t be saving much as would only be getting a maximum of 60 pouches to avoid hassle from the friendly customs staff lol.

Thank you both so much again for your input :D