I was wondering if anyone makes a stop at Duty Free when departing home. I know most of us stop bye on arrival to get a bottle but was wondering about when departing and what do you usually buy.
I usually stop bye Duty as long as Custom Lines are not long. I mean last year the custom line started bye the Duty Store or even before then so I was not going to lose my place in line and thus skipped it.
I usually go for the Gouda Cheese and Cuban Rum. The cheese is somewhat expensive but sometimes on sale. As they have explained to me, whatever they put out on cheeses they have to sell within 24 hours. If it gets close to 24 hour or passed, they discount it heavily to get rid of it. This trip I purchased a box of 3 mixed Gouda Cheeses for $34. I bought 2 boxes so I can give a few to my Mother's 2 home attendants plus a friend that stood over with Ms Daisy overnight last Saturday on account that my brother was in upstate NY until Sunday. This morning I enjoyed a nice grill cheese for breakfast made with 3oz of Gouda Cheese. I admit it was not as good as Joanne from Black Pearl but it hit the spot!
I also purchased 2 aged Cuban Rums which were priced at $21 a 750ML bottle but was discounted 10% if you purchased 2 so they came out to $18.90 each. Then I bought a bottle of an Aged Venezuelan Rum called Santa Teresa 1790. This rum was $55 for a liter but so worth it! The store let me taste it before I decided to purchase. I will probably be sipping some for New Years along with some Gouda Cheese and crackers.
Funny thing about the Duty Free in Aruba. You are only allowed 1 LT per person we all know that for US. If you complete your US Custom Check points, and purchase liquor at your gate, they charge you Duty on any bottles over the 1LT. If you purchase your bottles before US Customs, you can buy more than 1LT like I did and not pay any duty. Reason being as Ive been told many times, they don't give you the bottles right there. After you go through US Customs, security check point, you take escalator to gate area and just pick up your booze.. Works every time!