Much has been made recently of the great exchange rate with the US Dollar, but you have to do some serious maths to work out how much you might actually save after the lower prices, exchange rate, costs of flights and accommodation and any UK duty and VAT which may be levied.
By comparison popping over to France is rather more straightforward to calculate. www.travelex.co.uk are currently offering €1.41 for your pound with no commission charges. If you go to at Coquelles (near the EuroTunnel terminal) and in central Calais and pre-order £300 of wines you can get a free day return crossing on SeaFrance. Even better, their prices are displayed in £sterling and if you pay cash or cheque you will be charged in sterling - so no exchange rate to worry about - and you can make up your order online before you go - the store will prepare your order for collection and you save precious time in Calais for more shopping, dining etc.
You'll also notice a difference on petrol and especially on diesel prices, at supermarchés and hypermarkets - e.g. current prices per litre in Calais:-
Diesel (Gazole) €1.012 (71.8p per litre)
Unleaded (Sans Plomb 95) €1.169 (82.9p per litre)
Super Unleaded (Sans Plomb 98) €1.209 (85.7p per litre)
Diesel still makes a lot of sense in France with lower prices (as used to be the case in the UK) and generally better fuel economy - it can make quite a difference on a long journey from the Channel to southern France.
Simon Calder in the Independent has some ideas on shopping abroad for Christmas."Sunday trading laws in France mean that hypermarkets are normally closed, but a number of large stores in Calais have once again been granted special dispensation to open on specific dates this month.
Champion at the commercial centre Les 4 Boulevards will be open every Sunday this month, including Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The Carrefour hypermarket at Cite de l'Europe will be open on 10, 17 and 24 December. And Auchan in Calais will open on 17, 24 and 31 December. " See the Independent for more
