“It isn't a bargain anymore”: Do Brits still buy duty free before a holiday?

What are the top things you buy?

Perfume or aftershave

You could’ve bet your house on this one cropping up. You simply can’t look past a fancy perfume or aftershave, especially when they’re basically spilling off the shelves.

Designer brands at bargain prices? And you’re going on holiday? The perfect recipe to treat yourself - and anyone in a 10 metre radius of you at your hotel.

Maybe the only surprise is that people actually buy a bottle instead of just having a spray and legging it before the shop assistant tries to talk to you!

Cigarettes or tobacco

Another banker. Cigarettes, ciggies, smokes, whatever you want to call them. They’re going straight in your duty-free basket.

Those big multi-packs are often ludicrously cheap compared to anywhere else, and you can always bring a few back (or have them all while you’re away, you’re on holiday after all).

A few of you were buying for yourself while others were landing their partners a bargain. How romantic.

Alcohol

The third of the duty-free Holy Trinity. Booze. The prices of spirits are always particularly tempting, especially with the taste of an airport pint already (or soon to be) tingling your taste buds.

There was just about every spirit under the sun in our Facebook comments, from spiced rum and vodka to whiskey, gin and even limoncello for one zesty traveller.

The old ‘two bottles for…’ deals you find in duty free were also keenly celebrated. You’ll see some absolutely belting offers like this. Go halves with a mate for a complete bargain or just nab two for yourself. Hangovers don’t exist on holiday anyway…

Chocolate or sweets

This one maybe just misses out on the duty-free hall of fame, but there were still a number of you championing the chocolate and sweets you find in duty free.

And there was one item in particular that was getting a lot of love…the mighty Toblerone. And not just any old Toblerone. The giant Toblerone.

For some of you, the aftershave, cigarettes and alcohol are just an irrelevant distraction in duty free. You’re after the main attraction. An absurdly big triangular prism of chocolate. The perfect balcony snack.

Sunglasses

An honourable mention at the very least, sunglasses are an item that maybe gets overlooked as a duty-free staple. But come to think of it, rows and rows of shades are very much part of the furniture in these stores.

And one of you absolutely hit the nail on the head when it comes to buying sunglasses in duty free, with boujee pairs sometimes being a bit too temptingly priced - especially when you’re off to sit in the sun all day.

“Sunglasses to replace the expensive sunglasses I bought last time and put them somewhere so safe that I can't find them for the next holiday.”

So is duty free still worth buying?

While many of you are still open to duty-free buys before you fly, there are plenty who reckon it’s not the same as it used to be!

Here are just a few of the comments we saw when we asked what you buy:

“Nothing much these days as it's not very reasonable these days.”

“Nothing, I never found it any less expensive ,in fact if anything it's more expensive!”

“Nothing just as expensive as the high street!”

“Duty free isn't a bargain anymore.”

What if it IS cheaper?

These strong feelings towards got us thinking. Are Brits really getting the best deals they can in duty free?

In a few easy steps, you can actually get 10% off your World Duty Free shopping by ordering online. So if you’re one of those people who always buys before you fly, it’s definitely worth doing - who wouldn’t want 10% off?

And even if you’re not one of those people, and you’re a duty-free doubter who feels like it “isn’t the same anymore”, have a browse on the World Duty Free website.

Take your time. Do some comparisons. You might actually be surprised at some of the prices. And remember, you’re getting another 10% off at checkout.

Did you know about this handy duty-free saving trick? Let us know by commenting on our Facebook page.