Calais Shopping blog and newsletter - tips for day-trippers

4th - Great news - New DFDS Dover to Calais service starts 17th February

The demise of Seafrance could have affected prices on the Dover to Calais route badly. However competition is in full flow, demonstrating that well managed companies keep fares low and services good. Not only have PO Ferries got a superb £19 plus six bottles of wine offer on at the moment, but DFDS and LD Lines are launching a new Dover to Calais service on the 17th.

DFDS Seaways are celebrating the arrival of our new Dover-Calais ferry service with a fantastic new introductory offer. Book by 14 February, using offer code DC12, for travel on the new Dover to Calais route between 17th February and 13th December 2012 for just £29* each way during low season** dates. Alternatively, those wanting to travel during peak season** dates can still ferry to France for £39* each way! This offer is only available until 14 February and space is limited - so make sure you are one of the first people to try out our new ferry service into Calais!

This is a good time of the year to travel with Brittany ferries with some great offers on at the moment.

27th - UKBA failing everyone it seems

Although Twitter is a huge distraction, much of the news we get is now sent out via Tweets (and irritatingly email as well). For those unfamiliar with Twitter, try it out when there is a crisis or something in the news. I saved a #UKBA search when the latest controversy hit the headlines and look at it from time to time. Useful links and information get given out as well as the latest news. Our collection of twitter and facebook accounts. Our account is twitter.com/daytripper24

For e.g.

24th - WWII, holidays and visits to battlefields

My family is looking inott the war records of my Grandfathers both of whom served in the First World War. Northern France is easy to get to and attractive in many places. The War Graves are always very well maintained. I recently went to Oppy Wood (not far from the junction of the A1 and A26 autoroutes where my paternal Grandfather won a DCM. If you can't face a drive there are lots of small holiday companies doing a great job with guided war tours. It's worth doing.

21st - Spanair goes bust

Spanair have gone bust. Airlines to France, Airlines to Spain.

19th - Travel tips pages

We are slowly expanding our Travel tips pages. Over the years we have accumulated a lot of data which we plow through from time to time. Carhire tips, channel ferries travel tips, tips for shopping in France, travelling tips.

16th - Skiwear shops, France and U.K.

On balance we think it's best shopping in France for skiwear and equipment. The three reasons to shop in France; savings, range and quality stiull apply although selectively. We advise shoppers to check U.K. prices first and then compare when shopping in France. Range is certainly better in France, and getting a ski boot fitted at the shop you bought it at, takes on a whole new meaning when done in France, where you can return for further adjustments.

Early on in the season, you can even visit events where skis, snowboards and equipment are available to test.

Skiwear at Factory shopping centres - Skiwear hire - U.K. Shops for skiwear - Skiwear brands.

12th - Hotel booking link fixed

Whoops! Thanks to those of you who pointed out that out quicklink hotel booking menu wasn't working properly. Its now been fixed.

9th - Good news. PO Ferries daytrip offer.

PO Ferries have just announced a new daytrip offer - a repeat of last years £19 plus six bottles of wine and a free "buy one get one free" meal voucher.

This web site survives thanks to our visitors clicking through to book a ticket via the links we have. In an attempt to make more money (commissions are being reduced, and in some cases not paid at all) we now have some quick book travel pages. We hope you will use them. Remember, this web site always tries to promote the best deals not the ones we make money from. The cheap daytrip ticket deals bring us no money what so ever, but we promote them as we want people to know we will always have their interest at heart first.

1. Ferry fares will rise. The demise of Seafrance will have a devastating effect on prices. The Seafrance French Trade Union proposal for a co-operative to replace Seafrance said that an extra 50 euro each way was needed to make the route pay. Although these figures are based on their own outrageous demands, love of subsidies and belief in work practices that would bankrupt the most profitable of companies, we believe there will be increases. Our advice? book your summer crossings now or even better buy a carnet of tickets. Most current deals end at the end of January.

2. Wine and Beer. These will remain good value in France, although the threat of more tax increases in France should not be discounted. Attempts in the U.K. to clamp down of silly offers (selling spirits at below their cost in order to attract customers), are likely to be made law, not just in an attempt to stop irresponsible drinking but also to support the Pub trade, which has suffered much more from UK based deals than shoppers visiting France.

3. Tobacco. The effect on price increases in France has seen sales to UK shoppers decline horribly, according to local Calais shops. The disadvantage of high prices has affected the French market however, with a huge increase in cross border shopping as well as a massive growth in the supply of counterfeit brands. The message remains clear, smokers would rather buy counterfeit than give up due to high prices. Crackdowns on cross border shopping, and the restriction of supplies of UK brands to European shops, has seen an horrendous growth in the supply of counterfeit product. Anti cross border shopping campaigns have empowered organised crime as well as denied any European Government of the taxes legitimate tobacco sales bring.

4. Your rights as European citizens. I have a funny feeling this year is going to see some dramatic changes. We are lobbying for the UKBA to be only concerned with using the borders as the point at which U.K. citizens are protected, not the point at which they are controlled. The astonishing revelations concerning the UKBA this year, have reinforced out view that its main purpose is control not protection, and we believe we will see some important changes of benefit to citizens.

5. Dodgy pricing. With administration fees, credit card charges, expensive complaints and customer services telephone lines all ensuring the consumer is ripped off, we hope we will see legislation that will ban any extra add ons to a price quoted in advertising. Expect a long wait unless it comes from Europe - the British Parliament has a terrible record when it comes to consumer rights, most of what we enjoy is down to Europe.

We hope it all goes well and that 2012 will be better than 2011. Day-tripper has enjoyed a resurgence in visitor numbers this year, and look forward to big changes in 2012.

23rd - Ski apartment for rent

We have a new kitchen in our Les Deux Alpes ski apartment which enjoys stunning views and is ski in ski out. Still a few weeks left to fill though, so if you are considering a skiing holiday, please contact me.

22nd - Chapons and Poulet de Bresse

I had a highly enjoyable day at Pont de Vaux, a small town taking part in the Glorieuse de Bresse, a fowl themed food event celebrating the Bresse chickens (as well as ducks, guinea fowl and turkeys). Although expensive to buy, the method of production and time spent preparing the birds guarantee a very special chicken, bursting with flavour. Long queues of locals snapped up the birds after the judging and awards ceremony. I paid 23 euro per Kilogram for a chapon for our family Xmas meal, and have been delighted to see they cost £45 / kg in the UK. More soon.

21st - Seafrance saga goes on, but liquidation likely.

The Seafrance saga goes on. DFDS / LD Lines did not make an offer after the militant French Trade Unions refused to speak to them (a very good example of how Trade Unions can destroy totally a salvageable business). Although they want to create a co operative, they have no funding so this is most unlikely. We get the feeling DFDS are going to let them go bust and buy the assets, neatly avoiding having to take on staff whose behaviour has effectively caused the company to fail. For the moment both DFDS and PO Ferries have an extra ship on their routes, meaning more frequent sailings. Whilst prices are creeping up, we don't expect any dramatic changes until the New Year. We strongly advise people to buy their summer tickets now.

20th - Sales in France vs Sales in UK

Got a mailing today mentioning January sales starting in December, something which usefully sums up the British attitude to sales. In France, sales periods can only be at set times, and the products sold must be old stock, not items specially brought in for the sale. Additionally, products cannot be sold of cheaply in the month before the sales.

19th - Events in France

Our plans to emphasis short breaks themed around the many events that take place in France gathers pace. We are now publicising the ski test events that take place in November and December. Yesterday we were in Pont de Vaux, one of four towns that take part in the "Glorieuses de Bresse" (www.glorieusesdebresse.com), events celebrating the best chickens in the world. Despite the prices (I paid 92 euro for a 3.7 kg chapon), there were long queues of locals buying up the prize winning displays, after the judging had taken place. Today we enjoyed the company of the Dunkirk and Gravelines Tourist office. There is clearly more to Dunkirk than we know about generally, and Gravelines with its well preserved Vauban fort was a delight - well worth visiting for a weekend or short break.

17th - Tobacco in Belgium

Old shopping habits die hard. We are pleased that UK shoppers are now buying what they reasonably will smoke, rather than sticking to the guideline amounts, which the UKBA try and suggest are a limit. They are not, remember, as long as you buy tobacco for your own personal use and can reasonable show this to be the case, the UKBA / HMRC have no case. Buy what you want and will use personally.

16th - Dunkirk

Dunkirk is often overlooked by visitors on a short break. But there are a wealth of places to visit, and not just about the wartime evacuation. There are a lot of new restaurants too and many young chefs trying to establish themselves. French restaurants remain worthwhile places to eat in - we always say that in France you can choose a wine you want for the same price you would for the house plonk in the U.K.

15th - Holidays in France

Summer is probably uppermost in most peoples minds at the moment with dark evenings and cold days to endure. Most holiday companies need your cash now, when sales are traditionally slow. It is worthwhile checking out what is on offer now.

14th - Sales start soon

The demise of Seafrance is already having an effect. The low fares we have enjoyed in recent years are already going up. December is usually a good time for a cheap daytrips, but DFDS now have a £24 (as opposed to £17) daytrip and PO Ferries now have a £30 fare, as opposed to £19 (plus six bottles of wine) three weeks ago.

Regular travellers should seriously consider buying a carnet of tickets before they too rise in price. For the moment they are still very good value.

Our skiwear page is now too big to list all the information we want, so we have created a new page "skiing-factory-shops", where you can find all the information you need on shops at Factory shopping centres.

10th - Xmas markets in France

When passing through a French town try and find out if a local event is on, or when the Xmas market takes place. Local artisans will be there selling their products and produce. You are bound to find something different and individual, and therefore more worthwhile.

9th - Connections to Ski resorts

We often get sent information from companies providing connections from airports and stations to ski resorts. It's worth seeing what the alternatives are as fares with many traditional companies can cost the earth.

8th - Strikes in France

These happen quite a lot and can fairly be said to be one of the reasons Seafrance failed. It only takes one ruined family holiday to ensure you never travel with the company concerned again. Now we hear the Unions are refusing to talk to DFDS, the one surviving hope for a continuation in some form, of Seafrance. They deserve what they are going to get - unemployment. What a pity such a hard lesson needs to be learnt about the responsibilities involved in accepting employment from a company, whose investors have rights too.

6th - Ski events - test skis, snowboards and skiwear

We have a new page which we expect to grow over the coming years - ski and snowboard testing events. We are a great fan of these, where basically for a small fee you can try out the latest ski's etc. Beats making a choice on how good a ski looks any day, apart from being a good opportunity to freshen up. Most of the events are held in November and December.

4th - Skiwear and skiing

Our page listing all the skiwear companies is now pretty comprehensive. Additionally we have a section on skiwear companies at Factory shopping centres.

It's fun following twitter #UKBA, we are clearly not alone in our view this Agency causes unbelievable harm and damage to the United Kingdom.

1st - Hotel Agencies - make your own choice.

Many web sites have "approved partners" etc. - we take the view that you the end user should make a choice as to who you deal with. As such we try and list all the companies that should be mentioned and not just those who give us the most commission. It's worth checking the hotel agencies web sites. They usually deal with different hotels and by spending a bit of time researching (the internet's best point), you can find what you want and cheaper.

30th - UKBA on strike, everyone happy, better service.

29th - Seafrance unlikely to return.

Thanks to the absolute stupidy of the French Trade Unions at Seafrance, whose activities over many years have put so many people off travelling with them, it now seems unlikely sailings will resume. The latest mediation attempt has failed. Traveller's must hope that the latest DFDS offer is accepted when the Tribunal next meets on December 12th.

The good news is that both PO Ferries and DFDS have laid on extra capacity by bringing into operation extra ships. DFDS now has sailings every 1 and 1/2 hours. The freight companies, who used Seafrance a lot, are certainly finding it difficult at the moment, the queues seemed to be everywhere when we passed through Calais and Dunkirk recently.

DFDS say "The new ship on the route will be the NORMAN SPIRIT, which DFDS has chartered from LD Lines. The ship has capacity for 1850 passengers, 250 cars and 75 lorries and offers excellent passenger facilities, including restaurants, shops and comfortable resting areas. The NORMAN SPIRIT flies the French flag and will be a welcome addition to the Dover-Dunkirk crossing until a more normal Channel ferry service has been re-established."

26th - DFDS to Dunkirk

Thanks to effective marketing by DFDS, who blog, tweet and facebook energetically, their ferries seem quite full. Interesting to hear so much Polish being spoken on board. We've been told with or without Seafrance fares will stay at current levels. Mmm, we shall wait and see.

22nd - January 2012 Sales dates dates announced

In most departments in 2012 they start 11th January and finish 14th February 2012. Summer sales normally start on the third Wednesday of each year in France. In 2012 they start 27th June and end 31st July. However, many departments have different start and finish dates in 2012.

20th - Calais Busy

We were pleased to see so many people shopping in Calais this week. Clearly not everyone buys into the nonsense about it being cheaper to shop at home!

19th - Factory shopping centres

Factory shopping in France (and Belgium) is a good diversion if travelling through France. There are a number of centres throughout France. Try and get to them during the officially designated sales periods - this is when the shops have to get rid of their excess stock and bargains are to be had.

18th - Autoroute penalties

Time and time again we see the French Police along the A26 autoroute towards Calais, energetically catching U.K. and Belgium drivers breaking the speed limit. A very high percentage of people fined are in fact British, please be careful, and allow plenty of time to catch the ferry you booked.

16th - Seafrance decision today

We hope the DFDS / LD Lines bid eventually succeeds, as it is the best option around, as we have grave concerns that one operator into Calais will be bad news for competition and fares.

16th November 2011 - The Tribunal have ruled that neither the DFDS nor the Trade Union submission is adequate and has opted for the liquidation of the company. However, it has extended the deadline for new submissions until 12th December, and allowed continued operations until 28th January 2012.

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Flci.tf1.fr%2Feconomie%2Fsocial%2Fseafrance-place-en-liquidation-judiciaire-6822324.html&act=url

15th - UKBA before Parliamentary Committee

Fascinating listening to Brodie Clarke yesterday before the Home Office committee. Clearly intelligence led operations work very well and spare #UKcitizens the inconvenience of delays, and being subject to draconian fines for crossing their countries border to shop etc.

Interestingly, the whole reason for UKBA's existence has been laid bare. Whilst they try and convince us checks at Dover for example, are about finding drugs, the obvious nonsense of the argument was laid bare when we discovered there are no checks on private planes coming in. It doesn't take much to work out what a drug smuggler would do. Yet the UKBA are at the ports, clearly trying to intimidate shoppers.

More importantly the utter waste of money this agency is about became blindingly obvious. Take for example the 8 million checks done on children, which resulted in just one result. Seems clear to me there are other more efficient ways of using taxpayers money. Then there was the controversy of the fiddled drug seizure information. If the UKBA were about drugs, explosives etc. surely they would be seizing more of them? Not a chance, it's tobacco and alcohol that have seen the increases.

Brodie Clarke said that the September results were an "astounding success". I bet this means they caught more illegal immigrants, found more drugs and illegals goods - the sort of things we assume an body with "Border Agency" in its title would involve, and considerably LESS seizures of travellers tobacco, cars and shopping. Remember, whereas its easy to work out if an traveller is an illegal immigrant and criminal law is applied in the decision making process, all that needed to seize a car is an assumption by a UKBA official, as it's all done under the civil head. Strikes me as odd, and perhaps a neat summary of what the last Labour Government did to us all, that soft targets get clobbered, and those clearly up to no good get an easier ride.

Mr. Clarke also went on to say that doing "everything to everyone" was not working. It seems more and more obvious that our argument the UKBA does not engage in intelligence led operations, but offensively targets everyone including the vast majority of perfectly innocent people, is valid.

For an agency that is apparently about protecting our countries borders, we were appalled to hear that at ports such as Hull the job of checking people passing through is done by ... HMRC. So, once again our arguments are valid, border control in the U.K. is not about protecting our countries borders, but controlling those of us who live within them. After all, if you were an illegal immigrant would you choose to travel through Dover or Hull where there no Border Agency officials? Having passed through Hull recently, I can tell you that the only controls in operation were UKBA officials scanning car number plates - to check up on how often U.K. citizens cross their countries borders. As anyone who has crossed this countries border more than twice in the previous six months will know, travel history is evidence enough to seize shopping and cars. Why else would someone like me, who doesn't smoke, never buys tobacco, and drinks red wine moderately, be stopped so frequently? (other possibility - UKBA Banana Republic Officials having a go at me for highlighting how they behave - an agency out of control and in need of it?)

Husbands and wives of U.K. citizens find themselves interviewed separately when returning from a shopping trip, and if the wife says her husband earns £300 a week, and he says £400, the goods and cars are seized. I wonder if illegal immigrants go though the same. Of course criminals benefit from PACE (recordings), whereas interviews under the civil head, even though in UKBA infractions where the penalties are so much more severe, are not.

He also said that in areas up North, enforcement is done "inland". Just like in the rest of Europe where they have considerably greater success in controlling illegal immigration, than here.

Beyond the "consultant speak" we liked "process driven activity" and "outcome focussed" (i.e. aim for a result).

We were surprised MP's buy into everything they are told. Keith Vaz said the French Customs went home at 6.00pm implying there are no controls. But there are, as any frequent traveller passing through Dover will know, with large numbers of UKBA / HMRC Officials waiting to interrogate U.K. shoppers returning home after 6.00pm (the vast majority of travellers after 6.00pm are British passport holders).

One is forced to ask "if you spent as much time on foreigners as they did on U.K. citizens, would you be more successful?"

Let's hope the outcome of all this is that the UKBA are banned from monitoring U.K. passport holders, that penalties for buying excise goods such as tobacco and wine, are made considerably less severe than those for muggers, thieves and people who use violence against the police.

Above all let's hope the right the UKBA / HMRC currently enjoy to seize cars and goods, is returned to being under the criminal head (as it use to be when we had Duty Free shopping), so that UKBA/ HMRC are obliged to provide evidence and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

Time for some clear blue water between the last Government and this one Mrs May!

Many shops start their Sunday openings for Xmas shopping from the 20th November and will be open every Sunday until the 18th December.

Please find the time to write to your MP and MEP's to explain the UKBA have been stopping British shoppers, whilst they have been letting others through.

11th - Help the Heroes, Stow Caledonian Pipe Band

An admission, I play the bagpipes with Stow Caledonian Pipe Band. We are busking again in Trafalgar Square Saturday 12th to raise funds for our band uniform fund. If you want to help, donations greatly appreciated.

On Sunday we will be supporting the Walthamstow Royal British Legion at the Remembrance Day events at the Walthamstow Civic Hall Cenotaph in our new uniforms (still to be paid for).

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Stow-Caledonian-Pipe-Band

It's been fascinating following the #UKBA debate on Twitter. Clearly a very large number of people, many #UKcitizens are fed up and not just with the situation at Dover. Seems the arrogance, rudeness, and offensive behaviour is fairly widespread. Like me no doubt, many #UKcitizens seriously question what the UKBA is really about. Follow our contribution to the debate http://twitter.com/#!/daytripper24

I often check up on prices when I see a "special offer" advert. My advice is to always look at the T&C's. Whilst British supermarket offers can be worth while occasionally, the terms are not. For a start the items may be available at "a limited number of stores", or "Offer ends tomorrow", or "whilst stocks last", or "Three bottles per customer only".

When you shop in France the price is not only cheaper, there aren't any restrictions to catch you out!

Xmas shopping time! Pidou have some great offers on at the moment - remember when shopping for wine you will save 60% on U.K. prices.

5th - Are MP's waking up? The UKBA fiasco.

At last some news about the UKBA and its astonishing incompetence in the media. Once again our view that this awful Government Agency is about controlling those of us who live within the UP's borders, and not about protecting us, becomes clearer by the day. Time to get rid of it we think and save the tax payer loads of money.

4th - It's a guideline not a limit!

The new 1kg for rolling tobacco and 800 cigarettes guideline announced by the UKBA / HMRC is being taken as a limit by shoppers. It's not! As long as you can prove your purchases are for your own personal use (and that includes small gifts to family and friends) there is no limit. We strongly suggest you work out what you will use over six months BEFORE you get stopped and treated like a returning criminal.

3rd - Stop off at Leclerc in Reims for fuel and champagne

The Leclerc hypermarket south of Reims is easy to get to now that the southern bypass road is open. Not only is the range of champagnes enormous and reasonably priced, but the fuel here is very good value. Remember you can save a fair amount by finding the time to leave the autoroutes and fill up at nearby supermarkets where fuel prices are about 10% less.

2nd - Ski resort connections

Finding a cheap flight is one thing, but soon the extra's add up - the cost of getting to the airport, airport parking, and getting to the ski resort itself. The best way to save money is to take the coach instead of the train, pre book your parking (but checking the cheap option isn't miles out of town), and trying to make use of the local bus system in France when there.

1st - Exchanging Money, it's easy to be ripped off.

We were appalled to see cash dispensing machines on board the ferries offering as little as 1.02 euro per Pound when even the on board exchange shops (usually the worst place to exchange money) offered 1.10 euro. AVOID! Buy your currency before you leave.

31st - Magazines and blogs for France lovers

The internet provides lots of opportunity to read up on all sorts of subjects. We list all the web sites and blogs we like on our France Magazines and blogs page.

30th - Look out for the vouchers available when supermarket shopping in France

It's worth picking up and browsing through the leaflets and voucher booklets available at the entrance to most French Supermarkets. Auchan Hypermarket have a little booklet we like to use.

28th - Restaurants in France

Sadly the number of individually run family restaurants and brasseries in France are in sharp decline. However there are many chains, which whilst not offering what purists would prefer, none the less provide good food at reasonable prices in pleasant surroundings. Check out our France Restaurants page for all the links.

27th - Belgium Events for chocolate lovers

France and Belgium are must visit places for chocolate lovers. It's not just the prices, but the range that will prove attractive. There are loads of chocolate related events worth looking at as well. Belgium Events.

25th - Seafrance lives - until the 16th November at least.

At today's meeting the Commercial Court in Paris delayed its decision as to whether Seafrance should be liquidated until the 16th November. The best hope appears to be a joint DFDS / LD Lines offer.

24th - Ski resort connections

Getting to the resort can be very expensive. There are many options available however. Check out our Ski resort connections page for lots of useful advice and links.

23rd - When and where to test skis and snowboards in France

There are two main events for testing skis and snowboards, as well as boots and skiwear in France. We now have a page devoted to these events. Events-Ski-snowboard-tetsing

20th - Les Deux Alpes opens

19th October 2011 - Bad news, the European Commission has today rejected the French Government's plan to inject funds into the company. Seafrance have until Monday to find a buyer. On Tuesday another crucial deadline takes place at the Commercial Court of Paris when the Judge must decide whether to accept a joint DFDS / LD Lines offer, a management offer or to place the company in liquidation.

19th - Xmas ferry offers

Quite a few Xmas ferry offers / breaks coming through now and worth looking at if you are planning a trip. Ferry offers Long Sea (Spain, France) / North Sea Ferry offers.

18th - French Brands / DIY chains

We keep updating our French shopping chains page and the DIY chains pages. If you are looking for something specific or if a chain / brand you like has a shop where you may be going, these are the pages to look at.

17th - Mini cruises

Mini cruises are a great way to have a small break, do some shopping (both on board and ashore) and meet up with friends.

16th - Hull - Zeebrugges crossing with PO Ferries

I'de forgotten how nice a mini cruise is - comfortable cabins, good value restaurants and plenty going on on board. Very good offer on at the moment - two for one.

Travel from Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge from only £72 (inclusive of web discount), for up to five days away with a car and 2 passengers, en-suite cabin, and all taxes. Sunday to Wednesday departures only, includes cabin and all taxes. Thursday and Saturday departures from £77 pp, one pays one goes free. Friday departures from £112 pp, one pays one goes free.

Zeebrugges and Bruges visit

Apart from a few restaurants Zeebrugges is not worth a visit. However Bruges is a short bus ride away (right into the centre of town) and it's only a 8 km drive. Parking is not easy though and a bit pricy although there are loads of car parks.

Even if you just walk around Bruges it's worth the journey, a very attractive place to be. However there are a large number of museums. I visited the Frite (Chip) museum and the Choco Story Museum. Both excellent value and very interesting. There are a few tobacco shops geared towards the U.K. shopper. Interestingly I was told, as I had been in Adinkerke that the new guidelines are being stuck to by shoppers. Why? They are guidelines not limits. Clearly the UKBA's campaign to intimidate shoppers is working - I think this is shameful and that no Government should ever resort to tactics like this, especially as it involves people like me who do not smoke.

One of the reasons for this trip was to meet up with other people (most of whom smoke unlike me) who are fighting back at the UKBA / HMRC. A very good discussion took place and we will shortly have better advice and tips for shoppers.

15th - Hull port

It is advisable to allow more time before arrival when using this crossing, 90 minutes is suggested. I was astonished to find myself the last car aboard a hour before sailing, which left 15 minutes early as well!

15th - Strikes in France

Seafrance on strike again today. Worth reminding visitors that time spent on a bit of preparation can not only save you money when shopping, but the inconvenience of a delay or cancellation - check the operators website before you set off basically.

14th - Ferry offer pages

There are now so many offers for cross channel travellers from the ferry companies that we have broken down the pages for the offers into easier to manage and bookmark pages. We now have a page for Short sea ferry offers (Calais, Dieppe and Dunkirk), Long Sea ferry offers (Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo, Roscoff and Spain), North Sea (Some cracking offers on now from DFDS, Stena and PO Ferries), as a page for Ireland to U.K. ferry offers.

13th - Beat them again!

Thanks to PO ferries priorité I managed to get to the UKBA control point for U.K. citizens returning to their country before they were organised!

New guidelines

Sad to hear from the shopkeepers in Adinkerke that there has been a marked decline in U.K. shoppers since the guideline levels were reduced on the 1st October. Remember they are guidelines, not limits, and E.U. law remains the same, as long as it is for personal use and you bought it with your own money, there are no limits for personal use.

12th - Xmas shopping, many prices are competitive for groceries

Just a quick check, but broccoli costs £2.00 a kg at Sainsbury's UK, and 2 euro a Kg in France (that's about 10% cheaper in France). Chicory costs £6.10 a kg but only 1 euro in France (i.e. 85% cheaper in France). Vine Tomatoes cost £6.80 a Kg in the U.K., and just 1.45 euro in France. Figs cost £8.38 a Kg in the U.K. and about £2.2 a Kg in France (that's about 74% cheaper in France).

10th - Airlines to France

Find all the airlines that fly to France on our Airlines to France page. Don't forget to check which hotels offer parking deals.

9th - Hotel chains in France - lots of options from Day-tripper!

Comparison and consolidation hotel booking sites may be convenient but they certainly do not give the whole picture. It really is worthwhile checking the chain website as often offers are only posted there, moreover there is a lot more information to hand (pets, disabled facilities etc.)

We have broken them down to make it easier to search for what you want;

Budget hotel chains, Hostels in France, Good Value hotel chains, Quality hotel chains in France, Chateaux hotel chains, Airport hotels in France.

And for the ports and airports in the U.K.; U.K. hotel chains.

8th - Just France - check out the deals and vouchers pages

Our vouchers and deals pages concern France and Calais only (although we do have a page for U.K. Hotel Offers as well).

6th - UKBA hard at it again monitoring U.K. citizens (9/14 times now!)

Oh dear, stopped again! As usual, the UKBA Officer looked down at his list and this law abiding U.K. citizens is stopped again. "Congratulations" I say, "this is 9 out of 14 times I have been stopped, why is my name on a list of people to be monitored?"

The UKBA official responded that it was not a stop, he was just having a chat. Amazing - HE STOOD IN FRONT OF MY CAR WITH HIS HAND UP.

I am asked where I have been, what for and how long. I reply I am a journalist working, but why should I have to do this 2/3's of the time I travel? (Banana's)

This is in itself worrying as they know exactly when I left and returned. Why then the need to question me?

He then asked me why it was a problem, so I said "I am British not an East German, there is no need to monitor my movements". His response? "I have the power to take you into the sheds". This is the standard intimidation they employ. I would prefer to argue my case, but I'm British and being monitored by the misnamed UKBA ("Energetically using the UKBorder as the point at which U.K. citizens are controlled) is scary enough.

So, you don't need to be a criminal, engaged in criminal activity or have done anything wrong, these bullies have the power to scare you should you question why you have been stopped.

I replied " I know what that means, and drove off".

It is worth reminding people that had I not stopped, the cats claws (an immobilising device) would have come up and I would be prosecuted for ... not stopping.

People should also know that I do not smoke, do not buy and have never bought tobacco of any kind. And so what is it I did that excites the UKBA? How can it be criminal to shop where it is cheapest. My only "crime" is either crossing my own countries borders, or as I increasingly suspect, because they have more in common with Banana Republic officialdom that professional Civil Servants (being civil and serving the taxpayer), and like to use and abuse their powers to intimidate and control perfectly law abiding citizens who question their behaviour.

Interestingly, despite a very high volume of lorries this evening, the lorry sheds were empty. Stopping drugs, counterfeit goods and looking for explosives? No, it's shoppers they clearly exist to control.

UPDATE - Another good story highlighting what the UKBA does not do. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046127/Madonnas-bodyguard-smuggled-81-guns-Britain-stripping-carrying-planes.html

4th - Supermarkets page updated

We have been in Calais twice in the last week visiting every supermarket in Calais to check on opening times etc. The pages have now been updated.

3rd - More skiwear brands added

We have added some more ski companies to our Skiwear page. In our opinion there is a lot more choice of skiwear in France.

1st - Loads more cheap daytrips on offer

 30th - Feedback on UKBA needed please

With the new guidelines starting 1st October, we are interested to know what experiences shoppers are having. They are guidelines after all. The old 3,200 cigarette guideline was clearly applied as a limit per 6 months though.

Yesterday I wasn't stopped! So that's 8 out of 13 journey we have been stopped now. Of course it may be because with Priorité on PO Ferries I got off first and enjoyed the spectacle in my rear view mirror of officials scurrying out to deal with British citizens who have been silly enough to cross their own countries borders and not deal with Illegal immigrants, drugs, explosives etc. Pathetic. This has happened on two other occasions.

Worrying though, that this British citizen, with business contacts and a property in France, and owner of a web magazine that takes him there frequently, is a threat to the security of the United Kingdom worthy of so much attention.

29th - Fuel prices survey

We have just completed another fuel price survey, comparing fuel prices in North France, Belgium and Luxembourg with the U.K.

The good news is that diesel remains cheaper by about 15% but petrol is only about 1.3% cheaper.

Interestingly, comparing the current prices with those two years ago, we see that petrol prices in the U.K. have gone by about 26%, whereas in France they have only gone up 18%.

Once again buying fuel on the autoroutes is more expensive - about 11.36% in the case of diesel and LPG, and 8.00% for petrol.

Cheapest in France for diesel was Auchan in Boulogne, followed closely by Intermarche in Calais and Auchan in Dunkirk.

Diesel remain cheaper in Belgium too although generally a bit more than France. Interestingly the overall winner for Day-tripper was L'Auberge - Real Tobacco on the Adinkerke, France border where we found diesel at just 1.167 pence a litre.

Luxembourg remains the best place to fill up though with savings of 26% on U.K. prices, with diesel selling at just £1.02 per litre, and petrol (95) at £1.13.

28th - Ferry fares remain at historically low levels

We came across some old newspaper cuttings this week. Twelve years ago a daytrip cost £64, now they routinely cost £25 and often less. Furthermore tax rises in the U.K. for alcohol and tobacco have been well above the rate of inflation during this period, whilst in France tax on wine remains almost the same (it has gone up on spirits and tobacco though). Additionally inflation in the U.K. has been much more than in Europe for many years. Even allowing for the very weak state of Sterling, shopping in France and Belgium remains good value with huge savings available for the canny shopper.

27th - New tobacco guidelines from 1st October

The new tobacco guidelines (cigarettes 800 - down from 3,200, rolling tobacco 1Kg - down from 3kg) start being applied on the first. We have mixed feelings about this as they are guidelines not limits. However the breathtaking ignorance and belief they are above the law displayed by UKBA / HMRC to regular travellers offers little comfort.

24th - Apart Hotels in France

We list all the hotel chains we have discovered in France as comparison web sites don't give you all the hotels in an area. Many of the smaller chains offer good value and great positions. Don't forget apartment hotels, if you are staying a for more than a few days they work out a lot cheaper than a standard hotel room.

22nd - Ferry offers - short sea crossings, long sea cruises and Ireland.

Lots of offers now the summer period is over. Plan your holiday now.

20th - Skiwear brands

Our page of ski and snowboard companies is now very extensive. If you are looking for a specific brand, start here.

19th - Les Deux Alpes opens 22nd October for a weeks skiing.

Les Deux Alpes always opens up for a weeks skiing on the glacier (and if it has snowed lower down) during the last week of October. This year the resort open on the 22nd. There are two events on the first weekend (22nd and 23rd October 2011), where you can test skis and try this seasons jackets and accessories; the Ski test Rock' 'n Roll (Ski) and Enjoy the Glacier (Snowboard).

18th - Don't forget the chocolate (even if things aren't desperate)

Chocolates are excellent value in France (emphasis on quality) and nearly half the price in Belgium (astonishing range of quality and shops).

17th - New range of offers from PIDOU Wine and Beer

PIDOU has just released it Xmas shopping offers. Lots of good value deals available.

16th - ACCOR hotel chain rebranding

ACCOR hotel chain is rebranding some of its chains. The budget chain ETAP will soon be known as IBIS Budget and the All Seasons chain is to be re branded as "IBIS Styles".

15th - Events in France, food and wine updated

A short break in France can be much more fun if there is a local festival or fair on. Check out our events - food and wine page before you go.

14th - French brands page added to.

It's worth having a look at the web sites for the French brands you have bought. They often have recipes and other useful information, as well as publicity about the companies other products.

 13th - Ferry offers pages updated.

More offers! Lots of offers at the moment, and it is clear to us the current low level of fares will continue for the next few months. What happens should Seafrance goes is unclear, but in this event fares will rise. However we hear they expect to be able to continue trading after September.

 11th - Restaurants in France page, Restaurant terms updated.

We have added many links to the Restaurants in France pages. Basically there are a host of restaurant and food related events on this month.

 9th - Events shopping holidays, Holidays in France and Xmas Sunday opening pages updated.

Whoops! We noticed a few errors on the dates pages which we have now corrected.

7th - Wine fairs now on

Every year the French supermarkets have wine fairs where large quantities of wine are discounted. They are well worth visiting and are a good opportunity to stock up.

5th - More region specific pages for ferry offers.

The ferry offers pages are being looked at more and more. As we try to reduce the size of this sites pages, by making them more subject specific, expect an easier browsing experience.

3rd - UKBA, most of what you read on our page about the UKBA will appal you.

We keep updating our page about the UKBA, as part of our campaign to expose the stupidity of our Government's strategy to combat tobacco smuggling. Not pleasant reading, basically all that's been achieved in the last 10 years is the strengthening of criminal gangs and organised crime.

1st - Travel tips page.

We have a page for travel tips, car hire tips, channel ferries, and shopping tips worth going through before you leave on your holiday.

26th - Eurotunnel strike, options available

French Eurotunnel staff plan to be in strike this weekend, one of the busiest of the year. There is limited space on the cross channel ferries, although PO Ferries have announced they are putting on extra capacity, but mainly at night. You are strongly advised to have a reservation before travelling this weekend. Eurostar services will not be affected.

25th - New guideline amounts from 1st October.

We have now had confirmation that the new guideline amounts of 800 cigarettes and 1kg of rolling tobacco will in fact be introduced from the 1st October. It remains to be seen how this will affect the behaviour of the UKBA officials who make U.K. citizens feel like they are East Germans when passing through Dover - it is clear that just crossing your countries border is a suspicious act if you are British.

They say this is a guideline amount and that there remain no limit to the amounts you can import if they are for personal use. Apparently the change is to help the fight against smuggling which has been going on for 12 years and has been, by all normal standards, an abysmal failure. The evidence shows that these measures simply empower criminal gangs importing and selling counterfeit products. Once again the innocent shopper and those who do not shop but travel frequently will be targeted.

24th - French Tobacco, beer, spirit and soft drinks price increases

The French Government, as part of a programme to reduce its debt, has announced increases in tobacco (6% now and 6% again in 2012) and spirit prices, as well as the introduction of a new soft drink (sugar) tax.

23rd - Eurostar offer, book now.

Eurostar has some good offers on at the moment, but you must book by the 31st.

We see that Concha y Toro Frontera Red is £1.79 a bottle at Calais Wine Superstore (when buying a case of 12). In England there is a limited period offer of 3 for £12 at Sainsbury's which works out at a saving of 55% on U.K. prices Calais Wine Superstore

18th - French chains and brands

Need to browse a French companies website for something? We list all the companies we have found or list on our French Commercial Chains page, and our French Brands page.

17th - Not stopped by UKBA!

I was not stopped by the UKBA tonight. so the score now for the number of stops this law abiding U.K. citizen is 7 out of 10. Disgusting! We now have a section with links to the annual reports for both HMRC and the UKBA.

16th - Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk shopping centres pages updated

We have pages for the main shopping centres in Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne.

15th - Don't forget the supermarkets

We are often surprised when people tell us they don't visit supermarkets when popping over for alcohol or tobacco. French supermarkets are quite different with much more on offer and a better variety of goods. Find the time and shop!

12th - Pidou offer

Don't forget that until 11th September if you spend £300 on wine or champagne you get £20 back when shopping at Pidou Wine and Beer.

10th - Vouchers and deals for France

Our vouchers and deals pages only list offers relating to France. Additionally all the links on these pages go straight through to the offers pages of the companies listed. Travel vouchers / Shopping vouchers / Hotel vouchers / Calais offers.

8th - Calais Wine offers

Calais Wine Superstore have an effective marketing strategy which sees customers offered good savings if they buy in quantity. Check out their page for the latest deals.

7th - Ferry fares cheaper than ever before

With Seafrance fighting for its commercial life (they think they will get through a difficult period in their life) and cutting fares to attract customers, fares are very cheap.

5th - French Brands

3rd - New POF channel offer

Good news! PO Ferries have a great offer for mid week travellers. Travel from Dover between Sunday to Thursday (inclusive) and from Calais Monday to Friday before the end of September and enjoy 2 days on the continent for just £39 return. Alternatively an extend 5 days break is only £49 return! These fantastic offers are only available to book for a short time, so make sure you don't miss out on a great opportunity. Ferry offers

1st - Vouchers page updated with new offers.

Despite it being the high season there are many vouchers and offers for canny travellers and shoppers available. We list those relating to France.

30th - Busy times on the autoroute

The worst weekend of the year is now past us, but it's wise to check up to see when the busy times on the autoroutes are before setting off for your ferry back home.

29th - Travel and breakdown insurance

Breakdown and travel insurance are a must. Your E111 card pays for emergencies but not everything. It is invalid if out of date, a common mistake for many people.

28th - Airport parking and lounges

Airport parking charges add up to an expensive start to any holiday. However there is a lot of competition. We list all the companies offering airport parking making it easy to find the best price.

27th - Choose a wine

Wine should be about choice not just looking at the price as seems to be the case at home. Not only are there very many more interesting wines for sale in France, but the range per wine allows you to choose. French Supermarkets.

25th - Fresh tuna and prawns are much cheaper in France

We have always recommended buying fresh fish in France. Not only is there a very much bigger range available but prices offer big savings. I bought some tuna steaks yesterday costing 16 euro (about £14.40) at Auchan Hypermarket. At Sainsbury's U.K. tuna steaks cost £22.00 a kilogram, or 53% more. Put another way, shop in France when buying tuna steaks and save 35%.

Prawns? Try the large Ecuadorian prawns at Auchan Hypermarket with their shells on. Cost? 12.99 euro a kilogram or £11.81. At Sainsbury's, de headed but with the shells on the tails, prawns cost £17.86 a kilogram. We prefer the shells as they make a great stock to add to risotto. In other words they cost 52% more in the U.K.

It doesn't end there. I like a wine called Mercurey from Burgundy. It's impossible to find in an English supermarket. I found a choice of four recently at Le Clerc.

23rd - UKBA hard at it controlling British citizens again

Well, well, well. Stopped again at Dover by the UKBA thugs energetically protecting revenue streams for the Treasury, making this the seventh time in nine journeys! And people think the border in UKBA stands for the point at which the United Kingdom is protected. Wake up folks, it's the point at which British taxpayers and law abiding citizens are controlled.

Interestingly, when I said "congratulations, that's the seventh out of nine times I have been stopped, why?", I was ordered into the sheds in a manner normal people would regard as intimidating.

Apparently they think it's reasonable to be stopped and asked a few questions, even though as a foreigner you have driven across many other European countries borders without being stopped. When I said "but seven out of nine times, surely this is harassment?" they stayed silent. I am now convinced, as the evidence is overwhelming, that the UKBA is NOT about protecting our countries borders but simply an excuse to scare people into shopping where it is more expensive (at home). Moreover, your frequency of travel is clearly enough to assume you are of criminal intent, as I have no criminal record whatsoever, and am most unlikely to break the law in any way.

We gather that the proposals to reduce the guidelines to 800 cigarettes and 1kg of rolling tobacco are not now going to be introduced this year.

20th - Strikes in France

A strike by Air France crew is planned later this month. Check out our Events - strikes in France page for useful links.

18th - Marques Avenue

Marques Avenue changed hands and its name over two years ago. Few other sites promoting Calais shopping seem to have noticed though!

16th - PO Cruises

PO Cruises, who have some impressive ships can now be booked via this site.

14th - Fascinating programme about the UKBA. It's clear U.K. citizens are more important than criminals.

Worth a listen to. Notice how at one point no-one was covering lorries. Guess where they all were? We have always seen UKBA / HMRC at the British citizens entry point. Guess who's more important to them?

We were interested to read a debate about car repair costs in France in the excellent Connexion Magazine, which suggested it's much cheaper getting a car repaired in the U.K. We could not disagree more. We get a lot of e-mails form people telling us just how much they have saved. Our own experience suggests you do save a lot (I never get my car service in the U.K. now). Certainly our recent survey, where we bought two Michelin tyres in France and then two in the U.K. showed that prices here are 43% more than in France.

www.connexionfrance.com

11th - Short sea and long sea ferry offers pages updated

This summer has seen fares drop, unusual for the peak summer period. Over capacity means the cross channel companies are fighting it out for customers, which means lower prices all round. We constantly update our Short sea ferry offers (Calais, Dieppe, Le Havre), and Long sea (Britanny, North sea and Spain) pages with the latest offers.

9th - Ferry and rail season tickets

Regular travellers can benefit from very good value deals with most of the cross channel companies. You need to buy anything from three to ten tickets (in advance) and can use them for that price when you decide to travel. There are restrictions, but we think they are a very good deal.

7th - Shopping tips

We have lots of suggestions on our Shopping tips page, which will help you get more out of your daytrip to France.

Shopkeepers are complaining sales have not been as good as expected this year. This is good news for shoppers as the official sale period is the only time they can get rid of excess stock. Bigger discounts for shoppers are on the cards. The sales end 26th July.

4th - Travel tips

Never leave anything to chance, and don't rely on an assumption. Many people get caught out with travel insurance (especially when they have bought a cheap policy), but there are many other things that can go wrong. Before you book your tickets for example, it's worth checking if it's a red day on the autoroutes or there is a strike.

The list is pretty endless, but worth a browse to jog your memory about essential things one should do before travelling.

2nd - Airlines to France

Routes change frequently and some are for summer or winter only, but we try and keep our page listing which airlines go to where in France and Spain up to date. Useful when planning a journey and you are looking for the cheapest flights.

1st - Tobacco supplies improve

28th - E111 / EHIC card renewing

The European Health Insurance card only covers you for basic medical care, but not for skiing, or repatriation for example. Many people have them, but few it seems check their validity before they travel. It takes two weeks to get one, and they are date limited, so please check well before you go. Remember too, that many insurance companies refuse claims if you do not have one or it is out of date.

23rd - U.K. Border Agency using our borders to control British citizens again

I have just been stopped for the 6th time out of 8 trips through Dover. Apparently it's routine. One Officer suggested he had a good record in finding cigarettes. The question for me is a simple one. If they are only finding stuff by accident how much more is getting through because UKBA / HMRC don't target criminals and gangs in the same way they do on mainland Europe?

17th - French cheese, another reason to shop in France

Usually the cheese counter in U.K. supermarkets is easy to miss. Not so in France, where an incredible range of cheeses are available at cheaper prices than in the U.K. Bear in mind that many of the cheeses become quite liquid at room temperature, so take a cool bag with you.

15th - Brands you find in French supermarkets

Globalization often means the brands and products available in one country are also to be found elsewhere. However, French supermarkets have not embraced own brand as much as U.K. ones have. Furthermore many of the brands are only available in France. We now have quite a comprehensive list of French brands available in supermarkets. Often worth a look at, as they have recipes listed.

5th - Rail travel France

As long as you prepare your journey and book well in advance rail travel can be quite cheap in France. We have a pretty comprehensive listing of useful information and links on the following pages; Eurostar (all France, passenger), Eurotunnel (by car), Rail Europe (SNCF's U.K. booking agent), TGV / SNCF (rail travel in France), Rail France (includes European rail links).

3rd - French autoroutes

Although a bit pricy, no one can complain about the French motorway system. We are great fans of Telepeage, which you can subscribe to from the U.K.

We find we save a lot of time avoiding the queues and receiving a monthly bill certainly bats fiddling around in a car for loose change or the ticket.

Apart from price, range and availability are the other two good reasons to cross the channel if you drink French wine.

We like a wine called Mercurey (Burgundy). It is rarely if ever available in U.K. supermarkets. In Leclerc we were pleased to FOUR bottles of Mercurey available, says it all. Keep shopping in France.

28th - National Ferry Fortnight ends

Some good deal were to be, which is why we promoted this good events celebrating ferry travel. We think that fares will remain good value again this year. However this may change if Seafrance fails, although we are pleased to hear from friendly sources this is unlikely.

22nd - UKBA failing all round

Oh dear, bad news all round for the UKBA, whose implied role is to protect our borders. Having been stopped five out of six times passing through Dover recently I am not surprised. Their real role is clearly to monitor those of us who live within this countries borders.

Of course, although a UKBA official standing in front of your car with his or her hand up represents a stop to you and I, according to their bastardised version of the English language, a stop is only when they take you into the sheds and have the dogs out. However if you don't stop, up come the cats claws and you get prosecuted for not stopping.

No wonder we have such a large problem with drugs and illegal immigrants, their whole policy is based on catching people by accident.

20th - Travel and breakdown insurance

Travel insurance needs time to investigate when deciding who to buy from. Terms and Conditions are very different in most cases. Our Travel insurance tips page lists all the points we feel you should be taking into account. Check out the individual companies web sites, comparison sites often do not give all the information or list all the companies offering the insurance you want.

If driving, breakdown insurance is essential, make sure you have the European cover though, as cheaper headline policies do not include this generally.

18th - Factory shopping centres

Factory shops in France and Belgium are a great place for bargains especially at sale times. We notice that they are having more and more "events" as the shops try to clear excess stock. Although the main sale periods are rigidly enforced in France, shops and centres can now hold "floating sales" for two weeks a year.

There are some very good offers on this fortnight. We have updated the Ferry offers - shortsea and Ferry offers - Longsea pages with the latest offers and direct links to the offers.

14th - British vs French supermarkets

British supermarkets market their products differently to those in France. The French have more discounts rather than the "buy two get one free" offers we have in the U.K.

There are also more branded items and there is a lot more choice in France. Finally, French supermarkets support local producers far more than we do here at home.

12th - Champagne in France

We are in the Champagne region of France researching the best way to buy champagne for a wedding or event and whether it is cheaper driving to Champagne (3 hours from Calais) or shopping in Calais.

It clearly is worth driving down to Reims, as not only do the local supermarkets have a considerably greater range and choice, but buying from local Caves is even cheaper. You can carry about 110 bottles in a car. More about our short break soon.

8th - Tobacco restrictions - even on PO Ferries.

We were surprised to hear from the Manager on board PO Ferries that they are having huge supply problems as well.

6th - PO Ferries try sail on the new ship - Spirit of Britain

The new PO Ferries super ferry is worth making the effort to sail on. When booking, look for the Spirit of Britain. Very stylish!

5th - Short sea cross channel crossings and long sea ferry offers

We have updated the offers available from the cross channel companies. With the summer season now on us, do not expect many offers.

4th - New Pidou offer.

Pidou have a new offer, spend £300 on wine or champagne and get £20 off.

3rd - Cassel, Northern France.

Cassel is a town perched on top of one of three hills in the Flanders regions of Northern France. Well worth a visit, if only for the countryside, which is stunning. Today I visited the new Musée departmental de Flandre, which has new exhibition devoted to life behind the lines (WW1). More on a shortbreak here soon.

- Musée de Flandre, Cassel. Cassel in itself is worth a visit. Relatively high up above the Flanders polders, there are historic places to visit and some good hotels here. The Musée de Flandre opened in Autumn 2010 and has a wonderful range of historic classical painting. www.museedeflandre.cg59.fr

A good example of the sort of e-mails we now get nowadays. British people do wonder what Europe is about if it means nothing on the ground.

"I HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO ADINKERKE WHERE I FOUND THAT I WAS UNABLE TO BUY MY USUAL 60 PACKS OF GOLDEN VIRGINIA ANYWHERE. I WAS TOLD THAT BRITISH CUSTOMS HAVE PUT A RESTRICTION ON SUPPLIES. SURELY THIS CANNOT BE LEGAL?

I TRIED ALL SHOPS BUT THEY ALL TOLD THE SAME STORY.THEY SAID THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET GV WAS IF I BOUGHT THE SAME AMOUNT OF A LOCAL TOBACCO AT THE SAME TIME WHICH OF COURSE MEANT 30/30 OR - GOD FORBID - 60/60. TRY EXPLAINING THAT TO THE BRITISH CUSTOMS. WHY WOULD I WANT TO BUY TOBACCO THAT I NEITHER NEED OR WANT? WHAT WOULD I DO WITH THE BELGIAN TOBACCO (NO REPLY NEEDED). CAN YOU POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH REGARD TO TAKING THIS FURTHER?

SURELY THERE IS OPEN TRADE IN THE EU? EVEN THE FRENCH TRAVEL FROM CALAIS TO ADINKERKE BECAUSE THE TOBACCO AND CIGS ARE CHEAPER. NO GESTAPO TO WORRY ABOUT FOR THEM THOUGH."

Where are you Europe? Where are you Nick Clegg?

Another one - 2 out of 5 (explosives, drugs? - no tax on them!). Look me into the eye UKBA and tell me frequency of travel isn't taken into account.

"On my return from a recent overnight trip, the UKBA agent at Coquelles checked the passports, asked where we had been/what we had done, asked whether we were carrying tobacco (we weren't) and that was that! No further action taken, and straight through to the terminal building. Perhaps they have got wind (after 4 years) that my father is no longer around and that my mother no longer lives independently and are therefore less suspicious of me? I have to say there were no problems last trip either, but on the two previous ones I was taken into the shed, with the second time being the more intrusive.

30th - Hello again! UKBA still hard at it intimidating travellers and not catching criminals

Like many British people I celebrate my freedoms, which nowadays I only seem to be able to enjoy as a foreigner in Europe. Once again (third time in a row) I am stopped by UKBA at Dover. I insist (again) on complaining, as this wastes their time at least, sparing other shoppers the distressing experience of assumed criminality, because they have been stupid enough to cross their countries borders. Hopefully my individual act will encourage them to concentrate on criminals instead. However, I resent building time into my journey when returning to my country of domicile, a feeling I know many of you share, as you have been angry enough to write to me about it.

The lady who stops me (according to my understanding of the English language - she stood in front of me with here hand up), is perfectly polite until I ask why I have been stopped (again) and doesn't this constitute harassment? I point out I am British not an East German. Of course I can confidently do this as I can truly say I have never broken a law, been prosecuted etc. Neither do I smoke, nor have I ever bought tobacco. There is no reason, other than that I cross my countries borders, to stop me. Despite UKBA denying this to me repeatedly, the evidence is overwhelming.

I was advised to look at them as I drove through. Yes, my car is clearly marked as they usually look down at their prepared sheet and then stop me. I drive slowly to help them and prove the point. It makes no difference if I am returning from a daytrip or a longer stay away.

The usually questions; "Where have I been? Why? Where are you going?"

I ask the lady wearing an official uniform with a big badge saying UKBA "why have you stopped me again", once again the usual no respect for the British public response "I personally did not stop you", something I think they have been trained to say as it's the standard response. These people seem to thrive on throwing their weight about and start of on the foot marked "intimidate" almost immediately.

I ask for the lady's number which I had been previously assured she had to give me. As regular readers know, I ask this question every time I get stopped, yet it has always been refused me. Quite how you can make a complaint about your treatment in their hands when you cannot say who stopped or questioned you is beyond me.

I insist on making a complaint and ask for her number or name, at which point she turns and walks away. The usual response is to be told "stop being silly". This time a more senior bod arrives and tells me to drive into the shed. A very intimidating "we'll be at least half an hour is muttered". The utter contempt they have for me is obvious. How dare I complain! Strangely in Police / UKBA speak I am later told this is a polite warning that they are busy! It did not sound like it.

I do not, for one second, believe the British public should be treated like this by civil servants. Like most Brits, I like my police and civil servants most when they catch criminals, not act as a revenue raising arm of HMRC. I also expect them to be civil and serve especially to people of whom they have no evidence of wrongdoing. Patronising taxpayers is not being civil, according to my understanding of the English language anyway. Lying, another value UKBA and HMRC seem to have embraced with far too much vigour, is frequently evident. They like to create the impression of knowing about your movements, lying is an easy way to do this. Having wised up to this, after having been initially alarmed that my movements in Europe were being monitored (they implied they knew I had been in Adinkerke), another time I stood my ground and just said no to the "you really haven't been anywhere else, are you sure?" question, when I had been there. Of course they may well have known, but as I have done nothing wrong, other than travelled, legally there is nothing they could do. Now, if I had had tobacco, they would have assumed I was a smuggler and seized my car, even though they have absolutely no evidence I was to sell it for personal profit. However the "scare the public" tactics are part and parcel of the fight to "frustrate the flow of tobacco". In a way it's worked, I never take anyone with me who smokes, and if asked if they can buy anything I refuse, a restriction I resent being imposed on me. Don't buy into the "we are looking for drugs, ammunition etc. line", so keen are they to stop people buying tobacco that drug smugglers get through easily.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6959079.ece

This time it's a policeman who talks to me. Sadly the patronising attitude of UKBA is on full display - "as an intelligent person you should understand", "you are obviously educated", and "why do you object to the necessary work of UKBA?" (because when it happens all the time it is harassment). Once again the UKBA speak is different to mine as a law abiding tax payer. Necessary to me means targeting criminals not the general public. Yes, I am better educated than many, but this is why I get angry and want answers to my very simple questions.

No Officer, I do not buy into your protecting the countries borders talk, I would believe you if you were targeting illegal asylum seekers, drug smugglers, looking for explosives etc. I often make the point that the UKBA is about using the border to control those of us living within it, not the place where we protect the country. The discussion moves on, sadly proving my point that although named the U.K. Border Agency, this arm of Government is mainly about Revenue protection (people who buy their tobacco and alcohol abroad, however legally, are depriving the Government of money and according to UKBA's definition, are smugglers). Rarely is mention made of drugs and explosives (I think I have these mentioned to me three times in seventeen years).

It is pointed out that they do sometimes find class a drugs. If the police started stopping every person they passed by on our streets, they too may catch a criminal. But they don't - they devote most of their time to catching criminals, usually on the job.

After a period of discussion on the issues, during which I clearly identify myself (rolling eyes), a quite constructive conversation takes place. All very illuminating. I discover for example that what constitutes a stop is even more rigid than I believed. Last time I insisted on complaining (not often as I like to get home to my wife and cats), I learnt that a stop is, in UKBA / HMRC speak, only when you are taken into the sheds. Of course if you do not stop when they put their hand up and drive on, the cat's claws come up up and you get prosecuted for ... not stopping. When you see a spokesperson or Government Minister saying few people get stopped, bear this in mind. The fact is, we don't feature in the statistics.

Now I am told a stop is only when they have the dogs out etc. (I've been through that a few times). I point out that intelligence led operations are likely to produce better results and keep the public on side. They disagree with my comment that the French do this as I see them stop lorries all over the country frequently. The French Customs also concentrate on finding counterfeit goods and drugs, something which is a very low priority for UKBA / HMRC here. I have never once seen a HMRC officer anywhere other than at a British port (and Eurotunnel), yet anyone driving to Adinkerke will usually see the French "Douanier" somewhere along the road.

The UKBA man asks if I would come down and see them in action, I told him I would. I doubt very much if this will happen though. I point out to him that after the Hoverspeed appeal, I phoned HMRC offering to help them come up with a sensible, practical policy to deal with smugglers that did not involve criminalising the ordinary travelling (and shopping) public. I was politely told they did not need any help. I strongly believe they should criminalise those who actually sell the stuff or are found with large quantities in their homes or workplaces, and not make seizures on the basis of assumption (your attitude, appallingly, is one factor that sees them seize your goods and car - NO EVIDENCE NEEDED). How can the great British public respect their work (I'm talking about the important stuff - drugs, guns, bombs etc.) when, as happened recently, people who had tobacco seized from their homes, had it returned as the wrong law had been referred to in the documents. They clearly prefer soft targets and avoid actual criminals. I am reminded of that lovely MATT cartoon in the Telegraph newspaper when it was disclosed the Police were avoiding some areas, when an old lady tells the police officers that there is trouble in the town square. They reply " thanks for telling us, we were about to go there".

At the Hoverspeed appeal HMRC asked "Whether Customs are permitted to rely upon general trends and profiles when selecting passengers for questioning". In its judgment of 31st July 2002 the High Court found that Customs had to have reasonable grounds "on an individualised basis" before they were entitled to stop passengers for questioning and were not entitled to rely upon "generalities or trends". The Court of Appeal said that the law does not permit random spot checks but there is nothing to exclude reliance on profiles and trends to establish reasonable grounds to suspect a passenger of bringing in goods for commercial purposes.

My questions as to why I am being monitored always bring the response "that it's a random stop". Interesting legally. Also, how long is stopping on "profiling grounds" allowed to go on, when does it become harassment? The reason for the stop is to establish the persons credibility surely? How many times over how many years is this necessary to establish?

This time the discussion reasonably moves on to the issues and why people get stopped. I confess I am full of admiration for the guy speaking to me (wouldn't give me his name) for at least trying to explain why they behave as they do. Once he moved beyond the patronising, I felt he was able to argue his case intelligently.

However the bottom line I am told, is that for me as a white male crossing the border frequently, (journalist covering France, Day-tripper.net publisher, property owner, person with friends abroad - lots of good, positive reasons to do so), I bizzarly, pop up on their profiling system as a prime suspect. I would argue that after 17 years of frequent stops it's time to draw a conclusion as to my potential for criminality. I would argue to that profiling of this nature is just plain wrong. After all the Police can't stop every black person they meet because many of the teenage killings in London for example, usually involve black teenagers. Why should every traveller be treated on this basis because some smuggle?

I have in the past offered to come down and talk to them, let them look into my personal life in as much detail as they want, and then clear me to travel without being stopped all the time. Apparently this is not possible.

There is a huge problem with illegally sold tobacco in this country, inevitable in a country with such high taxes. Far from criminalising this act, various Governments have gone down the road of "frustrating the flow of tobacco" (actual phrase used), and tried to intimidate travellers from buying anything abroad or indeed, travelling as often as they would like. The end result has been to empower organised crime who do know how to smuggle. According to HMRC's own surveys, nearly 100% of tobacco sold on our streets illegally is now counterfeit, considerably more dangerous than legally bought products and of course without any money going to any E.U. Government. Large sums of money are spent trying to stop this, but its clearly not working. The take (tax raised) has not risen, neither has the proportion of tobacco smoked from illegal sources declined. Customs will say they are effective because the percentage of legally bought tobacco smoked has declined, but they ignore the dramatic increase in counterfeit products now smoked. When speaking to the shopkeepers in Adinkerke recently I was told that many more people are coming to Adinkerke "because the stuff sold on the streets now is all counterfeit". Sadly, politicians nowadays accept what they are told by UKBA / HMRC, without much rational questioning it seems.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12217738

Be wary too, if you have a speech impediment, what a wonderful opportunity this is to humiliate!

After recent seizures of pallets loads of stuff on lorries (that's right, not cars or coaches), Customs have forced the tobacco companies to reduce supplies of English tobacco to Belgium and Luxembourg. If they were tackling crime of course they would be punishing those involved, not the innocent public, but that is just what they are doing.

Many years ago, a coach trip was the easiest and cheapest way to stock up. Faced with visits and all sorts of threats, most coach companies have stopped these trips. Did you know Customs require them to provide a list of the people travelling and sometimes even fax over a list of those returning as well? And they object to me comparing their behaviour to that of the East German Democratic Republic?

After 12 years, I would say it's time for a dramatic change in policy. Someone once suggested to me that HMRC strategy seems to revolve around throwing a big net into the sea to catch a shark, but then dealing with the small fry they bring aboard, few of whom eat humans. Apt.

The solution in my opinion, and I speak as someone who probably has a more rounded knowledge of the issue that the "experts" at HMRC, having spoken to a very wide range of people, including smugglers, is to lower taxes to a level about 20% above neighbouring countries, dramatically force UKBA / HMRC to concentrate on criminals and criminal prosecutions, and use the money saved currently wasted prosecuting ordinary taxpayers and citizens, to be more pro active in their intelligence led work.

So yes, I still feel like a returning criminal when I come home, and I end by saying once again, I'm British and a citizen of a member state of the E.U., NOT AN EAST GERMAN!

29th - Au revoir Deux Alpes

I spend 4 or 5 months a year at our flat in Les Deux Alpes, where I do most of my research and writing.

After what has been a very disappointing season snow wise, it snowed Thursday night, above 1,800 anyway, and I had a great day exploring the glacier and off piste snow with a local British ski instructor. More at www.easiski.com

28th - Fighting back

Day-tripper gets a lot of e-mails from all sorts of people who have had issues with HMRC / UKBA. It appalls me personally that any British journalist should be contacted by people who say they are too scared to travel, ashamed to be British, how could this possibly happen to us? etc.

We are meeting with other people including MEP's in an attempt to set up a shoppers and traveller rights campaign. If you have any advice or useful contacts please get in touch with us.

Whilst it is a matter of deep regret that such a campaign should be necessary, we live in times when crossing the British border represents a real risk and can often prove to be a thoroughly upsetting experience.

Values we believe in; the right to a fair trial, the assumption of innocence until proven guilty, the right to a fair appeal, a total ban on civil servants assuming guilt without any evidence, a ban on civil servants asking questions that are intimidating or which could be considered entrapment, proportionate penalties for civil offenses, with demonstrably stricter and more severe penalties for real criminals, forbidding civil servants from interviewing husbands and wives separately unless there is clear and demonstrable evidence of wrongdoing or criminal activity.

Bad news it seems. We had high hopes of the Coalition overturning the non sense of penalising shoppers more severely than muggers, thieves, police bashers etc. Now it seems they have bought into the rubbish sprouted by Customs lock, stock and barrel. Everyone with a tiny bit of commonsense knows the reason why people shop abroad for tobacco is to save money, yet the recent budget increased prices making this more attractive. After years of horribly evil policies against innocent shoppers, the end result is a glut of counterfeit tobacco on our streets. Not only have law abiding citizens been punished, but organized crime supported.

www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/apr/27/clampdown-on-duty-free-tobacco-limits

Of course they all run to organisations such as FOREST, set up by the tobacco companies as a foil to ASH, the anti smoking group, and like ASH in receipt of almost all its funding from one source. So much for popular support! We at Day-tripper will continue to fight for shoppers rights. After all, if our Government gets away with it, will they be fining us for having cars capable of breaking the speed limit before we even get in them, because they have reasonable grounds to suspect you may do so?"

So catastrophic has the failure to deal with smuggled and counterfeit tobacco that HMRC no longer produce an annual report. The last ones starting mentioning the issue of counterfeit tobacco (even more dangerous as it contains all sorts of chemicals banned in Europe).

The end result has been no European Government receiving taxes from tobacco bought for personal use (our definition of giving it to a family member or a friend) as we have been told that nearly 100% of the stuff now sold illegally on our streets is counterfeit. Strangely the Tobacco companies are doing nothing about this, even co-operating with Customs to restrict the supply of tobacco to Belgium shops.

The fight goes on.

26th - Champagne and Strawberry's in Calais restaurants

This Friday (29th April) to mark the royal wedding in England, several restaurants in Calais will celebrate the event by setting up offering champagne and strawberries and showing the live TV broadcast of the ceremony.

25th - Car hire tips

Car hire companies have been getting a bashing from all corners recently as they dream up more and more imaginative ways to milk customers. For a long list of useful tips, browse through our Car hire travellers tips page, packed full of useful tips and advice on what to be aware of when hiring a car.

E.g. www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/8295623/Shop-Mary-Portas-at-Holiday-Autos.html

We are now updating the shopping offers and travel vouchers pages daily. Importantly we try and link through to the offers pages of the companies concerned wherever possible

We are great fans of this chain, a sort of down market IBIS. Although they only have 20 or so hotels in France, the prices are always reasonable and the wifi is free. There is one in Dunkirk and another in Reims, useful for people travelling to the Alps stopping over.

Day-tripper has a very comprehensive list of all the hotel chains in France (and for United Kingdom hotels) allowing you to make use of the offers they have, usually available only to users of their web sites.

We now have two pages dealing with the latest offers and deals from the cross channel companies - short sea offers and long sea offers. Once again we try and link the URL's here through to the offers pages to make it easier for our visitors to get the bets deals.

Seems the mere threat of action from Customs and everyone from the Tobacco companies to the shops themselves run a mile. No one wants to rock the boat or fight back. However we hear that one or two people did ask some pointed questions. We now know that they are restricting supplies to the levels from September 2009 to August 2010. Of course there are now more shoppers because of the Spanish increases, a better exchange rate and the lack of availability of proper tobacco on the streets in England (it's all counterfeit).

Even worse, we hear some shops are refusing to sell the popular brands unless you buy something else as well. This of course causes issues with Customs who may not believe its all for personal use. Clearly from the e-mails we are getting, its p*ssing people right off, and only bad can come of it. Customer service matters, get your act together Adinkerke!

Sales in France are highly regulated, so when the shops have a sale at the regulated time (twice a year) it is the only chance they have of getting rid of discounted stock. Discounts tend to be very good. The law changed a bit recently and now shops can have a "floating sale" outside of the designated periods. Its worth visiting the factory shopping centres as they can also sell throughout the year overstock, discontinued lines and seconds at discounted prices.

The French often have a one or two day strike causing considerable disruption to shoppers and holiday makers. We have a page full of useful links worth book marking for the next time you face some sort of disruption.

11th - English tobacco back on sale in Luxembourg.

Good news - U.K. brands, although in reduced quantities are now on sale again at Luxembourg tobacco shops.

9th - Portsmouth UKBA / HMRC

We all know that HMRC and the new UKBA concentrate their efforts on Dover. I saw no-one in Portsmouth when I returned today, which suggests their "mission" to protect the country is all about Revenue protection, rather than catching criminals and finding drugs and counterfeit goods.

Are we the only country in Europe to still see a border as a place to control citizens living within them, rather than the point at which we control illegal immigration and look for drugs and explosives?

8th - Caen to Portsmouth

Brittany Ferries have a traditional and a fast ferry sailing between Portsmouth and Caen. Talking to people it seems the older traditional ferry is more popular, although I have never experienced problems with the fast ferry myself. The traditional ferry is certainly very comfortable. In my opinion, the overnight sailing from Caen is one of the most attractive ways to end a holiday in France - it leaves Caen ferry port in a long straight line, allowing holiday makers to end their holiday reflecting on the disappearing French coastline. The best way travelling to France is beyond doubt the Portsmouth to Saint Malo evening sailing - make sure you get a restaurant seat close to a window though.

Doing research is not exactly a holiday as it involves walking around every street in town looking for shops and visiting places you might not otherwise visit. Driving around trying to find shops and supermarkets for people who are driving can take time too. However Roscoff is so small and attractive I can truly say this has been an enjoyable few days. The air is refreshing and the constant hiss of the sea, and rustling of the wind makes for a very relaxing time.

Yesterday for example was market day here, and a cracker of a market it is too. I would suggest anyone visiting should arrive on a Tuesday and do self catering, as the range of local food and bread, including cooked meals was mouth-wateringly lovely. The hotel I am staying in, the two star Hotel Tamaris is on the seafront. Attractively decorated to a very high standard, it's a good example of how reasonable it is to visit France. Rooms currently cost from 65 euro a night rising to 89 euro in the high season. Just round the corner from the Thalassotherapy centre (lots of treatments - they work!) and within easy walking distance of the town centre, I can personally recommend it highly.

www.hotel-aux-tamaris.com

How different Roscoff is compared with Saint Malo. It's another world when comparing it with Calais. Saint Malo clearly attracts a different crowd of people as well. We found just four shops which we feel are useful to British shoppers buying wine, two of whom target the local French market. Roscoff has about nine shops or warehouses. Nicholas, a French Wine Merchant even has its name barely visible on its signs ("Cave du Port - Cash and Carry"). Although mainly aimed at British and Irish shoppers (the Irish, I was told on more than one occasion, like "strong wines") a much larger percentage of their stock is French (about 70% in Roscoff as against 40 to 50% in Calais). There appears to be little attempt to compete at the lower end of the market.

Although not a good port for a daytrip, Saint Malo is ideal for a short break. The old walled city is packed full of small interesting shops, a perfect place to come Xmas shopping in fact. There are loads of individually appealing shops many selling their own products. Stocking up on presents that show you care enough to source something special is easy here. Local hotels have much to offer as well. We enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Nautilus very much (two star). Nicely decorated and CLEAN it deserves its "highly recommended" awards from Trip Advisor. Unlike the Hotel Chateaubriand (three star. www.hotel-chateaubriand-st-malo.com), which we also stayed in, the wifi works as advertised and there is no building work going on.

www.lenautilus.com

With many shops closing in Calais and ferry companies cutting back, shoppers have good reason to be worried about the future of shopping and travel to France. However, against a background of a considerable over capacity on the Dover Calais route, this is not as worrying as one might assume. Although consumers have benefitted from very low fares (relative to the 90's for example), Eurotunnel have finally got their act together with a simplified fare structure and an understanding the tunnel is a toll road, not a "superior service". In the place of Speedferries bankruptcy, Seafrance's reduction in capacity and service, PO Ferries pulling out of services to Cherbourg, Le Havre and Bilbao, and Hoverspeed ending services for example, we now have DFDS, LD Lines and expanded services with smaller companies elsewhere to compensate. My own prediction? Fares will certainly rise, schedule frequency will be reduced, but reasonably priced fares with the opportunity of very cheap fares, by choosing to travel mid week and out of hours for example, will continue.

When I set up Day-tripper.net in 1999, I knew nothing about tobacco being cheaper in Europe, or knew of it as a reason to go on a day-trip. This was originally a website designed to appeal to people who liked France, went over to buy French wines generally, would eat in a restaurant, enjoy stocking up with different and unusual foods in a local supermarket and do so three or four times a year. I soon came to realize that the biggest savings of all were available to smokers, and that their travel contributed enormously to the numbers crossing the channel and spending money in France and Belgium.

Tobacco clearly drives the market. The dramatic increase in prices five years ago in France affected local restaurants and hotels in Calais badly. In general however, bigger increases in the U.K. have offset many of the price rises in Europe.

The exchange rate has been a real killer though. The number of visitors to this site for example, goes up and down with the exchange rate. My own view? An exchange rate above 1 euro 30 centimes, makes it generally worthwhile shopping in France with good savings to be had. Below that you need to check local U.K. prices beforehand, especially for spirits, which are in many cases, more expensive in France now. Comparing like for like remains incredibly difficult, as many products are subtely different in France compared with England. Offers in the U.K. are often specifically made, of reduced alcohol content or own brand untraceable or comparable. Most importantly, they are very time limited.

Whilst The Grocer magazine may wish to suggest a specific offer, over a very limited period, comparing a British beer for example, with one generally unavailable in France (and not on offer), marks the end of the booze cruise, is not even debatable. It is simply proof that U.K. companies are willing to market something as an offer, when in reality it is not (50% off a product sold in one store at an inflated price, but which costs even then, more than it is normally sold for, does not represent an "offer").

Interesting food, notwithstanding the range available, remain considerably better in France. Any regular shopper to a French supermarket will I know, find it difficult shopping exclusively at home. Today for example I have come back with Riste (a provencal aubergine dish) which is a great standby in any fridge, ideal for snacks, healthy and good with pasta. Try finding it in the U.K. French shops are keen on the provenance of food, so much so that A.O.C. and other labels, celebrate the origin of a product. These labels are hard to find in the U.K., one reason perhaps for the growth in organic products in U.K. stores.

Pulses are another interesting case - the range in France is vast, from the very cheap to good quality. Meats, grains, cheese and fish remain of interest to those of concerned about what we eat, and who enjoy trying different and new foods.

All in all, even I would have to admit things are not what they were, but give it up because the savings are now 40% instead of 70%? Get real.