tobacconist in Le Mans?

[slartibartfast]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone knows of a Tobacconist in either Le Mans or Anarge village? yeah i know it's a year away but i like to plan ahead.
After paying for duty free golden virgina on the ferry and finding it only half price compare to the UK i wonder if it's cheaper in france itself?

so, anyone know of any around the Le Mans area?

thanks in advance.

Paul

[Davwlk]

I checked the price of cigarettes at the Eurotunnel terminal and was amazed at how expensive they were. I know that in Spain Bensons are 31 euros a carton (which is no help whatsoever).

[E31Shrew]

slartibartfast said:

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone knows of a Tobacconist in either Le Mans or Anarge village? yeah i know it's a year away but i like to plan ahead.
After paying for duty free golden virgina on the ferry and finding it only half price compare to the UK i wonder if it's cheaper in france itself?

so, anyone know of any around the Le Mans area?

thanks in advance.

Paul

Same price as UK in France AFAIK

[James_N]

We came accross this problem this year when one of our party smokes!

There is a tobacconist in Carrefour by the mcdonalds

Alternatively, do like we did this year (before we broke down!) and go dover > calais, and detour the half an hour to Adinkerke in Belgium for cheap baccy.

GV is £3.70 a pack there at the moment, and ciggies around £35 for 200, give or take a few quid depending what you smoke

[slartibartfast]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Paul

[Davwlk]

You can check the prices on-line at Adinkerke
http://www.day-tripper.net/tobacco-in-belgium.html

[Jem0911]

Tabac opposite the Harlequin by the roundabout in Anarge.

[1960Zody]

Leave the main entrance, drive up past the Rotunda to the roundabout and head back towards the City Centre.. there's at least 4 down there.

[The Leaper]

For the record, it's maybe a 1 1/2 hour round trip Calais to Adinkerke return including shopping time. Well worth it because of the saving on 3200 cigs over the French price at a tabac or at a ferry/Eurotunnel terminal.

I'll check this out in a couple of weeks to see if the recently completed roadworks have significantly improved this time and if so I'll add to this post then.

R.

[lowdrag]

You have to remember that tobacco is state controlled in France and that only the Tabacs can sell cigarettes, not supermarkets. There is one right next to the fountain in the centre of Arnage, there are two at Mulsanne, one called La Boule d'Or on the road to Tours (a bar/restaurant) and the other next to the supermarket near the Mulsanne roundabout. That being said, the bar next to the main circuit entrance (Aux Portes du Circuit) stocks cigarettes to help out customers although you pay a slight premium. As said above, opposite the checkouts at Carrefour near McDonalds too, plus other dotted around in all the villages like Ruaudin, Moncé and Teloché. No shortage at all!

[The Tea Boy]

got back from france a few days ago, cheapest place by far to by cigrettes was the ferry £2.99 for 20 or 5.30euros on the main land compared to circa £6 here. I managed to buy 140 marlboros on the boat with no questions asked just 3 visits to the bar

Matt

[lowdrag]

Marlborough at 5.30€ is the standard price in France! Prices vary according to the make from about 4.80€ upwards. I've just ordered 3,200 for a friend for when i return for Silverstone at 5.30 a packet from the local tobacconist here at Brette les Pins.

Edit: Belgium is much cheaper but don't I repeat don't try going to Calais and then into Belgium and then returning via France. The customs are vigilant in France and the fines exhorbitant. If going to Belgium, don't take a ferry to France.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 1st July 14:49

[Nick M]

lowdrag said:

Edit: Belgium is much cheaper but don't I repeat don't try going to Calais and then into Belgium and then returning via France. The customs are vigilant in France and the fines exhorbitant. If going to Belgium, don't take a ferry to France.

I know quite a few people who've had no problem at all doing just that. Usually they go to Belgium at the start of a holiday in France, and use either ferries or Eurotunnel to / from Calais.

Might be different with a day trip, but nobody I know who has done this has had any issue with French customs.

[lowdrag]

Fine, but I know a lot of French who have and one in particular who had his car confiscated. Perhaps it is just the French but I frankly wouldn't tske the risk.

[Nick M]

lowdrag said:

Fine, but I know a lot of French who have and one in particular who had his car confiscated. Perhaps it is just the French but I frankly wouldn't tske the risk.

Maybe a daft question, but aren't most of the borders between France and Belgium open ? I don't recall stopping at a border (but I may have done - it was late at night) on the drive up from Calais to Ostende.

Just wondering how the French got nabbed.

[jamiebae]

Go on the Norfolk Line boat from Dover to Dunkerque and you're even closer to Belgium. The boats are nicer than P&O too.

[James_N]

lowdrag said:

Edit: Belgium is much cheaper but don't I repeat don't try going to Calais and then into Belgium and then returning via France. The customs are vigilant in France and the fines exhorbitant. If going to Belgium, don't take a ferry to France.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 1st July 14:49

Why not? Ive done this for the past few years and been fine. So long as your not weighed down with 10 million ciggies, I cant see the problem.

Nick M said:

Maybe a daft question, but aren't most of the borders between France and Belgium open ? I don't recall stopping at a border (but I may have done - it was late at night) on the drive up from Calais to Ostende.

Just wondering how the French got nabbed.

All the borders ive been through have been open yes

Edited by James_N on Wednesday 1st July 19:25

[turbo-ww]

Bestest Cheapest Option?

You could always give up smoking.....

I did

[//j17]

turbo-ww said:

Bestest Cheapest Option?

You could always give up smoking.....

I did

Give up smoking and put the money you would havce spent on cigs in to your Le Mans fund!

[sleep envy]

cheapest by far is to buy your smokes on the boat