Can you purchase duty-free alcohol when you get there?

Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 5

We are coming from the US (Iowa, actually) with a connecting flight through Charlotte, NC. After reading about the ridiculously high alcohol prices on the islands, can we wait to buy our duty-free spirits once we arrive at GCM or must we bring them in before we land?

Any advice would be great! Thanks.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:23 am Post subject:

(Youz guyz can correct me if I'm wrong...)

Duty-free liquor can only be purchased when you are LEAVING the Cayman Islands. Whether or not, as a U.S. citizen, you can purchase duty-free liquor as you leave the U.S. to consume in the Cayman Island is doubtful. There is an allowable amount of liquor per adult that you are allowed to bring with you duty free:

"If such passenger is over the age of 18 years, up to 1 litre of potable spirits or 4 liters of wine or 1 case (not exceeding 9 liters) of beer."

Hope this helps!!

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

stroskey,

To add to divnpaul's response, you can purchase duty free liquor at your departing airport in the US to bring into the Cayman Islands, consistent with the limits divnpaul mentioned. You cannot purchase duty-free liquor when you arrive in the Cayman Islands for consumption in the Cayman Islands.

When you are leaving GC, you can purchase duty-free liquor at the GC airport for consumption at home consistent with US Customs regulations.

Either way, you will have to declare your purchases, and pay any duty on the amount in excess of the permitted limit.

However, to save money on alcohol purchased outside of the duty free shop on GC, use the coupons in the CAG which you can pick up at the airport just before you claim your bags!

Hope this helps.

jpep

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

To add to what Paul and jpep just said,

There is only one way that people can buy duty free alcohol in the Caymans from any place other than the departure lounge of the Cayman airport, and that would be in a "duty free" liquor store in Georgetown, but that would be duty free ONLY to cruise ship passengers (who will also be leaving the country). I believe that anyone can buy alcohol in those shops, but the price would be higher (i.e., to cover the duty charges coming into Cayman) to land visitors. In order for the cruise ship passengers to buy duty free, they have to produce their ship's boarding passes at the time of purchase, and even then, the alcohol would be transported for them to the ship. I also think that the alcohol would not be available to them until they depart the ship in the US (somewhat like air passengers buying in the airport just before returning to the US.)

It does get confusing, and many others have asked this question. Just bear in mind, you're talking about two different perspectives in the use of the word "duty free", depending on which country you are departing.

I also agree with what jpep said about using the coupons in the Activity Guide. My experience has been that Big Daddy's will let you use the same coupon over and over again.....I just keep the guide in the glove box of my car and then grab the whole book when I go into Big Daddy's.

Hope this helps and doesn't further confound the issue Rolling Eyes

,

Char

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:13 pm Post subject:

Just to emphasize what has already been said:

Bring your limit of alcohol with you and be absolutely certain to stop and get your liquor and groceries BEFORE going to East End. You will save substantially with the Tortuga and Big Daddy's coupons and by shopping at Fosters at the Airport.

Have a wonderful vacation!

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