The countdown to Christmas is on and if you’ve been tempted to get ahead on Christmas shopping or hit a few festive markets, then you may want to check out one of the new holiday deals from LeShuttle.
That’s because you can currently get day trips and overnight stays from £30 each way to Calais, meaning plenty of opportunity to make the most of the tax-free shopping, or head to some of France’s gorgeous Christmas markets without having to use up heaps of annual leave.
READ MORE: Europe’s lesser-known Christmas market has £1.76 mulled wine and flights under £90
READ MORE: World’s best Christmas markets ranked – including two incredible UK winners
LeShuttle offers a service that transport vehicles and their passengers from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes – meaning you can fill your boot with the gifts and festive trinkets you buy, for an extra convenient way of getting it all home. The deal is valid for travel up until December 13, 2023, but you’ll need to book your space by December 7 on eurotunnel.com.
If you’re looking to get through your gifts list, then you may want to check out the Channel Outlets store which has heaps of brilliant brands, or shop at Carrefour Cite Europe in Calais, Olivier Vins or Decathlon stores where you will receive a €10 gift voucher (a minimum spend does apply).
However if it’s the Christmas markets you’re after, there are plenty under an hour and half’s drive from Calais. For a start there is of course Calais Christmas Market itself. This year you can expect a festive train leading a parade of dancers, elves, snowmen and toys, heaps of twinkling festive lights, a Magical Forest, an indoor ice skating rink and even a Santa’s Grotto.
For those who want to venture a little further there are picturesque towns such as Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet which offer markets less than hour’s drive from Calais.
However, if you head about 75 minutes out to Lille, you’ll find a larger market with over 90 stalls serving up everything from gifts and decorations to festive treats like mulled wine, gingerbread and chocolate pralines. There’s also a huge Christmas tree for the idyllic selfie backdrop, and a giant wheel so you can enjoy the sights from up high.
For those who are considering a tax-free shopping trip, the experts at LeShuttle have warned of the rules that apply:
- Make sure the store offers tax-free shopping, and spend more than €100.01 in France to qualify for a VAT refund. When you pay, ask a member of staff for a tax refund form, and you will need to show your passport.
- You have to prove that you bought the goods in the EU and will consume them in your non-EU country of residence. In France, you can validate your tax refund form by scanning the barcode at a self-service PABLO kiosk. LeShuttle has these located in the Calais terminal. Validating tax refund forms MUST be done before leaving Calais.
- Currently the best option is to present your credit card when making a purchase, then you’ll get an electronic refund in the currency of your card or bank account. Be aware, you will still need to validate the tax free form before leaving the country.