ben gurion ?--how are prices and shopping at airport?
Dec 14, 2005, 3:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Israel
Posts: 986
ben gurion ?--how are prices and shopping at airport?
are there are good deals, bargains at duty free in Ben gurion--or are we better off buying in N America?
if you morve this question--sorry i didn't really know where to put it
if you morve this question--sorry i didn't really know where to put it
Dec 14, 2005, 4:01 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: tlv
Programs: AA Platinum, LY Matmid
Posts: 804
Originally Posted by haniboo
are there are good deals, bargains at duty free in Ben gurion--or are we better off buying in N America?
if you morve this question--sorry i didn't really know where to put it
if you morve this question--sorry i didn't really know where to put it
Everything imaginable is available in tens of shops. Prices are much cheaper then in the shops around Israel but compared to your home base it is hard to say since you didn't mention where you are from
Electronics are still probably cheaper in the big discount centers of NY or LA
There are always sales on perfume, alcohol and cosmetics etc
Israelis always leave an hour or two before departure just to go shopping and come with lists from friends and family
Enjoy the experience. You are sure to find someting you like
Dec 14, 2005, 4:07 am
#3
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
Posts: 4,172
TLV duty free (Alcohol, Cigarettes) is cheaper compared to N. America and most airports in Europe and much more expensive compared to the far east and Middle East airports (like Dubai). Clothing and parfumes are margional compared to street prices in Israel - in some cases it would be cheaper to buy parfumes in one of the shopping malls in Israel than in the duty free.
Here are links to James Richardson (Alcohol, parfumes and cigarettes) and Sakal (sports, toys and electronics)
Here are links to James Richardson (Alcohol, parfumes and cigarettes) and Sakal (sports, toys and electronics)
Dec 14, 2005, 4:31 am
#4
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
Posts: 4,172
If you fly LY, here is a link to their duty free which might have better individual deals that TLV.
Dec 14, 2005, 11:00 am
#5
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Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
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there are 2 CD stores in the airport, the one outside security is pretty cheap and you can get good deals on CDs there. the one inside is good to but not as cheap.
Dec 14, 2005, 5:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2002
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The prices on scotch SUCK compared to JFK and EWR. Don't buy scotch in TLV unless its for convienience (leaving it there to pick up when you get back).
Dec 14, 2005, 9:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Just a tangential comment for those who care - I used to buy a lot of Elite chocolate at the airport when heading back to the U.S., instead of getting it at grocery stores. They used to have really big, bulk containers of multiple, large bars, etc.
After scouring the stores in the new terminal in April and July, however, I found a very small representation of Elite products (and no bulk packages), while most of what they were selling was chocolate from Europe. (Perhaps that makes sense since Israelis can buy chocolate at home, and might prefer something European at the airport.)
After scouring the stores in the new terminal in April and July, however, I found a very small representation of Elite products (and no bulk packages), while most of what they were selling was chocolate from Europe. (Perhaps that makes sense since Israelis can buy chocolate at home, and might prefer something European at the airport.)
Dec 15, 2005, 12:54 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid, BA Executive Club GfL, GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,088
Originally Posted by LatusElAl
The prices on scotch SUCK compared to JFK and EWR. Don't buy scotch in TLV unless its for convienience (leaving it there to pick up when you get back).
Dec 17, 2005, 4:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LHR GVA HKG TLV PVG JFK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,984
In general I do not find good prices at all at the airport. Here is some data:
some hi end creams and soaps. $50, is $25 in US department stores. (sure they have buy 3 get 1 free in perpetuity just proving their hi prices)
cheapest wine is $19 (when I want to bring an IL gift abroad) good wines much cheaper in IL supermarkets
Bought levi jeans for 250NIS in mashbir $99 at airport
Tissot watch ~$800 bought for $500 in US (watches that I checked were even all above MSRP)
sony P900 smart phone $999 in us $600
****************************
things that might be OK is non-wine booze and running shoes on deals.
the days when Israelis would save 10 years to go abroad are over but the duty-free thing still lingers I guess
I don't buy cigarettes
some hi end creams and soaps. $50, is $25 in US department stores. (sure they have buy 3 get 1 free in perpetuity just proving their hi prices)
cheapest wine is $19 (when I want to bring an IL gift abroad) good wines much cheaper in IL supermarkets
Bought levi jeans for 250NIS in mashbir $99 at airport
Tissot watch ~$800 bought for $500 in US (watches that I checked were even all above MSRP)
sony P900 smart phone $999 in us $600
****************************
things that might be OK is non-wine booze and running shoes on deals.
the days when Israelis would save 10 years to go abroad are over but the duty-free thing still lingers I guess
I don't buy cigarettes
Dec 17, 2005, 11:54 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
Posts: 4,172
Originally Posted by seaskybound
cheapest wine is $19 (when I want to bring an IL gift abroad) good wines much cheaper in IL supermarkets
Tissot watch ~$800 bought for $500 in US (watches that I checked were even all above MSRP)
sony P900 smart phone $999 in us $600
sony P900 smart phone $999 in us $600
Dec 18, 2005, 12:22 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Ive Never found TLV to be of any bargain what so ever, Unless you are buying 3 so that you get the 4th free. But then its the cheapest which is free so buy 3 Wines at $25 and 1 at $15 the $15 is free. Buy less then 3 then its cheaper to buy it in the City and pay the VAT.
also by buying it in the City you can pack it in your checked muggage and not have to schelp it onto and off the plane. Bottles are heavy and if travelling alone not easy to get all 4 into ones carry on and past Customs.
As for Scotch the cheapest I found was recently in SAL (El Salvador) and SJO ( Costa Rica) its usually 750ml but it ends up less per liter. Eg Glenlivet was $21 for a 750 so a liter will be 750 by 3 = 250 x 4 = 1 liter, = 21 by 3 = 7 x 4 = $28 a liter. The cheapest I saw a Liter for in EWR was $35 in TLV its 2 for $79.90 , JFK if the sale is on its 2 liters for $60 and then I have to schelp it down there and back to NY.
Ive never found any Scotch or Perfume when Buying just 1 or even 2 that is cheaper in TLV then in NY with paying the tax.
also by buying it in the City you can pack it in your checked muggage and not have to schelp it onto and off the plane. Bottles are heavy and if travelling alone not easy to get all 4 into ones carry on and past Customs.
As for Scotch the cheapest I found was recently in SAL (El Salvador) and SJO ( Costa Rica) its usually 750ml but it ends up less per liter. Eg Glenlivet was $21 for a 750 so a liter will be 750 by 3 = 250 x 4 = 1 liter, = 21 by 3 = 7 x 4 = $28 a liter. The cheapest I saw a Liter for in EWR was $35 in TLV its 2 for $79.90 , JFK if the sale is on its 2 liters for $60 and then I have to schelp it down there and back to NY.
Ive never found any Scotch or Perfume when Buying just 1 or even 2 that is cheaper in TLV then in NY with paying the tax.
Dec 18, 2005, 4:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,433
Originally Posted by craz
Ive Never found TLV to be of any bargain what so ever, Unless you are buying 3 so that you get the 4th free. But then its the cheapest which is free so buy 3 Wines at $25 and 1 at $15 the $15 is free. Buy less then 3 then its cheaper to buy it in the City and pay the VAT.
also by buying it in the City you can pack it in your checked muggage and not have to schelp it onto and off the plane. Bottles are heavy and if travelling alone not easy to get all 4 into ones carry on and past Customs.
As for Scotch the cheapest I found was recently in SAL (El Salvador) and SJO ( Costa Rica) its usually 750ml but it ends up less per liter. Eg Glenlivet was $21 for a 750 so a liter will be 750 by 3 = 250 x 4 = 1 liter, = 21 by 3 = 7 x 4 = $28 a liter. The cheapest I saw a Liter for in EWR was $35 in TLV its 2 for $79.90 , JFK if the sale is on its 2 liters for $60 and then I have to schelp it down there and back to NY.
bit for the locals its a great deal!
Ive never found any Scotch or Perfume when Buying just 1 or even 2 that is cheaper in TLV then in NY with paying the tax.
also by buying it in the City you can pack it in your checked muggage and not have to schelp it onto and off the plane. Bottles are heavy and if travelling alone not easy to get all 4 into ones carry on and past Customs.
As for Scotch the cheapest I found was recently in SAL (El Salvador) and SJO ( Costa Rica) its usually 750ml but it ends up less per liter. Eg Glenlivet was $21 for a 750 so a liter will be 750 by 3 = 250 x 4 = 1 liter, = 21 by 3 = 7 x 4 = $28 a liter. The cheapest I saw a Liter for in EWR was $35 in TLV its 2 for $79.90 , JFK if the sale is on its 2 liters for $60 and then I have to schelp it down there and back to NY.
bit for the locals its a great deal!
Ive never found any Scotch or Perfume when Buying just 1 or even 2 that is cheaper in TLV then in NY with paying the tax.