Shopping in CalaisThe hypermarkets specialise in cheap booze. Wine is best chosen by tasting - the familiar Sainsbury or Tesco brands are attractive if unadventurous - but there are rules of thumb. For example, check a wine guide for good years and avoid the cheapest. Remember, too, the unexpected bargains in other aisles: toothpaste, dishwasher powder, cheese and chocolate are half price, and DIY stuff is cheap. Take an English price list as a comparison. Wine at ferry can seem expensive, but watch for special offers. Cité Europe, the big hypermarket, with Carrefour and Tesco, and Auchan and Sainsbury on the Calais commercial centre are well flagged from the A16 and RN1 and do their business with a slickness that will empty your wallet in double-quick time. Check opening times - most shut by 8pm or 10pm, (7pm or 9pm English time). And it is worth remembering that they do not open on a Sunday. But don't just stick with Calais some real bargains are situated outside of Calais in Boulogne. |
