There’s something awesome about jumping in the car and heading somewhere you’ve never been before. Maybe you saw a diner on television and decide to go try their menu. Maybe you want to drive to a city like New York, Chicago or Seattle. Maybe you just want to hit the open road and see where it takes you, stopping to sight-see, eat or stay whenever the mood strikes.

A weekend road trip can be a great way to have an adventure with friends or family that doesn’t have to cost a lot. For one thing, you can shop at duty free stores before you cross into the USA. And here are a few other ways to save:

• Skip the fast food joints. You can find bigger meals for less at locally owned cafes a little off the beaten path.
• Pick up snacks at the grocery store, not the more expensive convenience store. Or bring them from home.
• Camp or stay in a hostel to save on accommodations. Better still, stay with friends for free.

Whether you decide to road trip on a budget or spend a little more, be sure to start planning your trip soon – summer long weekends are the perfect time of year to pack up the car and drive.

Did you know that Canadians are legally allowed to shop at the duty free in Canada before entering USA? That means you can bring liquor on any trip to the USA as long as it is for personal consumption. So if you’re visiting friends or family, you could bring an extra bottle or two as a gift for the host. Or if you’re going on a road trip, you could bring an extra case of beer to share with the group. Wherever you’re going, feel free to drink some of your purchases while you’re away! Remember, while the first bottle of alcohol or case of beer you bring into the USA is duty free, customs do have the right to charge you duties and taxes on subsequent bottles. Just how much extra will you have to pay? The duty amounts vary depending on the country of origin of the liquor as well as the alcohol content, but for example, on a bottle of Ontario wine, the duty ranges from 25 to 35 cents. So you can see that even after paying duty, you can still save quite a lot of money!

Remember, you can bring the purchases from the Canadian duty free back into Canada after 48 hours. Shop before you go, buy some to consume on your trip away and some to bring back home with you.

That’s great news because it’ll be even easier for border shoppers to shop and save. So just how much are allowances increasing? As of June 1^st, the duty free customs allowances will be increased to  $200 for trips over 24 hours and increased to $800 for trips over 48 hours.

The previous 2-tiered allowance system was confusing to many travelers and was a factor in traffic congestion and longer wait times at border crossings. So the Canadian duty free industry is excited to support this decision!

The table below provides more details on the current and new custom allowances so you’ll be all set for when these changes come into effect on June 1^st. Happy duty free shopping everyone!

The Canadian duty free industry, led by the Frontier Duty Free Association, applauds and is excited to support today’s Government decision to bring Canada’s duty free allowance levels in harmony with those of the United States.

The previous allowance system was confusing for Canadians, and the industry as a whole appreciates the Government of Canada’s continued support in improving the experience of shopping and crossing between Canada and the United States. This harmonizing of the levels in our allowance system will result in increased economic growth for Canada and drive further cross border traffic and lower wait times.

The updated duty free customs allowances for travelers will, as of June 1^st, 2012, be $200.00 for trips over 24 hours and $800.00 after 48 hours. This change makes it even easier for Canadians to shop at one of the many border duty free stores on the way into the US and to take advantage of these allowances on the way home. We are excited by the fact that these increased allowances will allow Canadians to save even more at the border.

The previous two-tiered allowance system had created confusion amongst the traveling public, which was certainly a factor in traffic congestion at our borders. As the FDFA Executive Director, Laurie Karson noted, “today, our industry is grateful for our government’s decision to harmonize the allowance system which is an important win for our borders in order to ease the current traffic congestion”.

To stay up to date on what these changes mean, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dutyfreecanada.

The temperatures have finally dropped below freezing at Mount Snow.

“It’s been frustrating, that’s for certain,” said David Meeker, director of communications, of the weather conditions.   “There were a lot of nights this past month that were forecasted for good snow-making conditions but they weren’t ever cold enough” he said in the Battleboro Reformer.

Typically, mountains near the Appalachian Trail open either just before or after the American Thanksgiving holiday.  The recent warm spell in and around Dover, however, have made it difficult to make snow without it melting.

Large areas of the east coast were damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in August.  The storm has put extra pressure on the region’s resorts to help maintain the local economy, Meeker told The Reformer, but his resort would not open with a poor product.

On Wednesday, a cold front covered the valley, dumping snow and keeping the temperatures cold enough for the crew at Mount Snow to start making snow, he said.

Thousands of skiers and snowboarders eager for their first run of the season showed up at the opening of Mount Snow’s Blue Bird Express on Saturday.

Even with the setback of not being able to open when they wanted, the staff at Mount Snow is positive this will be one of their best years ever.

If you’re heading south to hit the slopes, be sure to pick up some duty free goods at the border to warm you up in the chalet.

‘Tis the season for that special bottle

One lavish traveller is planning on ending this year in grandiose style.

A man purchased six bottles of rare wines for nearly $80,000 Canadian dollars at a Parisian duty free shop.  His purchase consisted of a bottle of Romanee Conti 1995, a Chateau Margaux 2003, two bottles of Chateau Lafitte 1982 and two bottles of Petrus 1980.

Such purchases can be the result of impulse buying, or in some cases the result of a customer asking the  shop to find a bottle of a particular year for a special occasion.

High-quality wines typically sell better at the end of the year as people move to compliment their holiday trips or gatherings with a little extra style.

Each Duty Free Canada shop’s page lists contact information should you wish to place a special order.  Or you can call ahead of time just to see what special finds are already on hand.  Duty Free Canada land border shops offer better prices than airport stores because they operate at lower prices, and these savings are passed on to you!

Source: BBC - Traveller blows 50,000 euros on wine at Paris duty free

Last winter, the accumulation of snow allowed some Colorado resorts to stay open as late as July 4.  This accumulation over the season amounted to over 200 inches, burying equipment like snow gauges.

Colorado hosted roughly one in every five skier visits in the nation last winter, with over 12 million visits.

As the economy slowly recovers, resorts across the United States are still offering travelers discounts.  Locations like Breckenridge Vacation Resort have deals with up to 50% off resort packages. Combining these offers with some Duty Free goods would make these trips even more affordable (and fun in the chalet).

Nationwide, resorts have also upgraded the quality of the ski experience, investing millions in faster lifts, new terrain park features and better trail grooming.

You can read more about “Colorado resorts opening ski season with momentum” on CBS News.

The Harper and Obama administrations announced wide ranging plans that aim to make crossing the border quicker and easier. Ever since 9/11 concerns about security have made crossing the border more difficult. Now different government agencies are planning on harmonizing regulations and sharing information so that people and goods can cross the border more quickly and easily. Here is an analysis on the CBC website What the new border deal means for you.

The Ambassador Duty Free shop is in the holiday spirit with savings of up to 40% on fragrances and jewelry.

Mix and match any two 1L bottle of Jameson 12yr, Chivas, or Glenlivet for only $60.

Get three of any 1L bottle of Malibu, Beefeater, Wiser’s, or Absolut vodka for $39.

And get a free duffel bag when you buy three 1L bottles of Crown Royal for just $59.

Check out these deals and more in our holiday flyer (pdf):

To celebrate our 25th year we’re offering four bottles of Absolut Vodka for only $44!
Make sure you stop and check out this and other amazing deals on your way to the USA!