Singapore Expats

I am coming back to Singapore from a trip in Australia. What do you recommend that I bring back (what's cheap and good in Australia)?

I definitely plan to bring some Shirazes back. The wine in Australia is amazing and cheap.

Please let me know. Thanks!

Be careful with the wine. First of all security and second you will have to declare & pay duty on more than 1 litre I believe. I know that you can normally slip a few bottles in your checked luggage but I don't know what it's like with the heightened security threats now.

Good Luck.

sms

In checked luggage, friends recently came in from OZ with 3 bottles of wine and 2 bottle of campari...no problem. Not sure if they declared, but would say not.

Wine is cheap to bring in, and sometimes it can still be a lot cheaper than buying it here even after you pay the duty on it. If you are serious about bringing in some wine, you can buy by the box and have it shipped, even paying the duty it can be way lower than what you pay here.

If you are bringing in a few bottles only you can still declare and pay the duty on the spot, it may not be as much as you think. If not then you take a risk if you bring in more than one bottle. Just beware that they may check you and below is some info from the Singapore customs website. Worth thinking about...

Singapore Customs Information

If you are a bona fide traveller not below 18 years of age, have arrived from countries other than Malaysia and have spent 48 hours or more outside Singapore immediately before your arrival, you are granted the following duty-free concessions for liquors:

1 litre spirits (brandy, whisky, gin, rum, vodka, etc.)
1 litre wine, and
1 litre beer or stout or ale or porter.


Excess Goods
Dutiable goods and goods exceeding your GST relief or duty-free concessions may be allowed to be brought in only on payment of GST and Customs duty at the Duty Office of Singapore Customs. There are prominent signs at the Checkpoint to guide you to the Duty Office.

WARNING: It is an offence under the law to proceed to the Green Channel with any goods which exceed the duty/GST-free concession or for which no duty/GST-free concession is granted.

THE RED AND GREEN CHANNEL SYSTEM
The Red and Green Channel System is a self-elective system. The decision as to which channel to use is, therefore, entirely up to the traveller. By electing the Green Channel, you are deemed to declare that you do not have anything to declare to the authorities. It is an offence under the law to proceed to the Green Channel with taxable goods which exceed the GST/duty-free allowance or any goods which no GST/duty-free allowance is granted.

A TRUE AND COMPLETE DECLARATION
Making an incorrect declaration is an offence under the law. The offender may be fined up to $5,000. Please therefore declare any goods which you think may fall under the category prohibited or controlled and any item in excess of your GST/duty-free concessions or any item that is not granted GST/duty-free concession. If in doubt, always refer to the Red Channel.

Thanks. Let's move on from wine.

Anything else you recommend? Cheese?

I'm from Australia and there have been so many things I thought "gee I miss.." or "gee that's expensive here" but I can't remember it now you ask!

Cheese could be ok, there is a good range here but it is more expensive, but I don't know if I'd worry too much.

Maybe antipasto stuff (olives) etc I guess? Canned beetroot is a lot cheaper in Aus (but I guess thats a bit specialist)

I miss pods- if you're into chocolate biscuity type things, they're great and you can't get them here.

Sorry for the ramble!

Unless you have stumbled upon something there then really, apart from wine, pretty much everything else is not that different in price to what you pay here, yes it costs more, but is it worth the hassle of bringing etc? Foodstuffs are pretty much a personal taste thing so it is hard to recommend anything.

When we go back we just stock up on the stuff we can't get here that we can store. The only other thing I buy usually is CDs as you can get lots in much better variety cheaper than here, but then if you download etc then that is redundant too.

If you were serious about the wine you can buy from the cellar door at wineries etc and it can be really cheap including duty. I do know of several people here who have done it.

Pod, red rock deli chips, bounty & starburst... mmmm

oh perfect. red rock deli chips i have found to be very addictive. i do not need to bring those back to SIN.

thanks for your thoughts.