Originally Posted by ultrarunner (Post 10311810)

We have people here who go over and bring back TVs and other electronics back with them. There are also place close to the border that will deliver your good to you if you are close to the border in this part of Ontario

The thing with small electronics is that you can pretend it was in your car when you left. Tyres, you can drive in mud for a bit, same goes for shoes, just walk about in them for a bit and pack them up with socks in them

Originally Posted by ninaDGBCA (Post 10311795)

It all depends how much wildlife you want to have and if you travel with a tent or trailer. New Hampshire has a nice motel http://www.northcolonymotel.com/ simple but very clean and cheap and close to Storyland, Mount Attitash and the North Conway outlet village.
In Maine we had a campsite near Kennebunkport, Old Orchard Beach. That was really cheap but very basic, lovely pool though. We camp in a tent and everytime I needed the bathroom in the night it was a hike through the woods past skunks and allsorts :ohmy:
But it was only one hour north of Boston and I loved Boston. So next time we'll try and get a campsite closer to Boston.
In New York State we camped at Lake Champlain, Cumberland Bay State Park , that was a great campsite if you weren't directly at the waterfront = very windy. We took the ferry over the lake to Burlington NY, which is a nice little town, with pubs, restaurants and a proper pedestrian shopping "street".
We also went to Cranberry Lake,Cranberry Lake campground, also in the Adirondacks, it was much more wildlife there and we had a bobcat jumping our guide ropes in the night :eek:
Over all the State campsites are basic, nothing fancy but if you like the nature it's great. You can find them all on here: http://www.reserveamerica.com/

If you have kids, depending on their age they'd love North Conway http://www.attitash.com/
http://www.storylandnh.com/
http://www.settlersgreen.com/
:thumbsup:

Originally Posted by ultrarunner (Post 10311833)

Thanks Gina...I sent you a PM

Originally Posted by Steve_ (Post 10311750)

Where do you buy appliances from? Do you go down to Great Falls? I met someone down there who had ordered a new TV at Wal-Mart but when you add on the price of gas, staying in a hotel and GST and duty at the border I can't see the point myself. (And I did wonder what condition an LCD TV would be in after a 500km trip in the back of an SUV).

I only go down there to get things you can't get in Canada.

Originally Posted by ninaDGBCA (Post 10311822)

Walmart will deliver to the store on US side closest to your border crossing and you can also get things delivered to a UPS office close to a border i.e. Ogdensburg, NY for everyone around Ottawa.

Originally Posted by ninaDGBCA (Post 10311801)

Milk is free anyways up to $20 per person. But yes even our baby has an allowance.
And I might be wrong on this (please tell me if I am)but I think you can combine the allowance if it is for the whole family i.e. a fridge which would be used by everyone and you couldn't really say who owns it. It's different with a bike or clothes.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10312503)

Sorry you cannot combine exemptions to buy big ticket items. If the fridge was say $1200 then if gone for over 48 hrs then one person would claim it using their $800 allowance and pay any taxes on the $400 remaining.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10312503)

Sorry you cannot combine exemptions to buy big ticket items. If the fridge was say $1200 then if gone for over 48 hrs then one person would claim it using their $800 allowance and pay any taxes on the $400 remaining.

Originally Posted by wolstie (Post 10313256)

In theory, this may be the case, but practically I think this is at the border agent's discretion. Typically, when we've been away and bringing a large amount in goods back, our conversations go like this:

CBSA: "How long were you away?"
ME: "2 days"
CBSA: "How many people in the car?"
ME: "5"
CBSA: "How much have you spent?"
ME: "$1200"
CBSA: "OK. Here's your passports. Have a nice day"

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10313302)

True there is a certain amount of discretion that goes on but just warning readers that exemptions cannot be legally combined. Hard to hide that side by side freezer in a trunk:lol:

Originally Posted by ultrarunner (Post 10313704)

Why does beer have to come up in every border crossing discussion? :zzz:

Originally Posted by ultrarunner (Post 10313704)

Why does beer have to come up in every border crossing discussion? :zzz:

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10312503)

Sorry you cannot combine exemptions to buy big ticket items. If the fridge was say $1200 then if gone for over 48 hrs then one person would claim it using their $800 allowance and pay any taxes on the $400 remaining.

Originally Posted by Yasmina2005 (Post 10314327)

Please read this sentence:

"If the total value of the goods you bring back to Canada exceeds your duty free allowance, you will have to pay duty and taxes on the vale of ALL goods you bring back to Canada, not just the amount that exceeds your allowance.".

Source: http://www.crossbordershopping.ca/du...nal-exemptions

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10315011)

That is only applicable for the 24 hour absence allowance when you exceed the $200 allowance. The over 48 hour allowance is $800 per person and you always get it.
So basically they are
SAME DAY ; No allowance but discretion allows for small amounts. NO ALCOHOL or TOBACCO.
OVER 24 HRS ; $200 per person. If exceeding the $200 amount then the whole amount is subject to applicable taxes. NO ALCOHOL or TOBACCO.
OVER 48 HRS ; $800 per person with the following alcohol and tobacco limits
•1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine;
•a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcoholic beverages; or
•up to a maximum of 8.5 litres of beer or ale.

•200 cigarettes;
•50 cigars;
•200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco; and
•200 tobacco sticks.
NOTE ALCOHOL IS OR NOT ALL OF THE ABOVE but tobacco isnt.

The 7 day allowance is now the same as the 48 hour plus allowance.

Originally Posted by Yasmina2005 (Post 10315942)

From where you got what I highlighted in red..?

In their clause:

"If the total value of the goods you bring back to Canada exceeds your duty free allowance, you will have to pay duty and taxes on the vale of ALL goods you bring back to Canada, not just the amount that exceeds your allowance.".

It is not mentioned whether it is the 1st 24 hours or not...

Originally Posted by Yasmina2005 (Post 10315942)

From where you got what I highlighted in red..?

In their clause:

"If the total value of the goods you bring back to Canada exceeds your duty free allowance, you will have to pay duty and taxes on the vale of ALL goods you bring back to Canada, not just the amount that exceeds your allowance.".

It is not mentioned whether it is the 1st 24 hours or not...

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 10316113)

That website is not an official CBSA website. Try this link
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage...rpcrc-eng.html

Personal exemptions do not apply to same-day cross-border shoppers. Goods must be in your possession at time of entry to Canada.

If the value of the goods you have purchased abroad exceeds $200 after a 24 hour absence, duty and taxes are applicable on the entire amount of the imported goods. Travellers absent for periods of 48 hours or more will have the applicable exemption level credited against the total value of goods.