Is wine expensive?

[jwhartley2]

We will be coming in March. Are wine and bottled water prices high? Are you allowed to bring them from the states?

[Agur's Wish]

You will find liquor (except rum) and other beverages (soda, water...) to be some of the most expensive things here. You didn't ask about beer but it's $38.00 per case in Marsh Harbour and around $48 on the cays just to give you an idea. You can bring some wine with you so I suggest you bring as much of your favorite as possible. Beware there are weight limits on the airlines. We buy 2 1/2 gallon drinking water in a dispenser jug here instead of individual bottles and it's more reasonable.

[CATNAPSzzz]

Found wine, French anyhow, to be about 2-3 bucks over what we pay at home as of last week. Of course "at home" depends on what your State is...we shop the N.H. State Liquor Stores.Then again we only pay 26-27 bucks for those nasty Marlboros...there is an advantage to living in Southern Maine.

Do not find liquor to be that much more...we drink rum down there.

[nile]

As to the wine, not only is it 30 to 50% more expensive than in the U.S but most of the time it's not good (whatever its origin)
This, I think, due to long storage in containers staying in the sun waiting for a delivery. If you sail, bring your cellar with you!

[rumrunner]

Spirits are cheaper than prices in the States, wine and beer are more expensive than you will find at home. Before the Euro went up some of the european wines were comparable but now its gone up. Let me now through my site which wines or spirits you may be looking for and I can get the prices for you, I have a price break since I purchase for many customers and I pass this on. With all the security at airports its a pain to be toting stuff.

[diannedri]

If you "bring your wine cellar with you", be prepared to pay a hefty duty. We learned our lesson. Brought a case of wine with us as a gift to friends we were visiting who spend the winter in the Abacos and we ended up paying $75.00 just to import it!!! Not worth it. We know many people who spend several months in the Abaco's and they all buy wine in Marsh Harbour. No complaints about the quality that I know of!!

[bellavista]

I agree that most wine prices are higher and selection not like states. On other hand, Bristol's in Marash Harbour has a pretty good selection. Their lower priced wines are more expensive than US. Curiously, their top end wines/champagnes are less than US and you only have to buy 3 bottles to get a further discount.
Taking !0% percent discount and no sales tax vs. bottle price in states plus sales tax and difference in bottle of Dom Perignon is 15 dollars or more less than US. On other hand, the next Moet champagne down the price list is almost twice US prices--go figure?!

[big fish]

We also find the wine selection and the prices to be far from what we are accustomed to. However, unless you are boating in, you may have to make do. Bristol (in Marsh Harbour) does seem to be the best resource. Water is no big deal. As has been stated on this board many times, money is what you need to bring, but what the heck, THIS AIN'T NO DRESS REHEARSAL! Enjoy!
Bruce

[biggy]

Provisions,intended for personal comsumption by the ship's crew are not subject to duty.If you declare that you are bringing in any goods as gifts to anyone in the Bahamas,be prepared to pay duty.Tony

[rumrunner]

As a previous insider the reason for the pricing difference is because the mark ups are adjusted to what the market can handle. Unfortunatyely the market in Abaco is small. To get decent pricing you will have to be an agent for the different houses. This is why you will find some wines at Bristol and some at A&K. These stores are agency reps. Unlike wine or liquor stores in the US, where you may have many houses in one place. Also another reason for the high price is that the Government collects (on wine) 50% duty on the CIF value, where as liquor duty is based on proof. Also I am not sure if Bristol is still offering price break other than full cases.

[bellavista]

Hopefully Bristol will continue. They were doing it in Jan.

[Kimberly]

Bristol's has been selling a lovely Concha y Toro sauvignon blanc for $6 a bottle lately ... so we've been buying it by the case. Hard liquor's much less expensive here than in the U.S. and Europe, but beer is pretty pricey.

[fatdonkey]

If I bring wine,
maybe about 3-4 bottles via the plane-trip for my own consumption during my vacation do I have to pay a duty fee on those bottles???

[DrRalph]

The regs say each adult is allowed to bring "one liter of spirits into the Bahamas duty free." After that, it's up to the customs agent to assess whether and how much duty you will have to pay.