Taking food to Portugal? - Algarve/Portugal/Madeira/Azores Discussion Forum, Holiday Forums

Taking food to Portugal?

adam89

2013-05-29 00:11:29

Hi guys I am new here and was hoping somebody could help me out?

I am going to Portugal staying in the Algarve, Praia De Rocha.

I am going for 2 weeks self catering and have been stupid and not saved as much money for spends as I should have!!

So the plan is to take as much food in our suitcases as possible and save on money, whilst still hopefully having some money to try some of the local restaurants and hopefully some authentic Portugese food too!

So my question is what foods can you take into Portugal??

I have a list below of stuff we are planning on bringing, so if anyone could confirm if it's okay or not that would be great! Also I know the restrictions on fresh produce, meat and dairy products etc....

LIST OF STUFF WE ARE PLANNING ON TAKING:

Packet pastas
Super Noodles
Dried Soups (Like cuppa soups)
Dried packet sauces like chilli con carne and the likes...
Sugar
Coffee
Teabags
Crackers
Crisps
Chocolate
Cakes

Thank you

Dazbo HT Mod

2013-05-29 07:41:45

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

adam89,

Welcome onboard :tup

All the above is fine. It' only meat and dairy products that you run in to problems with. Items are normally reasonable and not much different price wise if you shop in supermarkets abroad so I wouldn't worry too much about taking everything as you'll probably be able to get most items when you get there. Be careful with weight restrictions on luggage, you don't want to be charged any excess luggage that may end up costing more than the items you're taking!

Darren

adam89

2013-05-29 09:00:55

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

Weight won't be a problem as I'm a light traveler, don't need 23 different outfits lol

so all the above items are absolutely fine to take?

what about a bottle of alcohol?

Judith

2013-05-29 09:29:42

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

If you want to risk having liquid in your case then there isn't a problem, but it must be in your hold luggage, you can't carry it in hand luggage.

Dazbo HT Mod

2013-05-29 09:34:47

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

adam89,

If you want to purchase alcohol from duty free, that's fine as long as it's purchased airside and placed in your hand luggage. You won't be permitted to take it through security due to the liquid restrictions if you bring it to the airport. I would be very cautious about taking a glass bottle in hold luggage as suit cases can get bashed around and you don't want it to break. I would get it from duty free once you clear security if you purchase anything. Bear in mind the drinking of alcohol that you have brought on to the aircraft is not permitted.

Darren

Glynis HT Admin

2013-05-29 09:44:23

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

Re coffee, sugar, you could buy those 3in 1 sachets by NescafÃ© you get 10 in a packet for £1 or, instead of sugar take saccharine tablets. Asda are selling Batchelors pasta, macaroni cheese, chicken and leek etc for 50p at the moment, you just need to add milk and they are filling.

adam89

2013-05-29 10:57:52

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

Thanks for the replies guys, yeah I think best bet is to get alcohol from duty free then, although you can get ones with plastic bottles which are no more worse in your suitcase than say a bottle of suncream or aftershave if it breaks etc....

Glynis great idea I never thought of the sachets but that will be a lot more easier to pack and lighter so thanks for that! In regards to packets of pasta and dried foods we are just gonna get really cheap stuff from quality save or home bargains

doe

2013-05-29 19:58:31

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

If you're short of cash and want to take alcohol with you for the room/balcony on some aircraft they do really good deals like two x 1 litres of quality spirits for £22, Bacardi, Smirnoff, Gordons etc although I guess that might be too much for some in a fortnight. It might be airline dependant though so you would need to check.

I haven't been for a few years but supermarket wine was always cheaper in Portugal than the UK, so if you are wine drinkers that could be good news. (They may have put up VAT now though)

madasharley

2013-05-29 20:22:00

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

am I wrong here in thinking you cannot buy alcohol from duty free or on the plane as they are going to a European destination hence not duty free ???
I am sure when we last flew to a European destination the duty free shop could not sell to us as we was traveling to a European destination and the flight did not do a duty free run ?

Dazbo HT Mod

2013-05-29 20:24:09

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

madasharley,

You can purchase them, but you have to pay tax on them rather than the duty free price (there's 2 prices quoted on items effected, eg alcohol and tobacco).

Darren

madasharley

2013-05-29 20:29:29

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

ah right thanks Darren that's good to know but the flight don't sell do they ?

Dazbo HT Mod

2013-05-29 20:32:11

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

madasharley,

It depends who you fly with. Some do, some don't.

Darren

jayjan

2013-05-30 23:08:50

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

I can understand taking teabags & coffee of your choice,cheese etc (Intermarche supermarkets sell english cheese, cheddar, lancashire etc) but why take the rest the big supermarkets cater for all your needs in that respect. Crisps are just the same, Lays brand which is same company as Walkers but not as much variety in flavours. Why carry all that weight when you can buy it in the resort.If you don't understand the lingo it might take some thinking about when buying but most food products are self explanitory on the packaging.

Judith

2013-05-31 08:31:00

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

If you read the OP he states he hasn't left himself much money for buying food, so I'm guessing he is raiding his food cupboards so as to leave some cash to spend.. He has a full weight limit for luggage and states he doesn't take many clothes so who are we to question what he should or should not take.

adam89

2013-06-04 09:35:11

Re: Taking food to Portugal?

Cheers Judith!

No not raiding the cupboards, I am going to just get a few bits from quality save as it's dirt cheap!

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