Anything to declare?

I was recently asked about Duty Free shopping in La Palma, where to buy it and the permitted allowance.  Well, the allowance is an interesting one because the Canary Islands - La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote - are not actually a part of the EC, although Spain is.  Confusing!  
But the good news is that duty free type goods, for example, wines, spirits and tobacco are laughably cheap here on La Palma and readily available not just in the airport shop but in all grocery shops such as the good old Spar supermarket.
While you are enjoying your holiday on La Palma, I suggest you take the opportunity to try the excellent La Palma wines.  There is a great variety of both red and white wines including Vitega, El Tendal, Teneguia, Oro de Risco, Vega Norte, Traviesa, and the sweet Malvasia wine which is produced in the vineyards in the south of La Palma with its volcanic-rich land.  The wines are of extremely high quality and in fact La Palma produces around half a million litres of wine annualy.  Not a lot of people know that. But then you can't take half a million litres back home with you. 

Just for your interest, we keep a selection of La Palma wines in our own bodega here on the finca in Franceses for guests of both the self-catering cottage and bed and breakfast accommodation to enjoy.   What could be nicer than a romantic candlelight dinner and a glass of La Palma wine without having to leave 'home?'

And don't forget to try the local rum while you are here.  Ron y cola is quite a popular drink, especailly at fiestas. 

Here are the duty free allowances if taking goods back from La Palma and the rest of the Canary Islands to other EU/EC countries:-

Cigarettes

200

Cigarillos

100

Cigars

50

Smoking Tobacco

250gms

Spirits

1 litres

Wine

2 litres

Fortified Wine ( port or sherry)

2 litres

Perfume

60cc/ml

Toilet Water

250cc/ml

Value of goods, gifts and souvenirs

€200

Insured to Go!

Holiday insurance is one of those areas where people sometimes try and make a little saving.  Such as not taking one out!  But really, they are so cheap to pick up especially when weighed against the cost of things going wrong while you are on holiday, or even before you go on holiday. 
But which company?  You can search the inernet for a good price or take out a policy with one of the major supermarkets or high street banks or building societies.  Monarch have also got a good offer on at the moment with policies starting from just 10.55 pound for 7 nights if you use their promotional code.   Some specialist activities, such as snorkelling, horse riding, cycling, fishing, etc, are included in that price and children under two are covered for free.   You can check out their website here. 
Put in the promotional code 'COVERME20' and away you go!