HOW MUCH I SAVED IN PARIS, VAT, CUSTOMS, TSA PRE, GLOBAL ENTRY!!! 

I’m glad that you talked about declaring the items you purchased from abroad when you got back to the state. Same thing happened to me, my husband forced me to declare my Hermes bag and I was the only one at the customs big room who was paying for taxes. I was not happy but I was shocked to see no one was there. We also have global entry and we don’t want to risk it. Thank you for the detailed video.

Heathrow is the strictest about liquids, in my experience. Sad that the customs officer was so tough on a new mother. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Melinda, those were great tips. I love Global Entry, too, btw.

Hello Melinda! You always looks so beautiful. This is good to know. I have not traveled out of the US recently. Thank you for sharing.

Great video Melinda!!! We have Global also and it’s totally a plus specially when coming back to US. The savings abroad are fabulous specially with high price items. Thanks for sharing about London too! 😊

Nice things happen to nice people!🥰

We also have global and it is so nice to get pre-check on every flight. On my recent return, overheard a lady commenting on how it looked like everyone has global now-a-days because the line was long. It did wrap a few times but no where near the wall to wall line for non global. No complaints here. I was happy about our 10-15 min wait. 😂

Great tips ❤😊

I bought my very first lux bag in Dublin last month, the prices are also much lower, my Neverfull is 1500 euros which is about 1650 dollars. I got 14% VAT back and saved total $700 if you include US taxes. I would of hate to pay 2,126(including taxes) for a neverfull. Thank you Ireland!!!

There is also the Global Entry App that makes entry even faster!

Looking forward ro this and what one pays at customs

Global Blue is the best VAT processor. I had good luck with them both at CDG and when I had to mail in my forms from the US (purchased in Spain, departed in Portugal & had to see customs officer for a stamp). Planet Tax Free doesn't have an app, but you can check on the status on your refund using their website. Global Blue processed the CDG refund within 2 days. On the other hand, it took Planet about 2-3 weeks. The Global Blue mailed in forms took about 2.5 months to refund.

TSA Pre/Global, the biggest tip/PS no one mentions you have to add it to your boarding pass when you check into your flight or have it on your profile with the airlines you use. it's not connected to your passport lol. learned this the hard way. i showed up at tsa pre and they sent me to the regular line because it was not on my boarding pass and I kept telling them scan my passport it should show I have it lol. so now I double check as I'm booking and when I check in for my flight. Declaring- it is so odd when I came through Global May 2023 they gave me no piece of paper, guess they don't do that anymore, and when I was trying to declare before I got to the part where i scan my passport the lady ushering the lines to make sure they are moving kept telling to keep moving and that once it scanned my passport it would ask for that/flag me. which it never did, I spent over $7k. maybe it's only certain amounts? i felt weird and was scared someone was going to pull me aside or I was going to get a ticket later at home. but nothing happen. VAT-those people at the kiosk are rude, not helpful and felt they were mad we shopped lol. but those things give no receipts so I was taking pictures of the screens lol. it also didn't even tell me if it went through. i was so scared it didn't, but thankfully it did. ps-came in Oregon airport.

love your vlog Melinda. It's true the UK stopped VAT btu its got nothing to do with Brexit. Other countries who have nothing to do with the EU give tax back like Israel, South Africa Australia.Britain started this during covid and never reinstated it, because it a nice bit of of extra revenue. I personally was shocked when I came t the US to live that there was no tax deduction for visitors. Anyway, you look well rested and im happy you has such a lovely time.

It’s the honor system at NY JFK too. We have the global entry machines so barely any human interaction, and then two sections for customs- one of you have nothing to declare, the other if you do. I’ve had a similar experience where if you’re honest they charge you nothing or a very nominal amount. I travel internationally often so I’m terrified to lose my global entry over a few hundred bucks.

For Ireland in Aug 2024 it was 16% back. I filled out VAT paperwork and dropped at airport in Dublin. They said three weeks to credit back to our card and it was two days shy of 3 weeks. Very easy. In Dublin, you go thru US customs there, so we did not do it upon arriving in Orlando. They asked total to claim and it was 2,500. They just asked if we have food or alcohol and we did not and they said have a great flight. Nothing else. Thanks for your info. 😊

Great informative video Melinda .what a pain when your items are handled unhygienic.( so fussy about that) You look lovely, thanks for sharing ❤

I know you and your husband don't spring for business usually, especially when flying in the continental US, but I'd love to hear about how you enjoyed business class! Maybe you mentioned it and I missed it, but I wonder if it's spoiled you for all future flights! Hahaha:) at least international flights. As someone else in the Southeast, I always have a preference for business to Europe, but only truly on the way to Europe as those tend to be overnight/red eye flights and I can sleep. The flights home tend to be daytime so Comfort Plus/Premium econ works well because I hardly ever sleep during daytime flights, but doing mixed classes like that can be difficult. It's much easier to upgrade your second flight than downgrade it for some reason. Thanks for the video!

For anyone who might see this who travels with a baby or liquid prescription medication or anything that would normally give pause, my advice is to print out the TSA rules and pack it with your milk or prescription. And if you are flying home from another country, do the same with the equivalent agency of that country. Then not only will you definitely know you know the rules, but you have it for the agents themselves. Some TSA agents don't know their own rules, and some are just bullies. You can always ask for a supervisor. And I know having something printed sounds archaic and like it would escalate the situation, but having the rules in clear black and white is helpful. This is the first paragraph of that section. No mom should have to worry about their milk going bad because some TSA agent doesn't know their own rules. "Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies."

Every country in EU have different % return VAT. The best return you can from purchase from Spain and Ireland if I remember right or may be some another country as well .

First 🎉

It’s nice skipping those long lines in Miami 🎉

I went to Paris in April and made claims. I was also honest and they charged me less than they could have. We didn’t go in a room. We had to go to a booth and it was pretty quick outside of us waiting for the person in front of us.

Let me ask you? When he told you a 1,000 what percentage was it? I purchased a Loewe at Selfridges last Christmas in London. Selfridges discounted the VAT but had to ship it to Miami. When the package came thru customs I was charged 11%. At the end I saved about 500 but not as much as I thought. I’ve heard at airport they charge 3% which is way less than the 11% I got charged. So while I saved some, I won’t buy a bag at Selfridges again and rather purchase it from the EU and pay the 3%. I am just not sure if it’s 3% what they charge when you declare it …….

Sorry for so many questions I’m in Miami and everyone is home due to storm and I’m bored 😅

Same here with Clear not worth the money when one has pre tsa.

We have global….etc do they never asked

You think their job is to help you.