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In LHR, I usually buy some magazines (Top Gear) and love to shop at HMV and Dixons Travel who ocasionally have genuinely good deals on electronics, CDs and DVDs (and also offer "Tax free" within Europe). Very good considering the weak pound, I would most of the time pay less than half for CDs and XBox games, than what I would here. Also for example iPods at RRP-15% are a good deal in europe.
On other airports I normally only grab an overpriced can of Red Bull or some other drinks. If outside of Europe, I always buy duty-free cigarettes.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottC
Chocolates (local only), newest mobile phones and other gadgets, luggage etc...
You actually by phones at airports? Now that you mention it I have gotten gadgets, like some great multi-country electric plug adaptors I got at Dixons at LHR.
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I buy books. At SFO, in particular, there's a decent bookstore just the other side of security in Terminal 3. I favor what are called, "trade paper," paper back reprints of more serious hard cover works. There's always a good selection and I usually grab two or three whenever I go through SFO.
Also, on my last trip to China through SFO, I realized I really needed a light-weight knapsack. There was a travel store airside that had a Rick Steeve day pack for around $30. It turned out to be a terrific purchase -- the thing folds up to nothing, yet is reasonably rugged, and I've used it on a number of trips since.
Oh, yes, once when I dropped off Mrs. PTravel at the airport for her flight to China, she realized that she had forgotten her Bose QC2s. I found a pair of no-name noise-cancellers at the MSNBC news store at the entrance to security. For $40, Mrs. PTravel had the benefits of noise cancellation for her 15 hour flight -- she doesn't use her phones for music, just for quiet, so this worked out perfectly for her.
When I lived in Dublin, I'd always buy booze on my way back into the country. Mysteriously, Jameson (made in Dublin) was half the price at the US airports than it is in the off-licences in Dublin.
Normally, just a bottle of water. Possibly a magazine if there is something interesting and I have a longish flight. I've often bought books at LHR to have something extra for the trip home.
In terms of things I've bought because I've forgotten to pack them, I think there have been a few travel alarm clocks along the way. And I bought a hat at JNB on the way to TNR.
One other reason for buying something might be getting rid of the last couple of bucks worth of non-convertible currency. I have some socks I bought somewhre or other for that reason. (I have several cassette tapes bought for the same reason at various land crossings, by the way.)
You actually by phones at airports? Now that you mention it I have gotten gadgets, like some great multi-country electric plug adaptors I got at Dixons at LHR.
Some airports have pre-sales of phones before any other channels. Amsterdam tends to get a lot of Nokia stuff before anyone else, and in Asia I've found stuff that you can't get anywhere else.
I got my Iridium kit at Dixons at LHR 2 months before it was available anywhere else.
I usually only buy something to drink. If I've finished the books I brought, I may buy a book or magazines for the ride home. Once in a while I'll buy a gift souvenir for friends, or to use up currency.
One of my favorite ice creams in Rome is from San Crispino, and they have an outlet in Terminal A at FCO. Especially in the heat of summer, I've been known to go through security in A, even if my usual flight to Paris is from B (they are connected, so it's a short walk), just to have a cup of gelato. For a price, they will pack ice cream to keep for up to six hours. I've taken gelato as my carry-on all over Europe. It's fun to show up to dinner and say that I brought the ice cream from Rome!
One of my favorite ice creams in Rome is from San Crispino, and they have an outlet in Terminal A at FCO. Especially in the heat of summer, I've been known to go through security in A, even if my usual flight to Paris is from B (they are connected, so it's a short walk), just to have a cup of gelato. For a price, they will pack ice cream to keep for up to six hours. I've taken gelato as my carry-on all over Europe. It's fun to show up to dinner and say that I brought the ice cream from Rome!
That's good to know!
I can never resist buying additional magazines or books... And sometimes the duty free makeup calls my name.
Other than that I like to buy small gifts for family and friends on my way back from wherever I am.
