30 Things We Should All Buy At The Airport
By Anna Collins
6 months ago
1. Makeup: Airports have designer finds you can't get anywhere else!
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According to flight attendants who recommended the best airport buys, the number one thing you should buy at the airport is makeup! You won't pay VAT on the makeup like you will do if you buy it from anywhere else, and you have much more choice. For example, in the airport you can grab finds that you might not be able to get elsewhere!2. Sunscreen: don't buy it on holiday for an inflated price!
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Sunscreen is always good to buy at the airport because if you've brought a mini, it's not going to last! And even if you've bought a full tube if it runs out you'll end up buying sunscreen at an inflated price in a pharmacy or on a resort so it's better to get it before you arrive!3. Designer sunglasses: get a steal and pay no VAT!
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You can grab yourself a steal by buying yourself a pair of luxury sunglasses at the airport. For one, you'll be ready to look good by the pool and in all your holiday snaps. And, you'll be buying a designer pair of sunglasses which could cost a lot more from normal stores where you pay VAT.4. Playing cards: keep the boredom at bay
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We always forget to play cards and there's always that time on holiday when we suddenly remember 'we should have brought a pack of cards!'. Even if you've got three packs at home already, the ones you buy will have a local twist, so they're essentially a souvenir as well as providing the entertainment!5. Shampoo and conditioner: packing it is a waste of luggage space
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Don't use up your checked luggage weight by carrying full tubs of shampoo and conditioner! And don't bother with the minis in your hand luggage, they'll last about one and a half washes and you DON'T want to be left with the hotel shampoo - it dries your hair out. Instead, grab it at the airport so you buy a full size and not affect your luggage limits.6. Stock up on the snacks: inflight food is stale AND expensive
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Is anybody organized enough to prepare themselves food for the day before arriving at the airport? If you are, hats off to you. But for the majority, we'll be buying food. And you should buy it at the airport rather than wait for the inflight food. Not only is it more expensive but there's also so much less choice.7. A neck pillow: prevent a neck injury!
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Why do we all go through the uncomfortable experience of trying to balance and loll our necks into multiple different positions to allow ourselves to sleep? It's also super embarrassing when you roll forward suddenly and make yourself jump, violently twitching next to your fellow passengers. Or, dropping your head on their shoulder which nobody wants. Just get a neck pillow at the airport and you can sleep upright!8. Adaptors and travel chargers: don't get stranded with no battery
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Taking the wrong adaptor or forgetting the right travel charger can leave you totally stuck. You're worried about saving your battery, you can't call a taxi, and your phone might die with the booking reservation on it. It's such a good idea to stock up, even on a spare, at the airport because they have the best range and you'll know you've got the right one.9. Noise cancelling earplugs: block out everyone and everything
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Airports and flights are super noisy and some of us like to catch a few Z's while we can. But, with the sounds of announcements, the inflight trolley shuffling past, and crying babies it can be pretty much impossible. This is why you should grab yourself a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds at the airport.10. Travel sickness tablets: nobody wants to vomit on a plane
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You never know when travel sickness will strike, unless you get bad travel sickness, and can guarantee that as soon you start moving on any mode of transport you're bound to be nauseous. Travel tablets can really save the journey from feeling like hell to being much more bearable.11. Deodorant: stay fresh after a journey
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I swear nobody can finish a day's traveling without smelling a little bit funky. Everyone at least needs a spray of deodorant to freshen up. And there's no point packing deodorant with your precious weight limit to think about and you can't take it in hand luggage so buy one at the airport.12. A HUGE water bottle: save money with this clever hack
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Those of us who are super organized will think to bring a huge water bottle for our traveling days. The rest of us won't. So we should buy one at the airport. And we're talking a big reusable one. Even if costs 20 bucks you make your money back in less than a day because you'd spend more on plastic bottles of water! And most countries refill water bottles for free!13. A new full-sized moisturizer: airplanes suck the moisture from your skin
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By the time you've put all your full-sized beauty and skin care products into your suitcase, you're already on 20kg, so you can't do it. And small moisturizers aren't going to cut it, especially after the traveling dehydrates your skin so much. So grab a full-sized moisturizer at the airport - it's a chance to choose a little bit more of a luxury one too.14. A sample of the local delicacies
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If you're on the way back and you suddenly remember that you got nobody a present (why does this happen every time?), then the airport is your last chance. But it's a good idea because now you don't have to cram it into your case and carry it everywhere. The best thing to pick up is a taster of the local food - it's a thoughtful and practical gift!15. A pack of wet wipes
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Wet wipes...when DON'T they come in useful during travel days. You can wipe your hands when there's no soap around, you can wipe your body after sweating (a temporary solution to having no shower), and you can wipe your surroundings to feel a bit more hygienic (because let's face it budget planes aren't cleaned so well).16. A boarding pass holder
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'Boarding pass? Got it...somewhere...did you take it, or is it in my bag? Where's my passport? Yes, here. Just let me check again to make sure I don't lose it.' It's a constant feeling of paranoia carrying around such important documents, so buying a passport holder from the airport is the best idea!17. A puzzle book
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If you're thinking 'Why would I buy a puzzle book, I'm not a child'...oh you're so very wrong. Puzzle books get us all thinking and they're super addictive - as soon as you start you'll want to carry on and before you know it, the flight time has already passed!18. An item of clothing with the name of your destination
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Yes, it's cheesy. But do we care? Absolutely not. Okay so you may not want to go out for dinner in a baseball cap or a T-shirt with the name of your destination on it (although if you want to, go for it!) but to chill at home it's a great way to keep your memory!19. Booze
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Booze, of course, we had to put booze on here because usually we pay a higher cost of VAT for alcohol. So when you get to duty-free it's time to stock up your home collection of spirits or wines. Plus, if you've got a birthday coming up then a nice bottle of booze is usually appreciated.20. A book, of course
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We couldn't not get a book from the airport...it would be rude not to. If you've forgotten a book then you NEED one. What else are you going to do by the side of the pool? And if you already have one, you need another because you're probably a bookworm who's going to tear through your first and be left with nothing to read.21. A magazine subscription
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A magazine subscription is a clever purchase at the airport. Because to while away the hours on a plane, most of us like an easy-reading magazine to flick through. But on the inner part of the magazine is your chance to subscribe! And, maybe at a discounted price!22. Souvenirs
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We've all got a thing about needing a fridge magnet to take home after visiting a country. It's either for our fridge magnet collection or that family member who everybody collects them for. And again, you probably forgot when you were on your jollies so make sure you pick one up from the airport.23. Perfume
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Perfume is a standard airport buy. But that's because it is something we should buy at the airport. The prices are better, there's all the selection we could hope to choose from. And, there are often discounts on at least a few sections. Plus, if you buy it at the airport you don't need to pack one because they are HEAVY.24. A mini-travel game
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A mini travel game is another thing we should all buy from the airport. They're not going n many other places aside from the airport, and it's one of those purchases you won't regret because you'll use it over and over. You could use it on the plane for starters, and then when you arrive for a bit of fun!25. Local currency exchange
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This one really does depend on where you're going and whether you've been to this destination before because admittedly, airports don't usually have the best rates. But, some resorts or destinations put their prices up because once you arrive there's not much choice and you may not know the best places to get good rates. So it's often a lot worse to exchange money later.26. A luggage tag
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Mine's the black suitcase with the grey zip. Great, and you didn't think that at least 5 other passengers would have one looking pretty much identical? We've got to pick up a travel tag at the airport and avoid picking up the wrong luggage. It's a much better prospect.27. A language guide!
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You feel kind of ignorant if you travel to a country where you don't speak the language and don't even know how to say, or at least how to attempt to say a few simple words. So a travel guide and language book is a must to pick up at the airport. Plus, it's good to know a bit about the place you're going to!28. Treat yourself to jewelry or a watch
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Walking through duty-free and looking around at all the jewelry and watches is too tempting not to look. And if you're going to treat yourself at some point, the airport is the best place to do it. Without the VAT and with better options than normal it's something we should all buy.29. A compact travel bag
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A compact travel bag can make travel days SO much easier. For example, the point in the security queue when you've got hair straighteners in one hand, a laptop in the other, your phone and boarding pass clutched in your armpit, and your bag of toiletries balanced who knows where. Airports have some of the best ranges because they are made perfectly for traveling;30. A facemask
