Flight Attendants Share the 14 Best Things to Buy Duty-Free

Here are some of the best things to buy duty-free!

It’s almost impossible to board a flight without passing by the duty-free shops at the airport. If you’ve ever flown internationally (or walked through an international terminal), chances are you’ve seen the brightly lit consumer paradise of a duty-free shop.

Stores like these are retail businesses that sell all kinds of things for which a “duty” (a local import fee or tax placed on products by government entities) isn’t included. Some of the best things to buy duty-free include fragrances, tobacco, liquor, luxury items, cosmetics, and candy.

When you buy stuff like that, you basically save money because the prices tend to be more affordable than what you’d find somewhere else.

It’s important to know that when flying internationally and shopping duty-free, the cashier at the pay point is going to ask to see your boarding pass to check travel out of the country. Travelers leaving the country for at least 48 hours may shop duty-free.

Now that we’ve mentioned all these details, let’s see which are some of the best things to buy duty-free, according to flight attendants!

best things to buy duty-free
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1. Coffee

Sometimes, the best things to buy duty-free depend on where you’re going on vacation. For example, if you’re going to the Caribbean or South America, you should know that the coffee there is more delicious, more aromatic, and not as expensive as at home.

If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll want to explore different flavors from what you’ve tried before. Moreover, coffee makes an excellent gift for a friend, family member, or boss.

2. Longchamp bags

You shouldn’t line up duty-free just for coffee. According to flight attendants, if you’re traveling home from Paris, you should take a look at the Longchamp bag selection the Charles de Gaulle airport offers. They point out that, with a bit of luck, you can even spot a sweet deal on those, which are often among the best things to buy duty-free.

Moreover, the bags are cheaper at the source, and there’s also an abundance of buying options in France.

3. Country-specific beauty products

If you’re interested in this category of products, you should know they are some of the best things to buy duty-free. Buying foreign beauty products from these shops can be surprisingly affordable.

For example, Travel & Leisure Maya Kachroo-Levine says she likes to spend the last of her foreign currency on country-specific products, like Fijan coconut oil, French micellar water, or a sample of perfume not available at home.

4. Last-minute gifts

According to flight attendants, these also make the list of the best things to buy duty-free. It happened to all of us to realize you forgot to buy gifts for people back home, so scooping up last-minute presents at airports is a great idea.

Whether you’re buying a fancy new wallet for your partner or ornate snow globes for kids, the souvenirs and trinkets at a duty-free shop allow you to ensure you show your loved ones back home that you were thinking of them while you were away—even if it actually struck you that you’re empty-handed while at the airport!

5. Cadbury chocolates

If you know about these, you’ll understand why they are some of the best things to buy duty-free. Flight attendants and travel editors agree that Cadbury chocolates are a prime shopping target when traveling internationally and walking in duty-free shops.

These chocolates are no longer available in the United States, and some say they are more delicious than American chocolate. Cadbury in the US has been different from the UK version since 2015, so passing up the chance to buy some to bring home would qualify as a travel mistake you should avoid.

duty-free
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6. Swiss chocolate

Thanks to the price that may be lower than at home, shopping duty-free while returning home from vacation offers you the unique opportunity to get better chocolate than you usually devour. Swiss chocolate in Geneva or Zurich is one of the best things to buy duty-free, say flight attendants.

This is because buying Swizz chocolate through duty-free shops in Switzerland may be a sweeter deal price-wise, and when bought anywhere outside this country, it is typically taxed.

7. Local honey and sea salt

According to flight attendants who make frequent international trips to and from Slovenia, some of the best things to buy duty-free while in one of the country’s airports are local honey and sea salt. The quality is top-notch, and the prices are fair, they say.

8. Things not available at home

Just like Cadbury chocolates cannot be found in their European form in the US, there are other products sold in airport duty-free shops that are not available back at home.

For instance, the foreign candy aisle includes strange flavor varieties of family candy, crunchie bars, or interesting shapes and packaging sizes like the huge Tic Toc container filled with dozens of miniature Tic Tac boxes.

We’re only halfway to our list of the best things to buy duty-free!

9. Liquor

If you’re a connoisseur of scoth, head for the many shelves filled with duty-free liquor when flying internationally. Those who have a taste for fine liquor will likely bring home a bottle or two at far cheaper prices than in the US.

What’s great is that this selection of alcoholic drinks is often on sale at duty-free, and there’s always a wide range of choices. Keep in mind that TSA doesn’t allow passengers to unscrew their duty-free drinks while on air.

10. Grey Goose

According to some flight attendants, people who appreciate good vodka will want to know that a bottle of Grey Goose is one of the best things to buy duty-free. The drink is cheaper in Japan, for instance, and more expensive in the Singapore Changi Airport duty-free shops than at Dubai Airport.

11. Perfumes

Scents have the power to spark memories. If you’ve been wanting to get a new fragrance, or perhaps you want to rebuy your favorite one, you should head for the wide selection you can find in duty-free shops.

These stores markdowns on perfumes are quite tempting, so stock up on the scent you want and love. If you discover new ones you like, spritz your wrist and walk around for a few minutes to see how the smell develops on your skin.

You probably know that perfumes are unique and subjective to the wearer, so you wouldn’t want to waste your money on an impulsive purchase that leaves you with an unpleasant dry-down or a weak silage.

12. Sunglasses

Michael Kors and Versace are just two of the famous luxury brands you can find while shopping duty-free in transit. If you’ve forgotten your pair of sunglasses or just want to splurge, there’s a wide selection in most of the airports where you can find something that you like.

Sunglasses are some of the best things to buy duty-free, but only if you’re getting a great deal. One thing you should do is check the currency converter to ensure you’re seeing the true prices. Also, do a quick Google search to see if you can find something similar at a better price in a store at your final destination.

By the way, Amazon has a great selection of sunglasses!

duty-free
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13. Watches

Whether you’re on a cruise ship or you’re just passing through a brightly lit duty-free shop while in transit, the shiny metal of designer watches may tempt you to get closer for a better look.

However, before you make the purchase, make sure to check the prices of online discount retailers, the prices at online stores back at home, and consult a currency converter to double-check the duty-free “deal”.

14. Jewelry

It isn’t just the watches on duty-free that make your eyes glint. There’s generally a wide selection of jewelry from Swarovski to tempt passengers before boarding their flights. Chances are, you can scoop up a great deal on those items.

According to flight attendants, jewelry is among the best things to buy duty-free, so maybe you want to take a look at some of them next time you’re in an airport. That necklace or bracelet may look lovely during a fancy dinner, but keep in mind that better deals may be available from an online retailer.

If you liked our article on the best things to buy duty-free, you may also want to read Save $1000 by Purchasing These 8 Off-Brand Items.

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