No matter how much of a shopaholic, the airport should be where you draw the line. If you do not want to go broke from a single trip, there are things you should never buy at the airport.
No doubt the airport accommodates different beautiful stores and restaurants, but the prices of things in these places are not as beautiful.
Generally, it is important to avoid buying anything at the airport if you can. However, there are some items that travel experts specifically warn against. We will be looking at them shortly.
Avoid Buying These Things at the Airport
1. Gadgets
You might feel sure you do not need to buy any gadgets at the airport until you forget your airpod or charger at home. It gets worse if your flight is delayed and you have to wait for some time. Hence, it is important that you double-check your gadgets to make sure that you do not leave any of them behind.
Also, there are chances that you may discover new and enticing electronic devices at the airport. If you really want to get one, take note of the product and place an order online. You will be saving up to 34% according to experts.
Hence, gadgets are one of the things you should never buy at the airport.
2. Food and Drinks
Food, snacks, water and drinks are the easiest thing to buy on any trip. Ideally, they shouldn’t cost much but you will be surprised at how ridiculously overpriced they are at the airport. Stores sell bottled water at 200% – 300% of its original price.
The meals and snacks are also dear when compared to that in restaurants outside the airport.
So, it is advisable that you have a good meal before going to the airport. And if you love to have snacks when on the move, buy some from the stores around you before heading to catch your flight.
For water, you should travel with a water bottle so that you can refill it from the water sources available at the airport.
3. Foreign Currency
Sometimes, it is not until you arrive at your destination that you realize you do not have the currency of the country you are in. Even though it is among the things you should never buy at the airport people are often tempted to change their money at the exchange boots present at the airport.
Because these boots have little competition, they seize the opportunity to rip travellers off their money. Their exchange rates are usually very poor.
However, if you can exercise a little patience till you drive into town, you can change your money at a better rate.
4. Parking
Securing a parking space for your car is something you cannot avoid. However, you do not have to worry about this if you do not have a car. But if you do, be ready to spend a fortune on a parking lot at the airport.
However, you can avoid this by patronizing parking lots that are just around the airports. These privately owned spaces come at relatively cheaper prices.
Similarly, renting cars at the airport can be very expensive. Hence, it is important for you to make prior arrangements for a car before you arrive. Although you are not exactly buying the car or parking space, you will be spending on it that’s why they are among the things not to buy at the airport.
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5. Neck Pillow
Neck pillows are essential for long-distance flights. They help to keep your neck in a comfortable position and save you from neck pain. However, the neck pillows at the airport raise a number of concerns.
First is the fact that they are usually very expensive. Except you do not mind buying one at a ridiculously high price, you should get your neck pillow outside. Or you can DIY.
Secondly, the ones at the airport are sometimes inferior. If you do not have one already, you may be compelled to buy it despite its poor quality and high price. Another thing is that travellers may have tried pillows severally before you come to buy them.
6. Medicines
Medicines are one of the things you should never buy at the airport. So, if you are prone to motion sickness while travelling, your medicines should be one of the first things you put in your carry-on.
Also, you may want to put some basic over-the-counter medicines in your bag in case you need them. Plan yourself well so that you are not compelled to buy drugs at the airport. Else, you will be literally paying a huge price for your poor planning.
7. Gift Items
Thinking about getting gifts for your people from your country of visit? Do so before you leave for the airport. The stores there sell items like this at twice their prices. So, you can avoid the trap of these expensive stores by making all your purchases in good time.
Try not to be enticed by the new items you may see at the airport. If you have chosen the best gifts you can afford from the stores in town, then you should be contented with those.
Finally
Consider this some sort of travel checklist. So that whenever you want to go on a trip, you can look through your bag to make sure that the things you should never buy at the airport are all there.
You will be saving yourself from spending too much if you stick to this simple exercise.
If you found this list helpful, kindly let us know in the comment section below.
