How to get most at airport duty-free shops
Print Edition
FROM hot bargain tips to lists of cities’ specialties, Nie Xin explains how to get the most from duty-free shops.
How can a traveler miss the well-known duty-free shops at airports? To “shopaholics,” any major airport can be a mall.
There are many reasons to rearrange your schedule for some duty-free shopping, including top-line luxury brands, lower prices with tax-free offers, unique souvenirs and exclusive items.
Let’s check out popular airports with shops that deserve a look. Also, we offer some pointers on how to do the most efficient shopping in the minutes before your journey.
Shanghai, China
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Can’t miss: cosmetics
At Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Sunrise Duty Free provides some of the cheapest prices on beauty products and other retail products such as tobaccos, wines and chocolates.
On international top brands’ cosmetics and perfumes, prices are 50-70 percent of those in malls in the cities of China’s mainland, almost 10 percent lower than Hong Kong, which is generally regarded as the best choice for shoppers. Also, customers can find the latest beauty products, sometimes those that aren’t even sold in malls in most mainland cities.
Some mini travel packages of those beauty products are very popular — cute, practical and suitable for gifts.
The shops also can save purchases for local travelers when they shop before they leave the city, and will return in a couple of days. That makes it easier to relax on your trip without having to haul around what you’ve bought.
Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt International Airport
Can’t miss: leather products
Frankfurt airport is one of the busiest airports in the world given that it is a shuttle center in Europe, visited by people around the world who are transferring planes. The shops are the best place to spend a layover.
Bree, the German-made leather products brand, has retail stores around the world, but its shop at the airport has much lower prices, up to 30 percent lower.
Dubai, UAE
Dubai International Airport
Can’t miss: gold products
This is a good place to take advantage of lower import tax and zero sales tax policies, which help make Dubai a shopping heaven to people around the world. As more and more flights have opened in the city, the international airport has attracted more attention. Besides the Middle Eastern cultural elements strongly felt in the architecture and decoration in Dubai airport, it also is enjoyable for its shopping.
In addition to common duty-free products like perfumes, high-end cosmetics, handbags and clothes, with prices as low as half those of China’s mainland, the shops in the airport have electronic products, computers, carpets and many Middle Eastern goods.
The prices of gold and platinum products are almost 20 percent lower than in the Chinese mainland, and there are many attractive designs.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo Narita International Airport
Can’t miss: electronic products, Fancl
Narita has the most duty-free shops among all the airports in Japan. High-end international brands include Burberry, Gucci, Coach, Etro, Tiffany & Co, Celine and Bottega Veneta. The Hermes store is the biggest among world airports, and the products are the latest.
At Narita airport, it seems that you can find all the local snacks you want, including Japanese dorayaki, udon noodles, chocolates and cotton candy, as well as various sakes. You can indulge yourself right there or take them back for gifts. For those buying gifts, the careful packing and good service will leave you satisfied.
Seoul, South Korea
Inchon International Airport
Can’t miss: beauty products, ginseng health products, MCM
Inchon airport has three big tax-free shops — DFK, Lotte, and Shilla — that are well organized and well managed. There is good service in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.
Local beauty products are the first choice for many shoppers for themselves or as gifts. Faceshop, Laneige, Whoo and various facial masks provide some of the cheapest prices in the world. Also, sales promotions make prices even lower at times.
MCM, a local leather product brand, is worth buying for shoppers. Its products are about 20-30 percent cheaper than that in China’s mainland.
However, European and American brands at Inchon airport are not competitively priced compared with other cities or other airports.
Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong International Airport
Can’t miss: handbags, watches, sunglasses, health products
Hong Kong already is well established as a duty-free shopping mecca, with a wide variety of imported brands. You can get almost everything you want in malls in town. However, the airport shops are competitive and well stocked, and with the convenience factor, they are worth putting on your shopping schedule.
At Hong Kong’s airport, some of the travel packages of cosmetics are exclusive to the shops. There also are health products stores and local famous snacks shops at the airport. Eu Yang Sang, the health products chain featuring traditional Chinese medicines, has a shop at the airport and the prices are even lower than in Singapore, the store’s country of origin.
The airport shops make it easier to spend more time exploring the city without having to worry about shopping until you’re about to get aboard your flight.
Singapore
Changi International Airport
Can’t miss: tobaccos, Chanel, Estee Lauder, snacks
If the shops at international airports start to seem too much like the same thing, Changi airport, with more than 300 shops, can give you a fresh perspective. The shop Bengawan Solo has various South Asian cakes and snacks. Top Orchids sells fresh flowers and seeds. Cold Storage has international foods.
The airport also includes top worldwide luxury brands like Chanel, Gucci and Ralph Lauren. The collection is the latest.
Products made by the beauty brand Estee Lauder, and all the tobaccos, are the cheapest among world airport shops.
If you are the fan of Singaporean local jewelry brands, Lee Hwa has a store at the airport.
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