The Best $20 You Can Spend at the Airport
Written by
Jordan Rosenfeld
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Airports are spaces where you can find yourself spending a lot of down time in between your travels. Whether you’re an anxious early arriver, are stuck due to delays or just give yourself a good amount of time so you don’t have to rush, many people can spend hours, or even much longer, in an airport.
Because you’re there a long time, it can be easy to overspend. Part of the problem is that airport prices tend to be high because apparently running a business in an airport is more expensive than your typical real estate, according to Marketplace.
However, not all airport spending is a bad thing. If you are going to spend money on anything in the airport, what are some of the best ways to spend $20? Here are a few ideas.
Duty Free Items
A lot of airports offer “duty free” items — meaning you won’t pay extra tax on bringing these items back home if you’ve traveled internationally. Items you can buy include such things as perfumes, skin care, alcohol, tobacco, fashion and souvenirs.
A Meal at a Good Restaurant
Restaurants have come a long way from a few paltry little kiosks offering food — now, many offer truly great dining, and not all of it at exorbitant prices. According to Conde Naste Traveler, you can often find a great meal with local flavor for $20 or under (for one person). Look for authentic or unique spots over chains.
A ‘Get Sleepy’ Starter Kit
If your travel involves any stretch of time where you might want to be sleeping, consider investing in a “get sleepy” starter kit including an eye mask, some ear plugs and an travel-sized package of something like Tylenol PM or Unisom to help you sleep. In most airports, you can probably find these items for around $20 or under.
A Reusable Water Bottle
If you don’t already own one, get yourself a reusable water bottle once you hit the airport. While you aren’t allowed to bring more than 3 ounces of liquids through security, once you’re in the airport, you can bring as much as you can carry on board the airplane once you’re already in the terminal. Many airports have filtered water filling stations, and even if they don’t, you can ask for water on board the plane and keep extra in your bottle. This way you won’t spend money on plastic bottles that contribute to plastic pollution as fewer and fewer plastic bottles are recycled.
A Good Book
While more people than ever have some form of electronic device with them as they travel, not the least of which is a phone, time spent on board a plane can be some of the most peaceful time to catch up on reading an actual book. Most airports have bookstores or stores that sell books in addition to snacks, with chart-topping contenders awaiting your interest.
A Meaningful Gift
While airports do abound with impulse buys you might not really need, they also are often full of interesting shops selling unique gifts you truly can’t get anywhere else. From cool area-based T-shirts to artisanal chocolates and a lot more in between, you might just find the perfect gift for $20 or less in an airport.
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