JETTING THERE

AIRPORT SHOPPING - Browse ’Til You Board
Travel expert Johnny Jet picks his favorite airports for shopping.

I’m not much of a shopper, but my fiancée is, which I think makes me qualified to write a column on the best airports for shopping. Thanks to Natalie, who’s an editor and writer for Canadian women’s lifestyle magazines and websites, I now know which airports (and cities and specific streets, for that matter) have premium goods with the best deals.

Of course, even before I met her, I’ve always appreciated an airport that has a good variety of shops. I fly more than 100 times a year and often have a long layover, and I’m not the kind of guy to just hang out by the gate. I like to walk around and peruse the stores — especially now if I’ve forgotten to buy Natalie a gift.

So if you find yourself stuck in an airport terminal, hopefully it will be one of these standouts:

• One of my all-time favorites is London’s Heathrow Airport and Harrods in particular, where you’ll find accessories and products that are unique to the brand. I also love the Boots store to pick up tasty English candies and bottled water since they usually have a 2-for-1 deal on the latter. Heathrow’s Terminal 1 also features high-end names and specialty stores such as Burberry, Hugo Boss, Swarovski, Timberland, Links of London, and Omega. Note: Always pay in local currency. Many stores will offer to convert the price into U.S. dollars, but they take a hefty cut in the process.

• I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Copenhagen Airport. Not only are the teak wood floors super stylish and easy on the eyes, but you’ll also find a fine selection of shopping options such as a satellite Royal Copenhagen store, which is the city’s most famous. Other name brands include Gucci, Hermès, Montblanc, Burberry, and Ecco.

This is an excerpt only. To read this article in its entirety, pick up the current issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine.