Airport shopping?

[seajen]

25 days and the hubby and I will be at CN!! This will be our first trip to Jamaica & CN and this message board has been most helpful in our planning, thanks everyone!

I'm wondering about buying gifts to bring back home...will I find comparable shopping at the airport as I would at the craft market or the nearby CN area? Cost-wise too? Also, should I wait to buy rum/rum cream at the airport(saw a previous thread that there is limited availability)? Thank you so much for the help

[Blondie]

I think you will find some nicer gifts at the craft market as well as the vendors who Couples allow to set up on the beach on Mondays. There are a couple of people who have wonderful wood carvings and there is a gentleman that sells the most wonderful leather sandals.

At the airport you are going to find the usual stuff, some of which you will see at the markets but I don't think you will find anything really special.

[RubiGal04]

I always love shopping at the airport while waiting to get on the plane home... they have gobs of shops... I always get a Jamaica colored hoodie sweatshirt and a few t shirts, and there are lots of mugs, hats, flip flops etc... so after shopping at your resort, save some money to buy a few things at the airport too before leaving for home.

[Chris]

I would definitely wait till the airport to buy the rum/rum cream and coffee. There are more than a couple of shops to get that at. A shortage would be an anamoly.

As for trinkets, tee-shirts, and such... perhaps even coffee, do that during your walks along the beach or on a shopping trip.

BTW... you've got to slow down and relax... you're not even there yet and you're wondering about shopping on you return trip!

[me]

The resort will have the crafty stuff to get plus T shirts. I bought the rum we brought back from the resort. They wrapped it in paper and we put it in our checked luggage. I had a carry on bag, so that Is why we did that. The Airport shops sell mainly t-shirts, flip flops and some other gifts. There is a Harley store and a Marley store there.

[mark527]

I think you will find some nicer gifts at the craft market as well as the vendors who Couples allow to set up on the beach on Mondays. There are a couple of people who have wonderful wood carvings and there is a gentleman that sells the most wonderful leather sandals.

At the airport you are going to find the usual stuff, some of which you will see at the markets but I don't think you will find anything really special.

My wife loves the hand made sandals she got for 20 bucks. Hand Made! Support the locals trying to make an honest living.

[Ruthjfj]

Mark257 is so right about the sandals. I bought one pair at CN that lasted 3 or 4 years - went all over the world in them and wore them through 3 summers at home. After a very high mileage they finally gave up and I then bought a second pair at CSA which I have worn for 2 years with virtually no sign of wear. I think I paid about £7 - 8 for them. I also bought a couple of pairs as gifts for people who had admired them. My daughter ( aged 17 at the time - imagine how picky she is) asked me to get her a pair. My partner chose a manly pair this time too and he finds them very comfortable.

From memory I think the sandal guy only comes on one day a week to each Negril Couples so you don't want to miss him thinking he'll be back another day.

[Denise&Dan]

My wife loves the hand made sandals she got for 20 bucks. Hand Made! Support the locals trying to make an honest living.

I too got a pair of sandals from the vendor on the beach in Negril. I absolutely loved them and last summer I tore one. I was so upset as I wore them to death for a few years. I would love to get another pair somehow. We have been to CTI since then but they just don't have anything like what I got at Negril.