Male Airport Souvenir Shopping Guide đ„łïœ50% Cheaper Than Resort Island
After 15 days of lounging on Maldivian resort islands, we dragged our suitcases into Male Airport on the last day. We thought weâd only be rushing to catch our flight, but the airport souvenir shops pulled us inâturns out, theyâre hiding a "money-saving surprise": the same shark tooth necklace that costs $25 on resort islands is only $12 here; the coconut shell tray Iâd been eyeing at the hotel gift shop for $80? Itâs $35 on the airport shelf... We ended up going crazy at the chocolate shop, grabbing five boxes as giftsâaffordable and impressive, no regrets. đ Airport Souvenir Shops: A "Budget Paradise" Beyond Security Male Airportâs souvenir area is tucked in the duty-free zone after securityâno need to stress about finding it: after customs, follow the "Duty Free" signs, and youâll see a row of bright stores. On the left, handcrafts (shark teeth, coral decor, island-themed jewelry); on the right, snacks and gifts; and the chocolate specialty shop is at the far end. Price shock: Comparing to resort island gift shops, airport prices are generally 50%+ cheaper. For example, a sea turtle keychain thatâs $15 on the resort is $8 here; a hand-carved coconut shell fridge magnet thatâs $40 at the hotel is just $18 at the airport. A clerk explained that resort rents and shipping costs drive up prices, while the airport, as the "last stop," keeps pricing friendlier. đ« Chocolate Shop: The Best GiftâTasty and Easy to Carry We focused on the chocolate shop in the endâsnacks are the safest bet, and the packaging is gift-ready. The shelves are lined with "island-flavored" chocolates: Coconut Dark Chocolate ($38/box): 70% dark chocolate mixed with ground coconut. It starts slightly bitter, then coconut sweetness bloomsâlike biting into a Maldivian beach. The box, printed with blue-and-white waves, made colleagues gasp when opened. Mango White Chocolate ($20/box): White chocolate with mango bits, sweet-tart and not cloyingâgreat for those who donât like bitter chocolate. Small, individually wrapped pieces with tiny sea turtles printed on themâperfect for passing out to friends. Mini Mix Pack ($7/bag): 5 flavors (coconut, mango, almond, caramel, original). Cheap and ideal for office coworkersâone bag splits into 10 pieces, unbeatable value. We sampled the coconut dark chocolate and immediately grabbed two more boxesâway better than the "gift sets" at resort restaurants, and with a 10-month shelf life, no worries about spoilage. đ Shopping Tips Timing: Arrive at the airport 2 hours early. Leave 40 minutes after security to shopâdonât be like us, nearly missing the flight while sprinting to the shuttle bus with armfuls of chocolate đ. Must-buy list: Besides chocolate, shark tooth necklaces ($12-15, with black/purple cords), hand-painted coconut shell trays ($35-50, great for snacks or decor), and island-themed candles ($25/bottle, coconut and seaweed scents are spot-on) are top picks. Payment: Accepts USD, credit cards (Visa/Mastercard), and some shops take Alipayâno need to exchange too much local currency. Boarding with a bag full of gifts, it felt like the trip was complete. The resort islands gave us sea views, but the airport souvenirs let us tuck a piece of that paradise into our luggage. Got questions? Drop them in the commentsâIâll answer every one! #MaleAirport #MaldivesSouvenirs #TravelGifts #AirportShopping #MaldivesTravel