Newark may lack the tourist appeal of neighbouring New York, but residents of the Big Apple often give the city’s conveniently located airport, Newark Liberty International, the thumbs up over the larger, better known New York JFK. Travellers rate Newark Liberty’s excellent transport links • the airport is well connected by train through the Newark Airtrain and road via the New Jersey Turnpike • and often claim the airport is less busy than JFK, easier to navigate and switch flights at.

The layout of Newark Liberty is certainly logical enough • there are three terminals (A, B and C) arranged in semi-circular fashion, and connected with the handy Airtrain, which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and carries nearly 2 million people a year. Moreover, at least two of the three terminals offer a solid and varied selection of shops and restaurants • here is our guide to the best of what’s on offer.

Terminal A (United Airlines)

Terminal A is unusual for boasting a duty-free store run by a family-owned firm, EJE Travel Retail. It claims to offer price savings over the local market of anything from 10-50% and certainly stocks a good selection of liquor, including some high-end line such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, Ketel One vodka and Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac.

Cigarette brands sold include Camel, Marlboro, Embassy, Lucky Strike and Senior Service, and there is also a range of cigars from names such as Villiger, Davidoff and Montecristo. The selection of fragrances and cosmetics brands is extensive and too numerous to list here, but readers can browse the range, and enquire about specific prices and promotional offers at www.ejeretail.com.

Finding toys or gifts for children at airports can be a real struggle for time-poor, guilt-stricken parents, but happily Terminal A does boast a toy store, Creative Kidstuff (near entrance to Gates A30-39). It is a bright, colourful and award-winning outlet, piled full of fun, but educational toys about the natural world, as well as books, t-shirts and art materials.

Bookworms and newshounds will be happy to learn that Hudson News has multiple outlets in this terminal, while Papyrus is a handy outlet to visit if you need to pick up a birthday card for friends of family (near entrance to Gates A20-28). In the same location is Airport Wireless, your port of call should you need new headphones, a phone charger, memory cards and other mobile phone accessories (www.airportwireless.com).

Terminal B (Delta Airlines)

A $325m modernisation programme is underway in this terminal, which will eventually see new ticket counters, better baggage screening, and a whole lot more retail stores. Hooray to that as the line up of stores in this part of the airport could do with a bit of a makeover.

EJE Travel Retail runs the duty-free stores in this terminal too and has no fewer than four shops at Gates B40-47, B50-58, B60-68, and finally near the entrance to Gates B60-68.

Elsewhere, Hudson News has multiple stores throughout the terminal both airside and landside, while the InMotion Entertainment outlet at Gates B60-68 stocks a decent range of MP3 players, digital cameras, camcorders and computer games. For a browse to see what’s on offer check out www.inmotionstores.com.

Ever wanted a President Barack Obama bobblehead, a 2011 Sarah Palin calendar or a Ronald Reagan commemorative t-shirt? Thought so, well just in case you change your mind, head to the America store near the entrance to Gates B40-47 for patriotic American clothing, jewellery, books, music and toys (see http://america-store.stores.yahoo.net/index.html for more details).

Terminal C (Continental Airlines)

Terminal C is Continental’s international gateway and a relatively new building, having opened an extension in 2001. It is now a three-level terminal with two levels for departures and boasts an excellent selection of over 45 shops and 36 restaurants, including fashion and accessories boutiques from the likes of Guess/Hugo Boss, Swatch, Lacoste, Coach and MAC.

Swiss travel-retailer Dufry runs the duty-free concession in this terminal and has three stores at Gates C74, C107 and C120 respectively. Other stores selling beauty products include both the ethically-minded Body Shop and the Provence-inspired L’Occitaine, which are located airside near the C-1 Checkpoint.

Gadget Express (near Gate C132), a family-run store, sells the usual range of consumer electronic accessories, but gets mixed reviews from frequent travellers in terms of price and customer service. BlackBerry users will be pleased to learn that a new BlackBerry store has just opened in the terminal, while a new one-stop electronics shop Bluwire 1 is set to open its doors later in the year.

For a better class of gift or souvenir we recommend the excellent Metropolitan Museum of Art Store near GateC120, which sells an attractive collection of books, wall art, sculptures, jewellery and home furnishings (see https://store.metmuseum.org ). Best-sellers under $30 include a Tiffany Peacock Feather ballpoint pen at $30, an Egyptian Collar t-shirt also at $30; an Aesop’s Fable Pop-up Book at $27.99 and finally a Leonardo Da Vinci: Journal of Inventions Pop-Up Book at $24.95.

Tax Free Travel Guide to ......

• United States Customs Allowance and Exemptions
• JFK International Airport
• LaGuardia Airport

Related external links ......
Newark Liberty international airport website: http://www.panynj.gov/airports/newark-liberty.html
Terminals A and B online shops and restaurant guide: http://www.shopnewarkterminalb.com/default.aspx
Terminal C online shops and restaurant guide: http://www.shopnewarkterminalc.com/default.aspx