That's about it for shopping, so pack wisely.
Everything is pretty expensive because it takes a lot of resources to get things to Antarctica.
 | Antarctica Shopping 
 
email to friend | help |
Antarctica Travel Guide
Sponsored Links for Antarctica Antarctica Cruise Antarctic Expeditions Luxury Condo Alternatives Antarctica Holidays Oceanfront Deal 50% Off |
 | Antarctica Shopping | Tips 1 - 10 of 16 |  | ||
Popular Shopping | Miscellaneous Shopping Tips | All Tips (16)
Sort By: Most Recent | Best Rated
 |  | ||
 | Souvenirs and that's about it |   |  |
 |  | ||
 |  on February 7, 2004 |
Many of the different countries' bases on King George Island and the Antarctic Peninsula have gift shops that sell souvenirs. The Chile's Frei base even has a post office where you can mail postcards. That's about it for shopping, so pack wisely. Everything is pretty expensive because it takes a lot of resources to get things to Antarctica. |
 |  |
| | ||
| Collectable Antarctic Coins | | |
| | ||
 |  on September 15, 2006 |
Internet shopping - you don't need to be in the Antarctic. In 2004, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Mawson Station in February 1954, the Australian (Perth) Mint issued a very limited edition of a special $1 coin. The total production run was limited to 7500 and they were made available only as high quality proof coins. The coins are 1oz of 99.9% pure silver with colour incorporated into the reverse side. They are 40mm across and come in a sealed clear plastic container, itself within a velvet lined metal case, that in a cardboard box (second photo). Now that’s packing! The coins come accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity and (to the best of my knowledge) are the first 'Antarctic' coins issued anywhere. It seems the initial “Mawson Commemorative” coins were so popular that further 'Antarctic' coins have been produced in 2005 (a leopard seal and pup) and 2006 (Edgeworth David Station). The following website is for the official sales outlet for the Perth Mint, where the coins can be ordered, though they may sometimes be found on Ebay, where I obtained mine. You will need to scroll down the webpage in the link to find the 2004 coin. The price of the 2004 Mawson coin has doubled since its initial release to a current $150A. |
| |
| | ||
| US Antarctic Program Stores | | |
| | ||
 |  on March 19, 2004 |
If you happen to visit an United States research station, make sure you have plenty of cash. And I mean cash. Don't count on being able to use credit. They have the normal assortment of tourist stuff there, mostly for the people that work there. Merchandise varies from cheap touristy crap to pretty good quality clothing. That isn't cheap. Plan on spending US$40 to US$75 for a shirt with the station logo embroidered on it. PATCHES- What can I say? I'm a patch whore. You'll find no shortage of patches at a US Antarctic Station. The stores sell them for US$5 apiece. I have around 30 from Antarctica alone. The real challenge though, if you find yourself at a USAP station, is to get patches that are not for sale in the store. Individuals that bring their own down usually don't bring a lot and they disappear fast. For example, the patch at the upper right in the photo (Operation Deep Freeze) was offered by a member of the NY Air National Guard's 109th AW. With only 100 to sell, they were gone in no time flat. Looks great on the left sleeve of my US Air Force A-2 Aviator's jacket. A few hundred bucks. Easy. I can't speak for anything other than US research stations, though. I'm sure they are a lot more reasonable than any of these cruise lines charge for trinkets, though. |
| |
| | ||
| Antarctic souvenirs: a way to say I have been there |  | |
| | ||
 |  on August 11, 2003 |
Where there is a tourist--a souvenir shop will follow-- true even for Antarctic souvenirs The Chilean President Frei Base and their neighbor the Russian Bellinghausen Station and more South, the Great Wall Chinese Base, all have a place to buy souvenirs. T shirts, hats, cups, stamps. I now am a proud owner of the Chile Antarctic flag for my bedroom. a beautiful photo, post card to mail from Antarctica. or Antartica t shirts in Spanish Russian or Chinese. I found you could use dollars to pay for things at every one of the country's bases which made it easy also euros are welcome. If you like to collect passport stamps like I do you also get your passport stamped (free) at all the bases which is great. It seems some countries still claim part of the Antarctica and like to thing things like passport stamps and postage stamps make the land claim more valid. And, you can send a card or letter from say the Chile Antarctica, Russian Antarctica or Britsh Antarctica. You should send a card to VT for the wall had I only known. Oh about $10.85 |
| |
| | ||
| British Antarctic Territory: Stamps from Antarctica 4 | | |
| | ||
| on June 4, 2006 |
King Edward Point, South Georgia shoot of the post office at King Edward Point, South Georgia. All new stamp issues together with First Day Covers for the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Shetland Islands, and the Falkland Islands are obtainable from Sovereign Stamps, the retail arm of the Britsh Crown Agents Stamp Bureau. Sovereign Stamps Crown Agents Stamp Bureau Old Inn House 2 Carshalton Road Surrey SM1 4RN United Kingdom Stamps may be ordered on-line from Sovereign Stamps. Mint stamps, first day covers, and information are also available from: The Philatelic Bureau GPO Stanley Falkland Islands South Atlantic |
| |
| | ||
| Stamps French Terres Australes et Antarctica: Antarctica Stamps | | |
| | ||
| on August 10, 2003 |
Many of the national bases sell stamps.For those VT stamp collectors a number of nice stamps are available some very nice stamps have been issued by the British Antarctic, New Zealand's Ross Dependency, the Australian Antarctic Territory, but for sheer consistency of good design, pleasing colors and superb production my vote goes to the French from the T.A.A.F. which includes Terre Adelie, the Crozet Archipelago (annexed in 1772), and other sub-antarctic islands such as Kerguelen and St Paul & Amsterdam Islands the collection for 2003 is avalible for about 15 euros |
| |
| | ||
| Port Lockroy | | |
| | ||
 |  on December 25, 2006 |
The only "shop" that I got to see was at Port Lockroy. This is a closed down military base, that has now reopened as a museum. They do have badges, T-shirts and little souvenirs like that, plus they have the only post office in Antarctica!!! Unfortunately the shop was not opened for the season, when we were there in November, the staff was expected to come on December 15, 2003 - so no shopping for me!!! |
| |
| | ||
| New Zealand Antarctica stamps Ross Depency: Antarctica stamps 3 | | |
| | ||
| on August 10, 2003 |
New Zealand Antarctica stamps on line a few NZ bucks |
| |
| | ||
| Arctowski Base | | |
| | ||
| on December 25, 2006 |
As far as I heard, they do have a small shop at Arctowski Base as well. I was only told by other passengers, because the landing was cancelled after the second group was there because of bad weather conditions.... We did get a stamp in our passport, though - which is the most unusual souvenir of all!!! |
| |
| | ||
| ....: Ship Store | | |
| | ||
 |  on March 15, 2007 |
MS Explorer has a mall souvenir store. You can get T-Shirts, pullovers, fleeces...etc. with the Explorer logo. Postcards are available (but you can get nicer ones in Ushuaia) and so are maps (very popular) and books. The ship store does not sell stamps nor does it have a post office (makes sense) Also, they don't sell convertes...memory cards...and such.... The bar (besides drinks) sells - Snickers and Bounty ($1 usd) and Toblorone (4$ usd) If you want munchies - Ushuaia has the best chocolate of South America (mmm, they do). Postcards. ...it's Antarctica. |
| |
 | 1 | 2 |  |
 |  |
More Antarctica Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 101 - Photos: 94 |
| Restaurants Tips: 29 - Photos: 25 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 44 - Photos: 40 |
| Things To Do Tips: 395 - Photos: 389 | Nightlife Tips: 44 - Photos: 42 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 37 - Photos: 36 | Tourist Traps Tips: 8 - Photos: 6 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 50 - Photos: 39 | Transportation Tips: 66 - Photos: 64 |
| Local Customs Tips: 48 - Photos: 45 | Packing Lists Tips: 35 - Photos: 25 |
| Shopping Tips: 16 - Photos: 13 | Sports Travel Tips: 11 - Photos: 10 |
| |
 |  |
More Sponsored Links for Antarctica
Sustainable Resort
Your own private villa awaits you at Florblanca Reserva.
The Mark Hotel - New York
Offering Luxury Hotel Living. Super Elegance on the Upper East Side
Beach Hotel
Save on Hotels in Durban With Expedia's Best Price Guarantee