Belfast International Airport (BFS) is the largest of Belfast’s two airports, George Best Belfast City Airport being No2, and is also Northern Ireland’s busiest.

easyJet is Belfast’s largest operator; Aer Lingus also has a hub here. Other major carriers include Jet2, Thompson Airways, Thomas Cook covering the UK and Europe and United Airlines (formerly Continental) that operates services to New York Newark Airport.

Belfast International has one terminal building with Arrivals downstairs, Departures upstairs.

It has a good selection of shops and eateries, and an above average choice when it comes to shopping.

For refreshments, there are several coffee shops and fast-food outlets, plus the Lagan Bar and Strangford Kitchen and Grill for something more substantial. In Departures, the sleek new Fed and Watered café serves up its freshly cooked local produce and award-winning wines with mesmerizing runway views.

There’s a Superdrug and a WHSmith, for those last-minute travel essentials and holiday reading. Visit The Irish Quarter to take a little bit of Ireland home with you, from handcrafted Belleek pottery and Killarney crystal to an edible treat from Butlers or Fosters • Northern Ireland’s chocolatiers. For uniquely Irish fashions, browse the exquisite cashmere, silk and wool garments at the Patrick Francis boutique.

For your high-end luxury purchases, set aside some quality time for the delights of Les Boutiques Duty Free. What will it take to tempt you inside…the great offers on tax free spirits and alcohol including Smirnoff Red Vodka, Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon and Sailor Jerry Rum or perhaps the huge savings on tobacco products from B&H and Camel cigarettes to the fine Cuban cigars of Partagas, Cohiba Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo?

You’ll probably follow your nose into the perfumery, where the exotic and floral new-release scents from Cacharel, Christina Aguilera, Burberry and Calvin Klein float past mingle with the masculine, woody colognes of Marc Jacobs, Diesel, Emporio Armani and David Beckham Homme. The duty free store also operates a convenient Collect on Return service, if you’d prefer to enjoy your purchases after your holiday.

If heading to one of Belfast International’s prime holiday sun destinations, your precious eyes will need some prestige protection, so browse this season’s designer sunglasses. Sports eyewear comes from Oakley, Bench, Nike and Maui Jim, with subtler styles at great tax-free prices from Guess, Boss, D&G, Tiffany and Oliver Peoples.

Les Boutiques Duty Free has myriad skincare and anti-ageing solutions from Garnier and La Mer to Amala, Jurlique and Lancôme. For safe or self-tanning, pocket a bargain on St Tropez or Piz Buin or if your cosmetics collection is looking weary, give it a high-class revamp with rich new eye shadow and lip colour shades from Dior, Too Faced, Nina Ricci and MAC. To keep it neat and keep it chic, opt for an exclusive-to-travel compact from Estée Lauder or Urban Decay instead.

One product guaranteed to set anyone’s eyes a-smiling • whether Irish or not • is jewellery. At Belfast International, and there are some good brands that vie for your attention. Choose from a Pandora bracelet; the silver and gold rings of Cartier, the stainless steel and leather urban creations of Diesel and Fossil; or the stackable rings and sparkling cubic zirconia earring and necklace sets of Crislu and Pierre Cardin. For something a little more exclusive, seek out the travel-retail specialists, such as Aeon, Carlo Gioielliere and the boxed gift sets of Buckley and Toscow.