Please indulge me for a moment, as I’m curious if this is actually a common product sold at airports and I’ve just been living under a rock, or what…
In this post:
Vibrator for sale in Madrid Airport vending machine
While walking through Madrid Airport (MAD) this morning after my Riyadh Air flight, something caught my eye. There was a “pharmacy” vending machine airside, which isn’t unusual, in and of itself, as I’ve seen this concept at many airports.
It’s not like I stopped and looked, but when you’re walking through a terminal you’ve gotta look somewhere, and I must have glanced at the vending machine for a couple of seconds.
I noticed a variety of condoms for sale, which just kind of made me chuckle. I understand they serve a “medical” purpose, but in the context of an airport, they don’t seem particularly necessary. You’d think most of the things in a pharmaceutical vending machine would be things you might need at the airport or in the immediate future, like tampons, medicine, sunscreen, etc. (though this was the Ryanair terminal, so based on some of the stories I’ve heard, maybe condoms are an immediate need?).
Then my eyes were drawn to something else next to the condoms. Not that I have any personal experience with this, but I also wasn’t born yesterday, so I noticed something purple that sort of looked like… you know, an eggplant. Hey, that’s a vibrator!
They were selling the Durex “vibe rocket pure fantasy.” Okay then…
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen sold at an airport?
I don’t usually scour airport vending machines and shops looking for the most surprising product I can find, so that got me curious. Is this some rogue Spanish vending machine, or are vibrators frequently sold at airports?
I’ve often seen condoms for sale in those cigarette-style machines inside men’s rooms in airports in Europe. But vibrators and more? That was a new one for me…
But again, I haven’t really been paying attention, so it’s possible this is actually common, and I’m just the idiot who hasn’t noticed. Anyone have any insights?
Bottom line
You don’t typically think of airport retailers as being sex shops, especially pharmaceutical vending machines. However, at Madrid Airport I came across a vending machine selling condoms (not that unusual), along with vibrators and lube. I’m curious, is this a one-off thing, or is this more common than I realize? If it is, do they sell even more “interesting” things than that, or…?
Suffice it to say that after arriving from Saudi Arabia, this was all quite a culture shock — wine in a Priority Pass lounge and a vibrator on my way to the gate? Dorothy, we’re not in Riyadh anymore!
Anyone have insights on this unique vending machine offering?
Interesting. I guessed is was Japan before reading your article.
Good, good, good vibrations?
Try the shrink wrapped chicken feet from Chinese airport vending machines. Tastier and more nutritional then Spanish condoms!
Not that uncommon. There are condom vending machines in the toilets of BRU and AMS (and probably many more European airports)
These are literally sold in supermarkets in the UK... it's not a big deal. They also must be selling or they would've been removed from the valuable real estate of the vending machine.
Target market is likely people who are hand baggage only, don't want the potential embarrassment of it being seen on the x-ray and don't fancy trying to find somewhere to buy one at their destination OR immature men who want to buy one for their buddy as a joke.
Tsk! What you refer to as the Ryanair terminal at MAD is Terminal 1/2, used by the vast majority of non-Oneworld airlines.
FRA used to have a full sex shop in the lower level landside. Not sure if it's still there.
A bit surprising but I like the idea.
Shocked no one here has mentioned vending machines in Japan. You name it and they have it in one machine or another.
I usually buy condoms at the pharmacy. Not sure where else they're sold.
In the UK the main condom suppliers used to be barber shops. When your haircut was finished, the code question asked of you was “would you like something for the weekend, sir?”.
Christ, I’m old…
Thanks @The nice Paul. I'm British and thought I was old too. I've heard that phrase many times but never knew where it came from. Every day's a school day!
Perhaps it is people can be ready to enjoy themselves when they get to their hotels wherever they are going. ♂️
Strangest thing I have seen for sale at an airport is while I was transiting at PVG they sell live Chinese mitten crabs in the int'l transit terminal. The crabs are fairly large and are all tied up. I believe these are often purchased as a gift for realtives. I just wonder do these crabs get checked in with luggage? Are they carry on approved? Do they get placed in the overhead bin? Just seems like such a huge hassle not to mention the smell.
Back in the day, Shanghai Hairy Crabs were brought aboard all the time. Tied up; gifts for people in Hong Kong. On CX once, some got loose. Best entertainment on CX ever!
Saw the same thing in Canada when transiting either through Halifax or St. John's with (I think it was) lobster. People kept them in boxes under the seat in front.
I was there last month. Sould have paid more attention to the machines, LOL.
Maybe there are people who do not want to risk getting it through the airport security.
First time I went to Saudi Arabia, I flew directly from there to Miami (via DOH). Even though I lived in Miami (Brickell no less), the cultural differences still hit me lol
Americans are so prude and conservative
The main point here is that sexual health and sexual gratification are basic human rights, as promulgated by the UN Convention on Human Rights. On the opposite side of it are backward conservatives and religious fanatics, who deny their own bodies
@Ben: A parapharmacie in France or parafarmacia in Spain refers to health, beauty, and hygiene products that do not need a medical prescription, such as skincare, vitamins, and cosmetics so condoms and lube totally fit into this and if you feel horny coming after your longhaul flight(s), well it helps...
So if I need to buy a serious medicine in these countries, where would I go ?
You’d go to a pharmacy, not a parapharmacy.
I recall a vending machine in the street in Melila, Spain, that read like a story if you looked at the shelves and read top down.
Top shelves: sex toys and help for in bed, like lubricant.
Below: contraception like condoms.
Below that: baby food.
That's exactly why 50,000 Islamic fundamentalists just crossed into there. Those things are not available in their native lands.
They are sold in Pharmacies in the US, although I’d think that having them in a US airport might cause some consternation.
They are sold in the rooms of the Thompson Madrid, so I can’t say I’m that surprised.
I mean, most of this stuff is available in high end hotel rooms at the minibar nowadays. Or shit, you can get UberEats or Doordash to deliver lmao. Sex is normalized.
The Standard Hotel in Ibiza City has it for sale in every room. Maybe you should visit and write a review. Otherwise a good hotel by the way.
„Travel Pussy - Masturbationshilfe für unterwegs“ („ Travel Pussy - A masturbation aid for when you're on the go.“)
Where: Mens restroom in front of the LH & BA Lounge at Stuttgart Airport (before the area was closed)
I assume it's just the standard assortment for these pharmacy vending machines, without anyone giving consideration to this one being in the airport. Or perhaps the demand just is there - people going on a holiday, lonely business travellers and whatnot.
I'm here for the product review.
Me three.
V**g.ra at the Cancun airport post-security.
Viagra is not a dirty word.
It's usually flagged by spam filters.
I have always been more surprised by what cannot be found in an airport. I recall a few years ago flying out of CMH (not a mega hub but certainly not a small airport) and not being able to find a pacifier for sale anywhere in the airport. I assume the store owners understand demand for things better than I do, but someone shopping for a pacifier at an airport seems like they would be fairly price insensitive.
The battery must be approved for air travel? Don't want to to explain why your tote is smoking.
Europeans are a lot more sex positive than Americans. People in the US might be more flashy culturally, but realistically the average person in the US is quite conservative about these things.
Well, if "yoloswag420" says so...
T1 airside in MUC, right before the non-Schengen area started, used to have a full Beate Uhse sex shop, with interesting window displays. The hilarious part was that it was right next to the men's room, and there was a secret entrance there. Unfortunately, while the boys were slipping in and out of the back door, the women had no choice but to use the front door for their inflight entertainment.
Now you know why seat manufacturers are putting doors in business class.
Got through the whole post thinking this was in Riyadh airport. Obviously it’s a bit less surprising in Madrid, but yea that’d be a first for me in an airport.
Bah! Was gonna say, KSA is really... 'coming' ...along.
A bit more wholesome, but I love the LEGO vending machines in a bunch of airports!
Maybe for British women going to Madrid on bachelorette parties
You've literally just landed from S. Arabia, there's no shortage of countries where that kind of stuff isn't widely available in shops and lots of people wouldn't feel comfortable asking for it at a pharmacy with the help of Google translate to Bahasa Indonesia or whatever.