Gate-side grab at Terminal 3
Right in Terminal 3 past security, CNBC Smart Shop works as your quick stop for snacks, drinks, and last‑minute basics when you don’t want to stray far from the gate. Think standard airport pricing: expect to pay around $3–$4 for bottled drinks and $2–$5 for packaged snacks. It’s set up more like a newsstand than a full store, so you can dart in and out between boarding calls.
This is a news and snack shop first. You’ll see the usual national magazine titles, paperback bestsellers, and a wall of chips, candy, and nuts. Coolers carry soft drinks, bottled water, and some energy drinks; coffee is usually from a self‑serve machine rather than a barista setup, so budget 2–3 minutes, not 10. If you’re looking for a sit‑down meal in Terminal 3, you’ll have to walk to one of the nearby bars or fast‑food spots instead.
CNBC Smart Shop also carries basic travel gear: neck pillows, earbuds, phone chargers, and small hygiene kits. A basic lightning cable tends to run around $15–$25, and those neck pillows often sit in the $20–$30 range. That’s more than downtown Fort Lauderdale, but about normal for an airside shop at FLL. You’ll usually find a small rack of FLL or Florida T‑shirts and keychains if you need a quick souvenir before a JetBlue or Delta flight out of Terminal 3.
Watch timing around early morning departures: around the 6:00–8:00 a.m. bank, lines can stack 6–8 people deep with folks grabbing coffee and water at the same time. The practical move is to hit the shop right after you clear Terminal 3 security, buy a big bottle of water and any snacks you want, then head to your gate and stay put until boarding starts.