How to Find the Best Souvenirs on Vacation
by Jenny Javitch, Founder of Global Game Plan
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Buying souvenirs for friends or family members can be both fun and meaningful. However, it can be overwhelming and stressful at times too.
Souvenirs are in the eye of the beholder, which means that if you want to give the best souvenirs, you must be intentional about it. I thoroughly enjoy buying souvenirs for myself and others, and after gifting souvenirs from my trips around the globe, I’m happy to share my tips for how to find the best souvenirs on your next vacation.
Follow these travel tips which will guide you through souvenir shopping before, during and after your vacation so you can find the best souvenirs and become an awesome souvenir-giver.
Before Your Trip: Souvenir Ideas to Prepare in Advance
The simple secret to buying souvenirs is to prepare in advance.
So… you’ve already planned your vacation (or you hired Global Game Plan to do it), you’re in the process of packing, and you’re definitely feeling ready to get out of town. This is the perfect time to complete one final step – thinking about your souvenir shopping. The goal of planning in advance for any part of your trip is that you spend your vacation time enjoying the moment, and souvenir shopping is no different. Of course, it’s great when you randomly find something on your trip that’s the perfect souvenir for your friend, family member or significant other, but this isn’t always going to be possible.
The old adage of, “it’s the thought that counts,” definitely rings true, but if you have that thought in advance this process can be smoother, stress-free and consistently successful! So, a few starting points:
1. Make a list of people for whom you want to buy souvenirs – and don’t forget to add yourself to the list.
Personalize your list by including the types of things they like.
Find out if anyone on the list has a travel souvenir collection (e.g., pins, stickers, figurines, snow globes, keychains, souvenir spoons, etc.)
2. Set aside a general budget for your travel souvenirs. Souvenir giving doesn’t have to be expensive, but little things can add up – so it’s a good idea to have this as a part of your travel budget.
3. Include some time on your itinerary for shopping – or at least wandering around in a market that’s already on your must-see list.
4. Do some research on where you can buy high-quality souvenirs from your destination.
Read your handy travel guidebook, specifically the “shopping section” to help identify some local stores.
Check the internet to find some unique locations where you can find gifts in that country.
5. As you finalize your packing, consider how much extra space you will have for additional souvenir items to bring home.
6. Souvenirs for yourself – Do you already have a souvenir collection, or would you like to start something to remember your travels? If you have empty space on a wall or shelf, that could be the perfect place for a travel souvenir.
7. Familiarize yourself with ethical issues related to souvenir shopping.
Buying Souvenirs on Your Trip
Once you’ve arrived in your destination, it’s time to tour the town and include some shopping stops!
Types of Souvenirs
Bringing home a souvenir for a special person in your life is about sharing your memories of travel with them, or reminding yourself about the best parts of your trip. You can be on the lookout for these types of souvenirs during your vacation:
Cheap souvenirs – souvenir shot glasses, a souvenir t-shirt, flags, fridge magnets, pens, snow globes, pins, patches, stickers and other items you can find at a souvenir gift shop.
Useful souvenirs – a deck of cards, coffee mugs, key chains, coasters, Christmas ornaments, bath soaps and salts, essential oils and kitchen accessories
Consumable gifts or edible souvenirs – local spirits, beer, wine, herbs, spices, coffee and tea
Postcard souvenirs
Sending a postcard while you’re on vacation is the best way to show a loved one you are thinking of them on your travels. If you are on an international trip, be sure to buy a stamp when you purchase the postcard (and specify which country you are sending it to so the postage amount will be accurate).
You can also send a personalized postcard souvenir through the TouchNote smartphone app! Take a vacation photo with your smartphone, add some text, and this company will mail a hard copy postcard anywhere in the world for a flat fee.
Related: Travel with a Flat Stanley
Unique souvenir ideas
Souvenir items such as maps, home décor and jewelry, especially those that are authentic and handmade, can be a special gift for someone back home.
Something in the local language can be a fun souvenir gift. For example, if your best friend loves Coca Cola – pick up a can with the local language and bring it home.
International currency...you might not even need to shop for the gift of notes (bills) and coins but remember to plan ahead – no one wants to run out of cash on their international trip.
Think about buying souvenirs that you can frame after you arrive home – not just posters and prints but tapestry, scarves, and handmade pillowcases.
Create a family tradition around a souvenir. For example, if you plan to visit the U.S. National Parks, you can buy the National Parks Passport and receive a stamp every time you visit a different park. Or buy a deck of cards from every city you visit as a family.
Can’t think of any souvenir ideas that feel unique? Instead of a souvenir shot glass at a cheesy gift shop – buy a beer, wine or whiskey glass from a local brewery, winery or distillery. Or, buying a souvenir t-shirt made by a local brand instead of from a cheesy gift shop is a great way to shop both uniquely and ethically. Bottles of wine are a great gift for the wine lover, but harder to transport, so consider a handmade wine stopper made with recycled materials as an alternative.
Pro tip: Be sure the souvenirs you are buying are legal both in the country you’re visiting and your home country. Learn more: Sustainable alternatives to the most unethical souvenirs.
Where to Buy Souvenirs
During the course of walking around your destination, taking tours or enjoying your vacation activities, you may conveniently come across souvenir gifts– also feel free to ask your tour guide! On the other hand, if you want to intentionally seek out travel souvenirs, check out these common places you can find the best souvenirs, either for yourself or someone special.
Museum Gift Shops – Did you love a particular painting, or one of the museum exhibits, and want to save it as a travel memory? Finding specialty souvenir items in the museum gift shop is a great place to get something…especially if the museum didn’t allow you to take photos of the exhibits.
Craft Fairs and Local Markets - give back to the community in which you are traveling and search for souvenir items made by local artisans or designers. If you purchase goods such as tapestries, artwork that can be rolled up, or handmade pillowcases, they can be easily transported and then framed back at home to create a more formal gift. Grab a business card from the artisans so you can buy something else online later, or (with their permission) take a photo of them standing next to their products, which can add to the personalization of your souvenir. Read more: How to Bargain in Foreign Countries
Visitors Centers – you know it’s a sure thing they will have some travel souvenirs…and you can find some more local activities and sign up for some tours while you’re there.
If you have some free time in your day, ask Google for “souvenirs near me.”
As a last resort, you can buy something at the airport before takeoff or during a long layover. There is always the Duty Free shop and recently, some airports have been including more “local shops” as opposed to the typical gift shop – and then you’re already past security so you can bring the gift with you on the airplane.
How to get your travel souvenirs home
Some higher-end gift shops will ship things for you, or you might get lucky and find a Fed Ex, UPS or DHL office nearby to ship it yourself, but the most likely scenario is that you’ll be bringing your treasured souvenirs home in your luggage. Very delicate or expensive items you should bring home in your carry-on, but larger, heavier, or less breakable items try to fit in your checked luggage (but wrap them in packing cubes or clothes for protection).
This practical guide to getting all your souvenirs home and the tips below will help you figure out what to do:
Bring an extra duffel bag with you in case you come home with too many souvenirs
Buy special packaging, in advance or at the souvenir shop. If the wine store offers bubble packaging, take them up on it.
Remember to check the customs regulations and TSA website to determine where your souvenirs should go.
After Your Trip: Gifting, Storing and Showcasing Your Souvenir Items
It’s time to give away your souvenir gifts – this is the fun part! To include some special touches on your souvenirs:
Think creatively about your travel souvenir display. You can use a shadowbox for souvenirs like ticket stubs and postcard souvenirs, or put them in a travel journal! Try framing a few prints together, use a deeper frame for canvases and pillowcases or even showcase your tapestry as a main piece on your wall.
Wrap your gift using local newspaper or printed publication to put on a special finishing touch!
You can never go wrong with creating a photobook or other fun photo souvenirs/gifts as a way to relive your travel memories and experiences.
Enjoy your souvenirs until it’s time to take the next trip and begin the process all over again! Happy travels, and happy souvenir collecting and giving!
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