I always buy magnet strips sticking on fridge when I get to a new place. Strips of city skylines or wild landscapes. My fridge door is my wall of travelling.
When my wife and I went to Europe, she bought nice things that we had shipped home and I just took pictures. The photos bring back the memories of where we were and what we did.
Jenny Nicole I’m happy they went and understand some peoples joy in giving you a small remembrance but save your money, I’ll do my own travelling and pick my own remembrance. It’s always something I hope my kids want when I’m gone. Not poop souvenirs.
I agree. Postcard or something to eat is much better gift from travelling. I bough souvenirs for my friends only once, when I was in paris and i bough little eifell towers, because its iconic. But when i came from turkey, i brought one portion of salep powder (traditional drink) for each one.
Postcards mailed to friends and family are, in my opinion, excellent souvenirs --- as long as you make writing the postcards feel personal. Do not write something quick and lame, like: "Having a great time! Wish you were here!" I write to six friends when I travel and I have always imagined being a travel writer. So, I fill the postcards with detailed descriptions of what I did on a certain day; or, an unforgettable experience; or, a surprising bit of serendipity. On my recent three-weeks holiday in Alsace, France, I mailed six postcards each to my six friends, and they love everything about them. They love the colour photographs and the beautiful postage stamps and my lengthy traveler's tales.
+Ats Johannes Kaup Me aswell! They do not need much space in ur bag and aren't that expensive but u still have a cool thing to remeber every place u have been to! :)
+Ats Johannes Kaup Totally agree about the magnets! They're great. And also getting the little plates with names of each country and the different cultural landmarks on it isn't bad either. At least the small plates can fit inside your bag and won't break if you wrap em up like the post office packages. ;)
I do the same. There's a few countries I didn't' get magnets from when I first started travelling. The other little things I've gotten a few times for the counties I really liked was mugs. But they are for myself
I love the "don't buy for other people tip." I went to Japan with my mom, and it was her first time going on a big trip like that, so everyone at her work was super excited for her. So she bought chopsticks and some snacks for everyone, and NOBODY appreciated the thought. And then one of her coworkers made a specific request for anything from his favorite anime, and she got something for him thinking he would pay her back, and he was obviously disappointed with what she got and never offered to pay. Like you said, people don't understand how expensive and bulky things are when traveling, and they usually don't appreciate what you get them anyway.
I have a story that I can totally relate to this. I bought a pocket tool that I wasn’t allowed to bring back home to the Midwest from Florida by the TSA so they seized and destroyed it for the flight back. Hey at least I learned my lesson not to buy pocket tools or knives for my teacher. I know it sounded very unpleasant and mean, but it’s better safe than sorry. This was back in February 2017 when I was 18 years old. I was in my senior year of high school at the time, but even though I wasn’t able to send the gift to my English teacher, he was still very nice to me and exempted me from the quizzes I had missed during the week prior. I still graduated in late May, 2017. See? You should NEVER bring a weapon to school! That’s dangerous!
I sometimes like to buy things that wouldn't be considered souvenirs. My husband bought my a gorgeous set of knitting needles in Juneau and now I think about our trip every time I knit. :)
I'm a pin collector, so wherever I go, I try to get pins. Relatively cheap, easy to pack, and I can look at my collection and just remember everywhere that I've been and any memories that come from that experience.
I buy cods of music I hear in cafes, bars, etc. I just ask the local staff what is playing..and I try to buy it at a local cd store...least to pack and when I play the music at home I am magically transported back to my vacation.
Local accessories are really great to buy. They're small, lightweight, usually not very expensive, help support local craftsmen, and something you will continue to use when you get home. For example, in Florence I bought several leather bracelets because I loved all of the leather goods they had there in the market. They were made by a local artist, they only cost a few Euro, and it was fun getting to use my Italian to haggle over the price :)
I'm terrible at haggling (so I bring a friend with me that knows how). I love ceramics -- but I almost always ship them home. I love scarves, and most Europeans are amazing with scarves, and they pack well -- so yea, that. Definitely look at it and consider -- will that fit into my life or has it been a bucket list item? As a Norwegian American I've wanted another sweater and a Hella knife for ages -- but... far too expensive. Oh well. But, with my lovely family we finally saved up to have our honeymoon trip (~15 years later). I got an enormous amt. of photographs and explorations, excellent food, museums, interactions with folks and sailing up one of the most beautiful coasts in the world -- stunning! Physical gifts -- good wool socks with the flag, some little carved reindeer antler pieces for gifts, a reproduction casting of an ancient image of the god Thor, a Nordkap sticker, a small stone from atop a mountain, and a really neat book about the history of the Lofoten Islands. And a scarf. That was a bit different than living, traveling and working in Greece -- Over the years I collected and brought back a lot of seashells and little stones, a little bit of silver, some sea salt and dittany I collected, frankincense and saffron (super inexpensive), archeology books, old brass plates, a couple of small ceramics, a traditional Gk Orthodox incense censer, a little brass oil lamp, some glass beads. And -- my second home, the best job of my life, my friendships, and ultimately... my family. Travel is so very important, and I recommend to spend more time in a smaller space.
I always buy Christmas ornaments, or ornaments that can be used as that - that way I have a little reminder that I see every year when I decorate my Christmas tree... Here in Denmark we put our hearts and memories into Christmas decorations, and I personally don't use color schemes when I decorate... My tree is always very colorful and I have decorations that I've bought overseas, some we've inherited , some the kids made through the years and some beautiful once from expensive stores besides some from ikea... And every year I decorate my tree listening to Christmas music while taking a little walk down memory lane;)
Tilman Baumann this is so true. I stumbled across your videos because of your straightfoward title and how accurate and helpful it was! so thank you, keep them coming :)
I love buying everyday things as souvenirs - every time I put my make up on with my danish cosmetic brushes, I have a little denmark with me. Or (modern) clothes - it doesn't have to be traditional, the modern sweater will remind me of the holidays where I bought it as well. And I can wear it every day. So go for practical souvenirs! Paintings are great as well - but my walls are way too small for all the great paintings I could by! Such a shame :D And then I have this lovely glass pearl necklace I bought as a young teenager, 20 years ago, in Italy ... still love it.
I bought Le Creuset vintage 3-in-1 sauce pan and pot with lid. This was during a month in France. It was the beginning of the American recession and the dollar was low. So, I made one meal a day in it in Paris. I love that Le Creuset.
I like to get Christmas ornaments. If it's the wrong time of year, that's okay. Get a bigger keychain, take the key-ring off and it becomes a Christmas ornament.
I'm the same way, Christmas ornaments really help me remember my trips, even cheesy ones like from WDW, the best double as figurines you can put on a mantle as well..
I have been buying Christmas ornaments since our honeymoon (29 years) on every trip we go on.....we now have a travel tree every Christmas.....it is so fun trimming the tree every year! I also buy small sketches....from local artists!
I went to Ronda, Spain and it is a city highhhhh up on the mountains. It felt almost isolated and there were only trees below it to be seen. In a little old shop I found a painting of this city on its mountains high above tall trees. I bought it because it takes me back to that long bus ride and seeing this incredible view :)
That is a wonderful kind of souvenir. You can hang it on your wall and tell stories about it to friends and family. I am hoping to visit Ronda in a few years. I recently discovered some of my Floridano ancestors are from there and I want to try to learn more about the place. But first I need to learn Spanish. I would love to hear about your visit.
My sister once brings me back a very nice black pearl necklace from Vietnam. She gave it to me at Christmas telling me ´you know that I never buy you trinkets when I travel but when I saw this I thought that you will prefer that one gift to a bunch of trinkets’. I thank her twice. Once for the beautifull gift and a second time for not giving me gift all the other time she travel.
+Aoderic I'm from Italy (Rome); the flag for use on see is commonly sold in sailors'shop in any harbour; they are made in a whool-like material and they show a beautiful coat-of-arms; in Neaples (southern italy) I bought one for € 25, dimensions 70x120 mts.
My favourite souvenir is my wool tartan scarf from Scotland. I use it every day during the winter. To your point, save your money and buy something for yourself that you will really enjoy.
My boyfriend and I love to collect shot glasses. They’re small and lightweight too just got to make sure they’re packed right. I’m going to also start doing Christmas ornaments. I’ve seen travel vloggers do it and thought it was a really cool idea!
I collect shot glasses too for much the same reason. Small and lightweight makes it easy to bring them back and also easy to put a lot of them on a small shelf.
Actually, I have a very nice kimono from my travels and it hangs on the wall in my bedroom. It's beautiful. I bought it with the intention of hanging it on the wall.
I collect shot glasses. Everywhere I travel, I get a shot glass. I have them from Buenos Aires, Paris, Venice, Rome and Florida among other places. Best part is they fit anywhere in my luggage
For those who are asking for such a thing (if you don't intend to get one for yourself), just say that it would pose a problem and just get them that little shot glass. Of course this is a first come first served basis. If you say intend to give gifts to all (or most) of the people working in your section or your work friends, then you give yourself your own cutoff for what you would give them, especially if they are asking for too much. Then of course if you can't possibly give all the things they ask for, then you just pick one. Everyone else can get a random gift.
My best souvenirs are clothes, not traditional clothes, but regular clothing items. When I wear them it reminds me of my trip, but they're everyday items I can wear anytime so it's useful. I think getting useful things is the key to avoid long-term clutter! Local alcohol is also a good souvenir for me.
I have a huge postcard collection! The family knows exactly what to get me! Plus they mail it to me so no carrying it around. I buy photo albums to keep them in now that I can't travel anymore I flip through the albums and I'm back on the trip in my memories! Stay Safe
When we went to Ireland a couple years ago, my husband and I invested in merino wool Irish sweaters. They're a lot more expensive than other souvenirs we could have purchased, but they are super high quality and we can use them half the year where we live! It was one of the most practical souvenir purchases I've made :)
I'm glad I saw this video. So true when I think about it now. Don't need to buy stuff for co-workers, friends, and neighbors. It's a lot of work and adds up in spending for souvenir stuff that holds no meaning for them because they did not go there. You are the one who went there... just buy stuff for yourself and maybe immediate family members. I'll remember this on my next trip. Thanks!
We have bought: beautiful tapestry cushion covers in France and small locally made wall hangings (quite expensive). Less pricey things have been: small hand-made ceramic plate from Spain (watch weight), tea towels with pictures of harbours/maps etc from Britain and Italy (these are really good quality some of them are 18 years old and still going strong and I'm reminded of the place every time I wash the dishes!) A beautiful fan from Spain - I still use mine sometimes! Colourful London Underground map picture on pillowcase or teeshirt for children. Aprons from France or Italy with pics of bread or wine or cheese on them - these are also good quality and great for using at the barbecue, we use ours a lot. We bought my father-in-law a tie in Paris which he loves (though my husband wouldn't be seen dead in it lol!) - it has pic of the Eiffel Tower on it, but we knew he'd love it! All these things weigh next to nothing, don't take up much space and are good remembrances because they can be used. When we were living in Europe for a couple of years, our 9 yr old son collected small soft toys of animals of the countries we visited but that we don't have in NZ, eg squirrel, beaver. Another good one is picturesque carry bags/shopping bags, I still use a couple of mine even after 20 years. We also have bought some lovely Christmas decorations from Germany a couple of times (small and light). Small scenic calendars are good too. We never buy souvenir stuff like keyrings, mugs (too heavy) ornaments etc. Good books are nice but generally too heavy. All these things are nice but memories & photos of people you've met and things you've experienced are the best! We also take some typically NZ souvenirs with us to gift to people who host us or that we make friends with (Wayne's wife)
Good advice. Other basic rules I've found useful when buying things overseas: 1: Dont buy anything bigger than your hand (unless you'll ship it home that day) 2: Develop a theme to your souvenirs, like snowglobes or magnets. 3: Only buy clothes you know you'll wear. 4: Don't buy things that need warranties, because following up on a foreign purchase is near impossible.
i always buy magnets with the name of the country or city in it. my fridge is full of magnets from the places i have visited. we used to buy shot glasses but they take up space once you have accumulated a lot of them. i also sometimes buy wood carved objects. i got one from egypt and from canada and they sit on my table or on my door way. i guess another good advice is to think of where you might put it in your home before buying it. i always have a place for something so i always think hard about its placement. maps i collect too. put them all over my bathroom wall.
Yes, postcards all the way! I was hoping you would say this! People LOVE them because it's personalized, easy to keep/hang up, and they actually will keep them forever. One of my favorite travel buys is a clay Afro-Ecuadorian mask that I hang on my mask. The people in that community were so kind and so inspirational and whenever I look at it, it reminds me of their strength and hospitality. 😊
My boyfriend and I always get a refrigerator magnet and a Christmas ornament from the places we go when we travel. I love seeing the places we have been together every day! We also love to reminisce about our trips every year when we decorate the Christmas tree! Cheap and meaningful!
I buy tea towels, although I don't drink tea I use them in my kitchen because I love to cook. They are light and unique for each place I have been. Each time one rolls into the rotation I always think about the great food I had there where I got it.
We always buy tea towels (that I think are called dish towels in the US). There can be very cheap, colourful and long lasting reminders of a good holiday. And very easy to take home. We do have lovely framed photographs of New Orleans and New York. Thanks for your videos Mark, always helpful. Cheers from the UK.
I also purchase $10 art on the street. I have some from many states, including Hawaii. You can't beat a one of a kind item. I framed mine as well, for around $40. And I usually ship them home, which also costs a bit extra (frame them after I get home, just ship them home). But, that is a one of a kind piece. I think it's just fine to spend $40 to keep an item saved, especially a one of a kind item like that.
During my trip to Sussex and Kent, I mostly bought packaged non-perishable foods to share with my family, along with two new books I found for low prices at an antique shop.
It's funny how you contextualize things to fit our lives. I grew up in Delaware and Kent and Sussex are two of three counties there and when I read this I thought "why would anyone by souvenirs from there??" Haha? HAPPY TRAVELS
My maid went to Tijuana and brought me back a enormous sombrero and a four foot tall shot glass. I was shocked but tried to be as gracious as possible and thanked her profusely for thinking of me. Every time I saw her after that she would ask if I was getting a lot of use of the gifts. How much use can an 81 year old woman get out of something like that? Wish she would have watched this video and taken notes. There was certainly no need for her to spend her money on souvenirs for me! Very kind of her though.
Blanca W I think the #1 reason was you to see her with good eyes," quedar bien con los jefes" latino mentally, hoping for a little pay raise . When you see those items you probably think wasted money but at the end not really, you provided money to a small vendor in Tijuana that he can support his family.
When we travel we actually like the cheap little things. 2:17 only magnets though of the places we've been. They are fun to look at. We got a big metallic whiteboard and put them there to look at in one part of the living room. Those are cheapy souvenirs that don't take much space to bring back and they are cool. We've had many for over 10 years and still have them.
The most common thing I buy for myself are books usually about the sites that I am seeing. I have also bought cheese with no problem. When I have been in Ireland there is a cheese monger in Dublin that vacuum packs the cheese for me. I have never been stopped. I have done this also on the last day that was in Ireland. I really find that most other things that are sold as souvenirs are really just junk.
Excellent advice. The things we do buy is something to use as a Christmas tree ornament, as we have a tree with nothing but things we acquired in our travels. Its great to remember our trips every year when unwrapping them. We bought a coocoo clock in the black forest, but had it shipped. That was the one thing we really wanted.
I get one thing the place is known for eg a glass item from murano, ceramics in turkey, leather from morocco etc then I get fridge magnets eg clogs and windmill ones from amsterdam, waffle ones from belgium, a nefertiti head from egypt, ships from greece. They take up NO space and they add that touch of "homeyness" lol to my kitchen. They are threatening to take over the fridge now, so I want to put metal strips or a frame on one of the walls to put them all in.
I always buy a scarf (and a jersey, depending on my budget) of the local football team. This is especially fun when I go to a place that do not have a mainstream football team and I get something that I can't find online easily
This is sneaky, buy your trinkets at a secondhand store in your town. I collect coffee mugs, usually pay a quarter a piece and they saw Grand cannon, Wisconsin dells, etc. I have a German beer stein collection, all marked. I usually pay ten bucks or less for them.
That's perfect hahahaha sounds like something I would do, here you go I bought this vintage stein while I was in germany for you enjoy(when in reality I just bought it at the thrift store down the road).
Totally agree. Additionally, I try to avoid buying things that can break/deteriorate while traveling, like glass or ceramics. I also consider the weight of the items when I evaluate if buying them or not: if I have two similar items, I always pick the lightest of them, something that won't make my luggage heavier. I only buy clothes for others if I positively know for sure they will fit; otherwise, you have to give them to somebody else, because it will be just impractical to change or returning them.
"Oddly enough there's not really a lot of, you know, Australian cattle ranching, sheep ranching clothing needs in central Illinois." It's gems like these why I keep coming back to this channel.
I really love having shot glasses from the places that I visit. The are great conversation starters when I serve drinks in my house, specially if the person is visiting my house for the first time, also bonus points for being inexpensive and easy to carry.
hey there :) nice video :) after bringing home some stuff that now successfully collects dust at my parents' house, i've come up with the best souvenir option for myself - i buy a piece of clothing or accessories from a random non-souvenir shop. it can be pair of earrings from street artists, a bag, sandals, or a simple tshirt. and whenever i wear it it brings awesome memories, so that's another idea :) i also drink coffee without sugar, so i just pick up that little pack of sugar in each country (and now friends even bring some for me from their travels as a free gift), so a big bunch of them are going to be turned into a mosaic coffee table and a picture to hang on a wall one day :)
We always try and look for a Christmas ornament from every place we visit. It's so fun at Christmas when we start decorating the tree and the whole family is reminded of all the places we've been.
I also bought a flag and other stuff in Portugal. The great thing that there is a shop near Camoes Square in Baixa-Chiado which undertakes shipping. Alright then. I did not want to worry about my drinks. I bought a bottle of port wine, Madeira wine and ginjinha. They said it would arrive in 3 days to Hungary. Nope. It arrived in three WEEKS! I paid 83 EUR in total. This is a really good deal. Really good. What you really SHOULD take home with you is the RECIPES of some local food. Something simple.
I like the magnets and t-shirts. I got an awesome Harley Davidson t-shirt when I went to Cambodia. It means a lot to me since the shop was new and I was the first American to stop in there since it opened a month or two before I visited. I like to collect the foreign money too.
Griffin Goss Mine is somethimg that belongs to the country or the are i visit. Example during my trip to akihabara in tokyo i bought an wonderswan. And during my trip to kamakura i bought an book about buddha.
It's not my must do thing. But, I quite often ended up buying cookbooks from the city/region. As for souvenir, I completely agree with wolterworld. I did also the very same mistake and nowadays, I always send the postcard.
Cheap travel tip: if you dab a little chapstick (not the glossy kind) on your eyeglass pads, they will stay in place and you won't have to fiddle with pushing up the bridge so much when speaking! :)
Refrigerator magnets for me. Small, light, inexpensive, easy to transport around. And, I enjoy looking at them on my fridge later. Brings back memories.
One nice thing you can do for your first thing you shouldn't do; buying things for other people. Instead of actually buying the item and carrying it back for them, you could take business cards, or, take a picture of the store/brand and send it to them. 99% of thing are shipped now a days. And you may find something really cool, and at least you could be able to let them know a good place to buy that quality item you saw.
Another reason not to buy the cheap souvenirs is that most of it isn't even made in that country. Nothing quite reminds you of your trip to Germany like a plastic beer stein with a "made in China" sticker on it.
Yeah, same, I’m just gonna buy stuff for myself when I travel this year. I love my friends but I’m a budget traveler so I’m trying to enjoy the experience. Also, I love postcards and necklaces! But some people I know don’t want a postcard they’re like “don’t send me one, that’s the worst gift” I at-least thought of you and wow that’s nice to say. So whatever, enjoy travel, save money but also splurge on things that are worth it and you’ll enjoy! ☺️
Coffee/tea cups. I love collecting them. Almost every where I have gone I have gotten a cup. And yes I do use all of them. My roommate has said to me "I can't even get made at you because you use them." Also, any money that I have left over from the trip. I have in a picture frame (if it wasn't the US).
I totally understandabout buying gifts for others. All my family received gifts of lacquer ware from Japan and bottles of saki, which later when they cleared out theirhomes, gave it all back to me. Hey, at least it didnt end up in some thrift shop being sold for pennies. Great video and so needed. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make and upload these experience to share with us.
I almost never buy anything unless I'm emotionally attached to something or if I feel like it's impressive enough which is rare. I personally just prefer collecting free travel pamphlets, maps and guides. The information I get from them is far more valuable than anything I could ever buy.
Oh yes! I totally save all my maps, guides, etc. Especially ones from museums. They are gold. I've been stranded a few times with enough to buy a toothbrush, one postcard and a stamp. I found a tourist map, wrote a commentary in the margins, addressed it and sent it home. "Hi mom! I'm on a brief layover in Barbados because our plane busted its hydraulics and we're in a hurricane. I'd send something more if I had taken up the offer to sell my flight suit but I think that'd get me in hotter water than the sweat rolling down my back."
I bought a sweatshirt/hoodie in Ireland. I am an American XL. Apparently that is not same as an Irish Xl. Got it home and it fit like a sausage casing. So my wife got a nice sweatshirt from ireland. Try it on to be sure you get the right size.
I really like the advice regarding getting gifts for people when you are away. I think it is incredibly rude for someone to ask to get them something when you are away. If someone has any idea what is like to travel particularly to Europe they should realize what an imposition that is to request that. I have never asked someone to bring something back for me. I usually find that it is not a close friend that asks this. I generally buy chocolates that are compact and easy to pack and people appreciate the thought.
For us Filipinos, the cultural mindset is slightly different as explained by Pasalubong en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasalubong. I'll be sending little gifts (aside from those requested already, like a T-shirt or shot glass etc) to my work friends whom I work directly with. Those who are friends who work indirectly might get something like a magnet or whatever. It simply boils down to what you have packed before your trip. If you can pack light, then you have plenty of space (and KG) for souvenirs and other goodies (like the food).
I buy patches and sew them into my denim jacket as I go , they are cheap, don't take up any space, and I get to look at them every time I wear my jacket, also they are a great conversation starter! For other people I bring back postcards
one thing you didn't mention not to buy are rare or endangered items, for example anything made from ivory. also to be aware of is not to take examples from nature. for example it is illegal to damage or take coral from the Great Barrier Reef (as well as being environmentally irresponsible) when visiting Australia. that goes for any other coral reef Australian waters.
Another Australian one not to take, is rocks from around Uluru (Ayers Rock)... It's not quite illegal, but I understand that most people who do this get ... ... 'uncomfortable' afterwards.
I don't always find one, but I like to buy cool oversized coffee mugs when I travel. They're very practical in my household, and I get to share when I have coffee with friends. My favorite is from New Orleans.
Not something I buy, but I photograph so much stuff while traveling. Huge vistas down to uber close-ups of architecture and flowers. Doesn't take up much space and I can do framed photo collages when I get home. Otherwise, I just eat, eat and drink while traveling. Want to try it all! I did collect patches and decals from places I visited at one point. So my luggage had them all over...and then the requirements to travel by air changed and I had to buy another bag to keep up. And no longer could travel with my "flair bag". So now I just refrain and photograph everything.
We buy a Christmas ornament, or something that can be used as one. We love decorating our tree and remembering our travels every year. We have a few cheesy ones, but mostly we're able to find nice little trinkets that look beautiful on the tree.
FelsinderBrandung92 it was a fun time. we were at a wedding in Langenargen. It was a good time. apparently the wedding will be on a wedding reality TV show later this year. No one told us though before we got there :) crazy time.
Also with traditional clothes: your body size changes over time, so it might not fit in a few years anyway. Usually when I travel, I leave the souvenir shopping to my last destination.
Do that if you want to buy for people like work friends. Then you can have the experience when you buy the tacky souvenirs for yourself and family members. But I won't be doing that sort of thing for a limited number of work mates who have already asked for souvenir gifts. I'll be packing light to make sure there's allocated space for their "gifts".
"not have to go overseas to buy it." What do you think, people go to, let's say, Paris, for the purpose of buying a Eifel Tower souvenir? Or people go to Switzerland for chocolate?
I like to find bookmarks anywhere I go. They're small, light, inexpensive, and my collection sits in a small box on my side table. I also like playing cards... also small, light, inexpensive. Fun to use when you get home. I try to find small local trinkets that I can use on my Christmas tree. Magnets, jewelry (including a charm for my bracelet), a postcard that can be framed (like maps), a coffee mug if I have the room, or an article of clothing. Mostly I take a lot of pictures.
I like to get a small piece of jewelry or street art made locally. I have recently started collecting tea/coffee cups as well. My throwback is a magnet with a photo of the city or country I am in. It is little and weightless and makes a great gift.
First I want to say I love your videos! very informative! My husband and I are going to Iceland in July and when I came to UA-cam for information I did not go any further than your channel. I might want to pick your brain on that later. I have been collecting pencils since I was young. Everywhere I go (Or when a friend goes somewhere) I always get a pencil, usually 3 because I have to have all the varieties of course! but Pencils are inexpensive and not bulky, so I never feel guilty asking a friend or family member to get one for me. My husband also collects flag patches for his backpack from everywhere we go. When my mom travels she always brings a pinch of dirt or sand back, she then layers it in a pretty glass container.
when I went to Florida I went to epcot (don't go unless you want to go to a Disney atraction with no rides) and I baught a wone of those big f*****g beer mugs that you can't and it turned out that I culdin't put it in the f*****g dishwasher because it ha a plastic picture of Mickey donold and guffy only used it twice while watching soccer
For me the only MUST whenever I travel, a magnet for me, and for my grandmother she collects magnets from where all her grandkids have been around the world (a lot). And a shot glass for my grandfather for his personal bar in his house, same idea but with shot glasses. And I always get a patch, magnet, and sometimes pin for myself. After that I'm usually home free.
Fridge magnets are my thing. I get one everywhere I go. Small, cheap and I love that my fridge is covered in them haha
I always buy magnet strips sticking on fridge when I get to a new place. Strips of city skylines or wild landscapes. My fridge door is my wall of travelling.
AthenaCannon
My niece from New Zealand does the same thing.
Magnets & mugs and that is about the cheap things we get. We love to have the "travel fridge" and mugs from around for our coffee.
AthenaCannon same
AthenaCannon mine also
We by the map magnet of a state we visit for the first time. They are cheap and every Walmart or airport has them everywhere. Nice memories, mostly.
Wanted to buy a Vespa when in Italy but it didn't fit in my luggage
What?!.. it didnt fit in the overhead bin? Or that one personal item? Darn it.. guess I have to return it then
lol
😂😂😂 Funny!
That’s it, we need folding Vespas
LMAO!
When my wife and I went to Europe, she bought nice things that we had shipped home and I just took pictures. The photos bring back the memories of where we were and what we did.
I hate when people bring me back souvenirs. I didn't go; so it doesn't mean anything to me. Why do I want to remember a trip I didn't go on?
Jenny Nicole agreed!
Jenny Nicole I’m happy they went and understand some peoples joy in giving you a small remembrance but save your money, I’ll do my own travelling and pick my own remembrance. It’s always something I hope my kids want when I’m gone. Not poop souvenirs.
Jenny I feel the same way. If I wasn't there is don't want a souvenir.
I agree. Postcard or something to eat is much better gift from travelling. I bough souvenirs for my friends only once, when I was in paris and i bough little eifell towers, because its iconic. But when i came from turkey, i brought one portion of salep powder (traditional drink) for each one.
I love when people get me magnets from different places. I collect them and put them on my fridge.
Postcards mailed to friends and family are, in my opinion, excellent souvenirs --- as long as you make writing the postcards feel personal. Do not write something quick and lame, like: "Having a great time! Wish you were here!" I write to six friends when I travel and I have always imagined being a travel writer. So, I fill the postcards with detailed descriptions of what I did on a certain day; or, an unforgettable experience; or, a surprising bit of serendipity. On my recent three-weeks holiday in Alsace, France, I mailed six postcards each to my six friends, and they love everything about them. They love the colour photographs and the beautiful postage stamps and my lengthy traveler's tales.
I have a wall full of magnets from differnent countries
+Ats Johannes Kaup Me aswell! They do not need much space in ur bag and aren't that expensive but u still have a cool thing to remeber every place u have been to! :)
+Ats Johannes Kaup
Totally agree about the magnets! They're great. And also getting the little plates with names of each country and the different cultural landmarks on it isn't bad either. At least the small plates can fit inside your bag and won't break if you wrap em up like the post office packages. ;)
thats awesome!! I saw a guy who had flag patches from all the countries he has been to sewn onto his backpack, it was really cool.
I do the same. There's a few countries I didn't' get magnets from when I first started travelling.
The other little things I've gotten a few times for the counties I really liked was mugs. But they are for myself
Aan B unless you're in Europe and they are marked "Made in China".
I love the "don't buy for other people tip." I went to Japan with my mom, and it was her first time going on a big trip like that, so everyone at her work was super excited for her. So she bought chopsticks and some snacks for everyone, and NOBODY appreciated the thought. And then one of her coworkers made a specific request for anything from his favorite anime, and she got something for him thinking he would pay her back, and he was obviously disappointed with what she got and never offered to pay. Like you said, people don't understand how expensive and bulky things are when traveling, and they usually don't appreciate what you get them anyway.
People are ungrateful at times.
I have a story that I can totally relate to this. I bought a pocket tool that I wasn’t allowed to bring back home to the Midwest from Florida by the TSA so they seized and destroyed it for the flight back. Hey at least I learned my lesson not to buy pocket tools or knives for my teacher. I know it sounded very unpleasant and mean, but it’s better safe than sorry. This was back in February 2017 when I was 18 years old. I was in my senior year of high school at the time, but even though I wasn’t able to send the gift to my English teacher, he was still very nice to me and exempted me from the quizzes I had missed during the week prior. I still graduated in late May, 2017. See? You should NEVER bring a weapon to school! That’s dangerous!
That was extremely rude of them.
@@robertjames6890how is bringing a pocket tool to school dangerous?
I sometimes like to buy things that wouldn't be considered souvenirs. My husband bought my a gorgeous set of knitting needles in Juneau and now I think about our trip every time I knit. :)
I buy sock yarn when I travel, "these are my Estonian socks!" etc.
Rachel Wood that’s so sweet of your husband to do! How considerate ☺️👏🏻
I'm a pin collector, so wherever I go, I try to get pins. Relatively cheap, easy to pack, and I can look at my collection and just remember everywhere that I've been and any memories that come from that experience.
I buy cods of music I hear in cafes, bars, etc. I just ask the local staff what is playing..and I try to buy it at a local cd store...least to pack and when I play the music at home I am magically transported back to my vacation.
nice idea 👍👍👍👍👍
That's cool lol
Sandra Hess Shazam
cod is cool. i love my cods pan fried with butter.
Sandra Hess: that is very cool
I've been traveling abroad for 30+ years. Wolters World is a nice UA-cam Channel with smart advice.
I'm a huge bookworm, so I try to collect various bookmarks whenever I go abroad.
What a good idea - they weigh nothing and pack flat and you can use them. I like this.
Useful, compact, and unique. I like it 📖
Right? I always goes to used book store when im travelling. I proposely choose the one people wrote their name on it
Very interesting
Smithy Chris You excited to promote anti-intellectualism?
Not only does buying stuff for people cost a lot, it takes a LOT of my valuable sightseeing time!
Local accessories are really great to buy. They're small, lightweight, usually not very expensive, help support local craftsmen, and something you will continue to use when you get home. For example, in Florence I bought several leather bracelets because I loved all of the leather goods they had there in the market. They were made by a local artist, they only cost a few Euro, and it was fun getting to use my Italian to haggle over the price :)
+soccerchamp0511 Price haggling for life! Sometimes I get a souvenir just for the purpose of haggling :)
soccerchamp0511 I got the most beautiful ring from turkey in silver and turquoise which reminds me of our trip whenever I see it
I'm terrible at haggling (so I bring a friend with me that knows how). I love ceramics -- but I almost always ship them home. I love scarves, and most Europeans are amazing with scarves, and they pack well -- so yea, that. Definitely look at it and consider -- will that fit into my life or has it been a bucket list item? As a Norwegian American I've wanted another sweater and a Hella knife for ages -- but... far too expensive. Oh well. But, with my lovely family we finally saved up to have our honeymoon trip (~15 years later). I got an enormous amt. of photographs and explorations, excellent food, museums, interactions with folks and sailing up one of the most beautiful coasts in the world -- stunning! Physical gifts -- good wool socks with the flag, some little carved reindeer antler pieces for gifts, a reproduction casting of an ancient image of the god Thor, a Nordkap sticker, a small stone from atop a mountain, and a really neat book about the history of the Lofoten Islands. And a scarf. That was a bit different than living, traveling and working in Greece -- Over the years I collected and brought back a lot of seashells and little stones, a little bit of silver, some sea salt and dittany I collected, frankincense and saffron (super inexpensive), archeology books, old brass plates, a couple of small ceramics, a traditional Gk Orthodox incense censer, a little brass oil lamp, some glass beads. And -- my second home, the best job of my life, my friendships, and ultimately... my family. Travel is so very important, and I recommend to spend more time in a smaller space.
I buy jewelry or scarves as souveniers. I remember the autumn fair in Basel every time I wear a certain pair of earrings.
I always buy Christmas ornaments, or ornaments that can be used as that - that way I have a little reminder that I see every year when I decorate my Christmas tree... Here in Denmark we put our hearts and memories into Christmas decorations, and I personally don't use color schemes when I decorate... My tree is always very colorful and I have decorations that I've bought overseas, some we've inherited , some the kids made through the years and some beautiful once from expensive stores besides some from ikea... And every year I decorate my tree listening to Christmas music while taking a little walk down memory lane;)
PS: Thanks for the non clickbait buzzfeed style video title.
It makes a difference.
Tilman Baumann this is so true. I stumbled across your videos because of your straightfoward title and how accurate and helpful it was! so thank you, keep them coming :)
Glad I could be good :) all the best on your travels!
I buy a silver charm for my bracelet from every place I visit. Takes up no space and I never get tired of showing it off. Each charm has a story!
I love buying everyday things as souvenirs - every time I put my make up on with my danish cosmetic brushes, I have a little denmark with me. Or (modern) clothes - it doesn't have to be traditional, the modern sweater will remind me of the holidays where I bought it as well. And I can wear it every day. So go for practical souvenirs!
Paintings are great as well - but my walls are way too small for all the great paintings I could by! Such a shame :D
And then I have this lovely glass pearl necklace I bought as a young teenager, 20 years ago, in Italy ... still love it.
I bought Le Creuset vintage 3-in-1 sauce pan and pot with lid. This was during a month in France. It was the beginning of the American recession and the dollar was low. So, I made one meal a day in it in Paris. I love that Le Creuset.
Annkathrin Hana Mond yes!! I have a Polish pottery spoon rest that sits on my stovetop & I use it everyday. I love the memories it brings!
I like to get Christmas ornaments. If it's the wrong time of year, that's okay. Get a bigger keychain, take the key-ring off and it becomes a Christmas ornament.
I do the ornaments also. I love when Christmas comes and you can put them on your tree
Such a good idea!
This is a terrific idea. Thanks for sharing.
I'm the same way, Christmas ornaments really help me remember my trips, even cheesy ones like from WDW, the best double as figurines you can put on a mantle as well..
I have been buying Christmas ornaments since our honeymoon (29 years) on every trip we go on.....we now have a travel tree every Christmas.....it is so fun trimming the tree every year! I also buy small sketches....from local artists!
buying paintings is such a wonderful idea that for some reason i never considered before!
I went to Ronda, Spain and it is a city highhhhh up on the mountains. It felt almost isolated and there were only trees below it to be seen. In a little old shop I found a painting of this city on its mountains high above tall trees. I bought it because it takes me back to that long bus ride and seeing this incredible view :)
That is a wonderful kind of souvenir. You can hang it on your wall and tell stories about it to friends and family. I am hoping to visit Ronda in a few years. I recently discovered some of my Floridano ancestors are from there and I want to try to learn more about the place. But first I need to learn Spanish. I would love to hear about your visit.
Another advantage of buying paintings is that you can take them off the frame and roll up the canvas.
My sister once brings me back a very nice black pearl necklace from Vietnam. She gave it to me at Christmas telling me ´you know that I never buy you trinkets when I travel but when I saw this I thought that you will prefer that one gift to a bunch of trinkets’. I thank her twice. Once for the beautifull gift and a second time for not giving me gift all the other time she travel.
i buy the flag off the country where i stay, its really nice and light
I have always planned it but
1. forgot it when I was able to buy one
2. i didnt find any
:"(
Same!
I love Flags, so I often buy them even though they often are expensive, they don't take up much space in my backpack so that's good.
That's what I do too. I take off the stick.
+Aoderic I'm from Italy (Rome); the flag for use on see is commonly sold in sailors'shop in any harbour; they are made in a whool-like material and they show a beautiful coat-of-arms; in Neaples (southern italy) I bought one for € 25, dimensions 70x120 mts.
Aoderic same i have a little vase full of my mini flags
My favourite souvenir is my wool tartan scarf from Scotland. I use it every day during the winter. To your point, save your money and buy something for yourself that you will really enjoy.
My boyfriend and I love to collect shot glasses. They’re small and lightweight too just got to make sure they’re packed right. I’m going to also start doing Christmas ornaments. I’ve seen travel vloggers do it and thought it was a really cool idea!
I collect shot glasses too for much the same reason. Small and lightweight makes it easy to bring them back and also easy to put a lot of them on a small shelf.
Actually, I have a very nice kimono from my travels and it hangs on the wall in my bedroom. It's beautiful. I bought it with the intention of hanging it on the wall.
I collect fridge magnets from every country I visit. Cheap, light, and a nice souvenir.
I collect shot glasses. Everywhere I travel, I get a shot glass. I have them from Buenos Aires, Paris, Venice, Rome and Florida among other places. Best part is they fit anywhere in my luggage
Now would you ask someone to bring you back 30 to 50 shot glasses because those liter beer steins are the equivalent to that.
Umm, no, because I don´t drink beer. And I only need 1 shot glass from each place to be content.
Vanessa Yaeggy
The point is idiots asking someone to bring back a huge liter stein is disrespectful.
For those who are asking for such a thing (if you don't intend to get one for yourself), just say that it would pose a problem and just get them that little shot glass. Of course this is a first come first served basis. If you say intend to give gifts to all (or most) of the people working in your section or your work friends, then you give yourself your own cutoff for what you would give them, especially if they are asking for too much. Then of course if you can't possibly give all the things they ask for, then you just pick one. Everyone else can get a random gift.
Plus you can use them at parties, just put a tspn of dip in the bottom and crudite in the glass to discourage double dipping.
My best souvenirs are clothes, not traditional clothes, but regular clothing items. When I wear them it reminds me of my trip, but they're everyday items I can wear anytime so it's useful. I think getting useful things is the key to avoid long-term clutter! Local alcohol is also a good souvenir for me.
I have a huge postcard collection! The family knows exactly what to get me! Plus they mail it to me so no carrying it around. I buy photo albums to keep them in now that I can't travel anymore I flip through the albums and I'm back on the trip in my memories! Stay Safe
Super idea for that purpose Happy memories xxx
I love bottle openers. I have a collection of a bunch of bottle openers from my travels because I like to drink a lot.
When we went to Ireland a couple years ago, my husband and I invested in merino wool Irish sweaters. They're a lot more expensive than other souvenirs we could have purchased, but they are super high quality and we can use them half the year where we live! It was one of the most practical souvenir purchases I've made :)
Yep love the sweaters at Blarney
I'm glad I saw this video. So true when I think about it now. Don't need to buy stuff for co-workers, friends, and neighbors. It's a lot of work and adds up in spending for souvenir stuff that holds no meaning for them because they did not go there. You are the one who went there... just buy stuff for yourself and maybe immediate family members. I'll remember this on my next trip. Thanks!
We have bought: beautiful tapestry cushion covers in France and small locally made wall hangings (quite expensive). Less pricey things have been: small hand-made ceramic plate from Spain (watch weight), tea towels with pictures of harbours/maps etc from Britain and Italy (these are really good quality some of them are 18 years old and still going strong and I'm reminded of the place every time I wash the dishes!) A beautiful fan from Spain - I still use mine sometimes! Colourful London Underground map picture on pillowcase or teeshirt for children. Aprons from France or Italy with pics of bread or wine or cheese on them - these are also good quality and great for using at the barbecue, we use ours a lot. We bought my father-in-law a tie in Paris which he loves (though my husband wouldn't be seen dead in it lol!) - it has pic of the Eiffel Tower on it, but we knew he'd love it! All these things weigh next to nothing, don't take up much space and are good remembrances because they can be used. When we were living in Europe for a couple of years, our 9 yr old son collected small soft toys of animals of the countries we visited but that we don't have in NZ, eg squirrel, beaver. Another good one is picturesque carry bags/shopping bags, I still use a couple of mine even after 20 years. We also have bought some lovely Christmas decorations from Germany a couple of times (small and light). Small scenic calendars are good too. We never buy souvenir stuff like keyrings, mugs (too heavy) ornaments etc. Good books are nice but generally too heavy. All these things are nice but memories & photos of people you've met and things you've experienced are the best! We also take some typically NZ souvenirs with us to gift to people who host us or that we make friends with (Wayne's wife)
Wayne Loveday agree. The best souvenir I ever bought was a beautiful wall tapestry of Van Gogh’s Irises from a small shop in Versailles.
Good advice. Other basic rules I've found useful when buying things overseas: 1: Dont buy anything bigger than your hand (unless you'll ship it home that day) 2: Develop a theme to your souvenirs, like snowglobes or magnets. 3: Only buy clothes you know you'll wear. 4: Don't buy things that need warranties, because following up on a foreign purchase is near impossible.
i always buy magnets with the name of the country or city in it. my fridge is full of magnets from the places i have visited. we used to buy shot glasses but they take up space once you have accumulated a lot of them. i also sometimes buy wood carved objects. i got one from egypt and from canada and they sit on my table or on my door way. i guess another good advice is to think of where you might put it in your home before buying it. i always have a place for something so i always think hard about its placement. maps i collect too. put them all over my bathroom wall.
Yes, postcards all the way! I was hoping you would say this! People LOVE them because it's personalized, easy to keep/hang up, and they actually will keep them forever. One of my favorite travel buys is a clay Afro-Ecuadorian mask that I hang on my mask. The people in that community were so kind and so inspirational and whenever I look at it, it reminds me of their strength and hospitality. 😊
My favourite souvenirs are memories. I rarely buy something physical.
or something cheap like a postcard. I have got a wall full of them.
Photos are good memories.
My boyfriend and I always get a refrigerator magnet and a Christmas ornament from the places we go when we travel. I love seeing the places we have been together every day! We also love to reminisce about our trips every year when we decorate the Christmas tree! Cheap and meaningful!
I buy tea towels, although I don't drink tea I use them in my kitchen because I love to cook. They are light and unique for each place I have been. Each time one rolls into the rotation I always think about the great food I had there where I got it.
+Rod Rodrigues good idea!
We always buy tea towels (that I think are called dish towels in the US). There can be very cheap, colourful and long lasting reminders of a good holiday. And very easy to take home. We do have lovely framed photographs of New Orleans and New York. Thanks for your videos Mark, always helpful. Cheers from the UK.
I also purchase $10 art on the street. I have some from many states, including Hawaii. You can't beat a one of a kind item. I framed mine as well, for around $40. And I usually ship them home, which also costs a bit extra (frame them after I get home, just ship them home). But, that is a one of a kind piece. I think it's just fine to spend $40 to keep an item saved, especially a one of a kind item like that.
I don't mind a fridge magnet but LOVE paintings and antiques. I think you are right that an item with real meaning is the way to go.
During my trip to Sussex and Kent, I mostly bought packaged non-perishable foods to share with my family, along with two new books I found for low prices at an antique shop.
It's funny how you contextualize things to fit our lives. I grew up in Delaware and Kent and Sussex are two of three counties there and when I read this I thought "why would anyone by souvenirs from there??" Haha? HAPPY TRAVELS
Going to Switzerland from Canada for the first time. I have become obsessed with your channel!!! So informative! Thanks so much.
My maid went to Tijuana and brought me back a enormous sombrero and a four foot tall shot glass. I was shocked but tried to be as gracious as possible and thanked her profusely for thinking of me. Every time I saw her after that she would ask if I was getting a lot of use of the gifts. How much use can an 81 year old woman get out of something like that? Wish she would have watched this video and taken notes. There was certainly no need for her to spend her money on souvenirs for me! Very kind of her though.
lovely story its pretty cool of her actually. your a cool chick
wow the cons of having a maid🙄
Blanca W I think the #1 reason was you to see her with good eyes," quedar bien con los jefes" latino mentally, hoping for a little pay raise . When you see those items you probably think wasted money but at the end not really, you provided money to a small vendor in Tijuana that he can support his family.
sounds like you're complaining about having a maid. hahahah
I could use a sombrero. I live in California.
When we travel we actually like the cheap little things. 2:17 only magnets though of the places we've been. They are fun to look at. We got a big metallic whiteboard and put them there to look at in one part of the living room. Those are cheapy souvenirs that don't take much space to bring back and they are cool. We've had many for over 10 years and still have them.
The most common thing I buy for myself are books usually about the sites that I am seeing. I have also bought cheese with no problem. When I have been in Ireland there is a cheese monger in Dublin that vacuum packs the cheese for me. I have never been stopped. I have done this also on the last day that was in Ireland. I really find that most other things that are sold as souvenirs are really just junk.
Excellent advice. The things we do buy is something to use as a Christmas tree ornament, as we have a tree with nothing but things we acquired in our travels. Its great to remember our trips every year when unwrapping them. We bought a coocoo clock in the black forest, but had it shipped. That was the one thing we really wanted.
I get one thing the place is known for eg a glass item from murano, ceramics in turkey, leather from morocco etc then I get fridge magnets eg clogs and windmill ones from amsterdam, waffle ones from belgium, a nefertiti head from egypt, ships from greece. They take up NO space and they add that touch of "homeyness" lol to my kitchen. They are threatening to take over the fridge now, so I want to put metal strips or a frame on one of the walls to put them all in.
I always buy a scarf (and a jersey, depending on my budget) of the local football team. This is especially fun when I go to a place that do not have a mainstream football team and I get something that I can't find online easily
This is sneaky, buy your trinkets at a secondhand store in your town. I collect coffee mugs, usually pay a quarter a piece and they saw Grand cannon, Wisconsin dells, etc. I have a German beer stein collection, all marked. I usually pay ten bucks or less for them.
That's perfect hahahaha sounds like something I would do, here you go I bought this vintage stein while I was in germany for you enjoy(when in reality I just bought it at the thrift store down the road).
Been to Austria twice snowboarding...mayerhofen and zelamzee,absolutely stunning country.
Magnets, especially from museums, are my go to souvenirs, followed by my favorite paintings as postcards.
Totally agree. Additionally, I try to avoid buying things that can break/deteriorate while traveling, like glass or ceramics. I also consider the weight of the items when I evaluate if buying them or not: if I have two similar items, I always pick the lightest of them, something that won't make my luggage heavier. I only buy clothes for others if I positively know for sure they will fit; otherwise, you have to give them to somebody else, because it will be just impractical to change or returning them.
"Oddly enough there's not really a lot of, you know, Australian cattle ranching, sheep ranching clothing needs in central Illinois."
It's gems like these why I keep coming back to this channel.
I really love having shot glasses from the places that I visit. The are great conversation starters when I serve drinks in my house, specially if the person is visiting my house for the first time, also bonus points for being inexpensive and easy to carry.
hey there :) nice video :) after bringing home some stuff that now successfully collects dust at my parents' house, i've come up with the best souvenir option for myself - i buy a piece of clothing or accessories from a random non-souvenir shop. it can be pair of earrings from street artists, a bag, sandals, or a simple tshirt. and whenever i wear it it brings awesome memories, so that's another idea :) i also drink coffee without sugar, so i just pick up that little pack of sugar in each country (and now friends even bring some for me from their travels as a free gift), so a big bunch of them are going to be turned into a mosaic coffee table and a picture to hang on a wall one day :)
Perfect!
We always try and look for a Christmas ornament from every place we visit. It's so fun at Christmas when we start decorating the tree and the whole family is reminded of all the places we've been.
I also bought a flag and other stuff in Portugal. The great thing that there is a shop near Camoes Square in Baixa-Chiado which undertakes shipping. Alright then. I did not want to worry about my drinks. I bought a bottle of port wine, Madeira wine and ginjinha. They said it would arrive in 3 days to Hungary. Nope. It arrived in three WEEKS! I paid 83 EUR in total. This is a really good deal. Really good. What you really SHOULD take home with you is the RECIPES of some local food. Something simple.
I like the magnets and t-shirts. I got an awesome Harley Davidson t-shirt when I went to Cambodia. It means a lot to me since the shop was new and I was the first American to stop in there since it opened a month or two before I visited. I like to collect the foreign money too.
My favorite souvenirs are coins and dollar bills from wherever I'm visiting!!
+Griffin Goss yeah. My kids love going through my old European money jars. It's funny when they find one and go IT'S PORTUGAL! :)
Griffin Goss
Mine is somethimg that belongs to the country or the are i visit.
Example during my trip to akihabara in tokyo i bought an wonderswan. And during my trip to kamakura i bought an book about buddha.
Griffin Goss I'm from Brazil. Would you like to swap some coins? Where are you from?
I was in the USSR in 1989 and got a copy of every Bill and coin I could. And Poland and East Germany. . So glad I did.
Yes! I still have my French francs from when I attended college in Paris... nice memories... 🍷
It's not my must do thing. But, I quite often ended up buying cookbooks from the city/region. As for souvenir, I completely agree with wolterworld. I did also the very same mistake and nowadays, I always send the postcard.
+Megumi M That's a good idea! I imagine the recepies would be more authentic to the place you visited.
Cheap travel tip: if you dab a little chapstick (not the glossy kind) on your eyeglass pads, they will stay in place and you won't have to fiddle with pushing up the bridge so much when speaking! :)
I'll try that one !
He's greasy enough, that's prob why they sliding off in the 1st place.
Thanks, I'm adjusting mine all the time. I'll certainly try it.
Refrigerator magnets for me. Small, light, inexpensive, easy to transport around. And, I enjoy looking at them on my fridge later. Brings back memories.
Lookin' super sharp in this vid....classy
Personally I love Christmas tree decorations I I can find them. Small and not too expensive. Nice little reminders of special trips.
One nice thing you can do for your first thing you shouldn't do; buying things for other people. Instead of actually buying the item and carrying it back for them, you could take business cards, or, take a picture of the store/brand and send it to them. 99% of thing are shipped now a days. And you may find something really cool, and at least you could be able to let them know a good place to buy that quality item you saw.
Earthling1984 Great idea, this way I’ll not feel guilty not buying for them what they asked for 👍👍
Thank you so much 🌹
That is a really good idea.
Magnets! Nice ones, its like a miniature art collection on the fridge of everywhere we’ve been
Another reason not to buy the cheap souvenirs is that most of it isn't even made in that country. Nothing quite reminds you of your trip to Germany like a plastic beer stein with a "made in China" sticker on it.
We buy Christmas ornaments. They're small & local. We have so much fun hanging them each year! Thanks, Wolters World!
Hi Mark, as an Aussie myself I did laugh about the ranch outfit. No one would wear that!!!
Alexis Scott me too! I’m from
Cairns and laughed so hard, I would love to see a picture of him wearing his ranch outfit
Yeah, same, I’m just gonna buy stuff for myself when I travel this year. I love my friends but I’m a budget traveler so I’m trying to enjoy the experience. Also, I love postcards and necklaces! But some people I know don’t want a postcard they’re like “don’t send me one, that’s the worst gift” I at-least thought of you and wow that’s nice to say. So whatever, enjoy travel, save money but also splurge on things that are worth it and you’ll enjoy! ☺️
Coffee/tea cups. I love collecting them. Almost every where I have gone I have gotten a cup. And yes I do use all of them. My roommate has said to me "I can't even get made at you because you use them."
Also, any money that I have left over from the trip. I have in a picture frame (if it wasn't the US).
I totally understandabout buying gifts for others. All my family received gifts of lacquer ware from Japan and bottles of saki, which later when they cleared out theirhomes, gave it all back to me. Hey, at least it didnt end up in some thrift shop being sold for pennies.
Great video and so needed. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make and upload these experience to share with us.
I almost never buy anything unless I'm emotionally attached to something or if I feel like it's impressive enough which is rare. I personally just prefer collecting free travel pamphlets, maps and guides. The information I get from them is far more valuable than anything I could ever buy.
Oh yes! I totally save all my maps, guides, etc. Especially ones from museums. They are gold. I've been stranded a few times with enough to buy a toothbrush, one postcard and a stamp. I found a tourist map, wrote a commentary in the margins, addressed it and sent it home. "Hi mom! I'm on a brief layover in Barbados because our plane busted its hydraulics and we're in a hurricane. I'd send something more if I had taken up the offer to sell my flight suit but I think that'd get me in hotter water than the sweat rolling down my back."
I bought a sweatshirt/hoodie in Ireland. I am an American XL. Apparently that is not same as an Irish Xl. Got it home and it fit like a sausage casing. So my wife got a nice sweatshirt from ireland. Try it on to be sure you get the right size.
I really like the advice regarding getting gifts for people when you are away. I think it is incredibly rude for someone to ask to get them something when you are away. If someone has any idea what is like to travel particularly to Europe they should realize what an imposition that is to request that. I have never asked someone to bring something back for me. I usually find that it is not a close friend that asks this. I generally buy chocolates that are compact and easy to pack and people appreciate the thought.
For us Filipinos, the cultural mindset is slightly different as explained by Pasalubong en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasalubong.
I'll be sending little gifts (aside from those requested already, like a T-shirt or shot glass etc) to my work friends whom I work directly with. Those who are friends who work indirectly might get something like a magnet or whatever. It simply boils down to what you have packed before your trip. If you can pack light, then you have plenty of space (and KG) for souvenirs and other goodies (like the food).
I get small gifts as well, but only for my immediate family.
I buy patches and sew them into my denim jacket as I go , they are cheap, don't take up any space, and I get to look at them every time I wear my jacket, also they are a great conversation starter! For other people I bring back postcards
one thing you didn't mention not to buy are rare or endangered items, for example anything made from ivory. also to be aware of is not to take examples from nature. for example it is illegal to damage or take coral from the Great Barrier Reef (as well as being environmentally irresponsible) when visiting Australia. that goes for any other coral reef Australian waters.
It should go without saying to: "dont do anything illegal"
Artbug yeah... well...humans. Not always so good at doing the right thing. 😒
brontewcat In Australia, you know how we deal with people who steal from nature........ feed them to crocs...
Another Australian one not to take, is rocks from around Uluru (Ayers Rock)...
It's not quite illegal, but I understand that most people who do this get ... ... 'uncomfortable' afterwards.
I don't always find one, but I like to buy cool oversized coffee mugs when I travel. They're very practical in my household, and I get to share when I have coffee with friends. My favorite is from New Orleans.
Not something I buy, but I photograph so much stuff while traveling. Huge vistas down to uber close-ups of architecture and flowers. Doesn't take up much space and I can do framed photo collages when I get home. Otherwise, I just eat, eat and drink while traveling. Want to try it all!
I did collect patches and decals from places I visited at one point. So my luggage had them all over...and then the requirements to travel by air changed and I had to buy another bag to keep up. And no longer could travel with my "flair bag". So now I just refrain and photograph everything.
+ZombieMommy sounds like a great way to bring a bit hoke :)
We buy a Christmas ornament, or something that can be used as one. We love decorating our tree and remembering our travels every year. We have a few cheesy ones, but mostly we're able to find nice little trinkets that look beautiful on the tree.
Lederhosen are an once in a lifetime aquisition.
I love collecting postcards with great photos of the destination. They are also super cheap, easy to frame and takes up minimal space!
Nice Video, the Bodensee is not far away from me, hope you enjoyed your time there.
FelsinderBrandung92 it was a fun time. we were at a wedding in Langenargen. It was a good time. apparently the wedding will be on a wedding reality TV show later this year. No one told us though before we got there :) crazy time.
woltersworld Do you know the name of that show?
Yes! Buy paintings from local artists! The most direct and satisfying interaction to be had. If it is canvas/cloth, get it rolled/ unframed.
Also with traditional clothes: your body size changes over time, so it might not fit in a few years anyway. Usually when I travel, I leave the souvenir shopping to my last destination.
I enjoy buying traditional embroidery from Hungary. Things like tablecloths, pillow cases, blouses and such. They’re quite lovely and easy to pack.
Thanks to the internet you can buy a lot of this junk on line and not have to go overseas to buy it.
...then you miss the experience...
It's probably cheaper if I buy it online.
Yeah then you avoid excess luggage.
Do that if you want to buy for people like work friends. Then you can have the experience when you buy the tacky souvenirs for yourself and family members.
But I won't be doing that sort of thing for a limited number of work mates who have already asked for souvenir gifts. I'll be packing light to make sure there's allocated space for their "gifts".
"not have to go overseas to buy it."
What do you think, people go to, let's say, Paris, for the purpose of buying a Eifel Tower souvenir?
Or people go to Switzerland for chocolate?
I like to find bookmarks anywhere I go. They're small, light, inexpensive, and my collection sits in a small box on my side table. I also like playing cards... also small, light, inexpensive. Fun to use when you get home. I try to find small local trinkets that I can use on my Christmas tree. Magnets, jewelry (including a charm for my bracelet), a postcard that can be framed (like maps), a coffee mug if I have the room, or an article of clothing. Mostly I take a lot of pictures.
Hi Mark! How do you bring paintings back? Do you ship them before you leave? Thanks!
Maybe rolling them up?
I like to get a small piece of jewelry or street art made locally. I have recently started collecting tea/coffee cups as well. My throwback is a magnet with a photo of the city or country I am in. It is little and weightless and makes a great gift.
I gotta say, youre one of those rare men that suit a ponytail.
Thank you :)
Absolutely very sensible advice.. one should enjoy the place more than being preoccupied with shopping and adding more junk in their collections
I buy mugs and those cheesy snow globes. I also buy postcards and key chains. I'm like the most stereotypical turist 😁
I buy keychains too. I once bought a postcard I don't do the postcard thing too much I think only twice.
nessu_t I like the globes too, it’s fun to collect them
First I want to say I love your videos! very informative! My husband and I are going to Iceland in July and when I came to UA-cam for information I did not go any further than your channel. I might want to pick your brain on that later.
I have been collecting pencils since I was young. Everywhere I go (Or when a friend goes somewhere) I always get a pencil, usually 3 because I have to have all the varieties of course! but Pencils are inexpensive and not bulky, so I never feel guilty asking a friend or family member to get one for me.
My husband also collects flag patches for his backpack from everywhere we go. When my mom travels she always brings a pinch of dirt or sand back, she then layers it in a pretty glass container.
when I went to Florida I went to epcot (don't go unless you want to go to a Disney atraction with no rides) and I baught a wone of those big f*****g beer mugs that you can't and it turned out that I culdin't put it in the f*****g dishwasher because it ha a plastic picture of Mickey donold and guffy only used it twice while watching soccer
best comment of the day :)
For me the only MUST whenever I travel, a magnet for me, and for my grandmother she collects magnets from where all her grandkids have been around the world (a lot). And a shot glass for my grandfather for his personal bar in his house, same idea but with shot glasses. And I always get a patch, magnet, and sometimes pin for myself. After that I'm usually home free.