Best Travel Souvenirs
The world is full of wonderful places to visit, but they don’t come cheap. It’s worth investing in some great souvenirs to remember your trip by – not just the photos. These are some of the best things you can bring back home from your trip. You won’t need a suitcase or carry-on bag to take them with you – they’re so small and light that you can fit them in your pocket. Okay, that might not be entirely possible, but these are still great ways to pack more value into your next vacation.
A Souvenir is Worth a Thousand Photos
A souvenir is something you can touch and feel, something you can share with friends, and something you can remember your trip by long after you’ve forgotten the photos. Souvenirs are more than just mementos – they’re mini travel experiences all wrapped up in one. A nice coffee table book with photos of your trip is great, but you can’t really swig a wine from a tropical vineyard or eat from a bowl made from an exotic type of wood. If you love to travel, souvenirs are a great way of transferring some of that passion to friends and family members who don’t get to travel as much. The best souvenirs are small enough to pack, yet have a high sentimental value. You don’t want to bring home something that will just take up space back home.
Why Buy a Souvenir?
You might think that nothing but the memories really matter when you travel, but there’s more to it than that. A souvenir is a physical reminder of your trip – something you can hold and look at when you get home. It doesn’t just have to be a t-shirt or a shot glass with a cheesy slogan on it. It can be anything that reminds you of your trip. Souvenirs are also great gifts for friends and family members who were unable to come along on your trip. There are plenty of small souvenirs that are easy to pack and make great gifts for people at home.
Artifacts From Your Trip
If you’re visiting a historical site, it’s customary to leave a memento to show respect. That’s why there are lots of replica swords, axes, and shields lying around the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome, and other ancient sites. If you’re visiting an ancient site that doesn’t allow for the removal of items, you can always buy an authentic replica from a gift shop. These are great ways to leave your mark on a place you’re visiting and keep a souvenir at the same time. It’s not just ancient sites that offer replica artifacts. Replica items are a common sight in gift shops throughout the world. You can usually find replicas from popular movies, TV shows, and sports teams, as well. If you’re visiting a major sports team’s stadium, you might find replica jerseys for sale.
Handmade Items From Local Craftspeople
If you’re visiting a place known for its handmade crafts, you’ll find lots of souvenirs in gift shops. These items will be mass-produced in large quantities to keep costs low and profit high. Head to one of the local craft shops, though, and you’ll find far more interesting souvenirs. You’ll be able to talk with the craftspeople who made the items and select something truly unique. It will be handmade, and you’ll be able to select just the right colors and details. You might even be able to get it personalized with your name or initials. There are many ways to go about finding local craftspeople. If you’re staying in a hotel, ask the staff for advice. If you’re staying in an Airbnb, ask the host for recommendations. Another option is to look for art galleries and craft shops as you explore the city.
Unique Food Items
If you’re traveling in a country or region that has a food that’s famous for being unique, you might want to bring home some of that as a souvenir. You can find everything from cheese made from donkey milk to chocolate-covered ants. You might just want to eat these items while you’re on vacation, but they make great souvenirs, too. If you’re unsure what to buy, you can’t go wrong with a bag of peanuts or some spicy chocolate. If you’re on a cruise, you can even buy a bag of sea sand and a couple of shells. You’ll be able to take these home and keep them as souvenirs without anyone having to go to the trouble of harvesting them.
Clever Hiding Spots for Your Travel Souvenirs
You want to be able to bring home a souvenir from every place you visit, but you don’t want to carry a suitcase full of stuff. If you’re worried about how you’re going to sneak souvenirs past airport security, don’t worry. There are lots of clever hiding spots you can use to smuggle items out of a country. If you’re visiting the Eiffel Tower, for example, you can buy a baguette and hollow out the middle to hide a keepsake. If you’re visiting the Great Pyramids in Egypt, you can buy a bag of Niles dates and hollow out the center to smuggle your treasures home.
The Bottom Line
Traveling is exciting, but it can get expensive. To make sure you get the most out of your trip, it’s worth investing in some great souvenirs to remember your trip by – not just the photos. These are some of the best things you can bring back home from your trip. You won’t need a suitcase or carry-on bag to take them with you – they’re so small and light that you can fit them in your pocket. Cheap flights and hotels make it easier than ever to take a vacation. Now that you know what to buy and where all you have to do is make sure you don’t spend so much that you can’t afford to come home.
