When travelling, many people like to buy souvenirs to capture memories of their trip. However, buying souvenirs can be tricky – you don’t want to spend too much money, but you also want something that will remind you of your holiday for years to come.
In this blog post, we will give you some tips on buying the perfect souvenir while travelling abroad!
Set a Budget
Start by deciding on a budget for gifts aside from your traveling fund. It’s crucial not to overspend when buying souvenirs, so decide how much you want to spend and stick to it.
A good idea is to leave the gift purchases to the end of the trip and to spend any remaining coins as they are bulky to carry and can not be changed back to your home currency.
Do Your Research
Next, do your research. There are so many different souvenirs to choose from and they vary in every country. Every country has it’s usual cliché souvenir and most carry many unique items that would make an amazing gift.
It’s important to know what you’re looking for before you start shopping. Ask the receiver what it is they particularly need or would like from the country you’re in. By researching ahead and shopping around, you can avoid impulse buys and save money in the process.
Look for Local Souvenirs
When travelling abroad, try to look for souvenirs unique to the country or region you’re visiting. Not only will these items be more memorable to you, but they’ll also be more meaningful to the people you give them to.
Of course, it can sometimes be challenging to find local souvenirs if you don’t know where to look, so do some research in advance, ask a representative at your accommodation or chat with the locals on where they would recommend going.
Shopping local is likely to support a small family business than waiting to get to the airport for the flight home.
Buy from Trusted Sellers
When buying souvenirs, it’s always best to buy them from a trusted seller. This will help ensure that you get what you expect and won’t be scammed out of your money. Airport stores are a great place to start, as they are typically reputable and have a wide variety of souvenirs to choose from.
If shopping at the local vendors, look for the static stores as oppose to a street cart that may not be there the next day should you wish to return a fault item.
Look for Quality Items
When buying souvenirs, you should always look for quality items. This is especially important if you plan on keeping the souvenir for a long time.
Look for well-made items that will last. And ones that are useful. Avoid buying cheap, flimsy souvenirs that are likely to break or fall apart. One tip we have, if you have selected an item from the display, be sure that is the item you receive as vendors can sometimes swap them for a cheaper version. This happened to us several times with sunglasses.
Think about What You’ll Use It For
Before buying a souvenir, think about what you will use it for. If you plan on using it as a decoration, then look for something that is attractive and has a lot of personality. If you plan to use it as a functional object, find it durable and has a unique design.
The novelty often wears off when buying tacky items with no use and you’ll have paid for and carried it home for nothing if it ends up gathering dust!
Think About What Will Remind You of Your Trip
When deciding what souvenir to buy, consider what will remind you of your trip the most. Do you want something that captures the culture of the place you visited, or do you want something more personal to you?
If you want something that captures the culture, consider buying something handmade by a local family or unique to the area. If you are looking for something more personal, think about what experiences you had on your trip that you would like to remember.
Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle
In many places around the world, haggling is expected when you’re buying souvenirs. If you see a price that you think is too high, don’t hesitate to negotiate a better price.
This can be especially effective if you’re buying multiple items from the same vendor or there are several of you in a party making purchases.
Of course, you don’t want to low-ball the person selling the souvenirs, so make sure you have a reasonable starting offer. If the vendor isn’t budging, then maybe the price is fair.
Be Mindful of Customs Restrictions
Before you buy any souvenirs, be sure to check the customs restrictions for your destination country. For example, there may be illegal items to bring into the country, or there may be a limit on how much you can get back with you.
It’s also important to remember that customs officials may decide to confiscate any items they deem to be of cultural importance to the country.
Don’t Buy Bulky Items
When you’re traveling, the last thing you want to worry about is lugging a heavy souvenir around with you. So avoid buying any bulky items like ceramic sculptures or large paintings. Not only will they take up a lot of space in your luggage, but they’ll also be challenging to transport home.
Instead, opt for smaller items like jewelry, postcards or keychains. These souvenirs are easy to pack and won’t take up too much room in your suitcase. And if you’re worried about them getting damaged, you can always fill them in your carry-on luggage.
In closing, remember that the best way to find good souvenirs while travelling is to keep your eyes open and ask around. Talk to the locals and get their recommendations on where to go and buy. Then, with a little bit of effort, you should be able to find some great souvenirs that will help you remember your trip for years to come.
