After traveling to over 40 countries, I have had my fair share of souvenir shopping opportunities. I spent time shopping on a high school trip to Malaysia, where we oogled over the knock off’s in the markets, and on a recent trip to North Carolina, I bought a locally made sweetgrass basket right from the artist herself.
Over the decades (yes it has been decades of souvenir shopping) I have changed my approach a lot. It went from the fridge magnet or shot glass to something locally made or culturally significant to the region.
Below you will see my suggestions and some things I have actually bought. When I travel with my kids, I allow them to choose whatever they want. It is not up to me to decide what matters to them, and I am not going to tell you what should matter to you. But in each of these posts, I am able to share insight from the region and some locally made products.
Souvenir Guides from Around the World
What Makes a Good Travel Souvenir?
There really is no right or wrong answer when it comes to buying a souvenir. The best travel souvenir is something that reminds you of the trip, whether that is a piece of locally made pottery, a bottle of hot sauce, a Christmas ornament or a tacky fridge magnet that makes you smile every time you see it.
Over the years, I have changed what I bring home. I used to buy a lot more of the typical tourist souvenirs, but these days I tend to look for things that are made locally or have some connection to the destination. I especially love things I can use at home rather than something that will eventually end up tucked away in a drawer.
That said, I don’t think every souvenir needs to be meaningful or culturally significant. Sometimes you just really like the T-shirt. Buy the T-shirt!
When I am deciding what is worth making room for in my suitcase, I usually look for something that is locally made, difficult to find at home, useful, edible, or something to share with friends at home!
Food Souvenirs
Food is one of my favourite ways to experience a destination, so it probably isn’t surprising that a lot of what comes home in my suitcase is edible. Spices, cookies, coffee, tea, candy, sauces and other packaged local specialties can make great souvenirs. They are also easy gifts if you want to bring something home for friends or family.
I especially like visiting grocery stores when I travel. You can often find many of the same products being sold in tourist shops for a fraction of the price, along with snacks and ingredients that locals actually buy.
The downside, of course, is that food souvenirs disappear. But there is something pretty great about coming home, opening something you bought on your trip and getting one last taste of the destination.
Just make sure you know what you’re allowed to bring back into your home country. Rules around meat, produce, plants, seeds and other agricultural products can be strict, and they vary depending on where you are travelling from and where you call home.
Souvenirs for Kids and Teens
When my boys were younger, choosing a souvenir was part of the travel experience. And while I might have preferred that they choose something handmade or culturally significant, kids don’t necessarily care about any of that.
I have always let them choose something that matters to them.
For younger kids, that might be a stuffed animal, toy, T-shirt or something completely random that caught their attention. As they get older, their interests change. Teens might be more interested in sports merchandise, clothing, sneakers, anime, local brands or something connected to a hobby they already have.
If you are travelling with kids, giving them a set amount of spending money can also make souvenir shopping a lot easier. Suddenly the question isn’t whether Mom is willing to buy it. It is whether they think it is worth spending their own money on it.
How to Get Souvenirs Home Safely
Buying something is the easy part. Getting it home in one piece can sometimes require a little more planning. If I know I am going somewhere where I might want to buy ceramics, artwork or other fragile items, I try to leave some extra room in my luggage. Small breakable items can usually be wrapped in clothing and packed toward the centre of a suitcase, surrounded by softer items.
For anything particularly valuable or fragile, I would rather carry it onto the plane when possible than trust it to my checked luggage. Larger purchases may be better shipped directly home, especially if the store or artisan regularly ships internationally.
Liquids are another consideration. Olive oil, wine, sauces, perfumes and other bottles generally need to go into checked luggage if they are over the carry-on liquid limit. I put anything that could leak inside a sealed plastic bag and then wrap it well with clothing.
And before buying food, plants, seeds, animal products or anything made from natural materials, check the customs rules for home and declare it on arrival.