Finding the Best Souvenirs for a Lifetime of Memories

Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a trinket from a trip that you almost immediately forgot about. It’s a common experience! 

It’s easy to breeze through the airport gift shop on your way home and grab a t-shirt with the city name you’re visiting, or pick up a few (dozen) chocolate bars from the duty-free area. Hey, sometimes that is just the right thing to do. I’ve certainly done it myself, so no judgment here!

But if you love to dig around for souvenirs and gifts that have personal meaning and that reflect what was most meaningful to you about your trip, here are some fresh ideas to bring with you on your next vacation.

The Best Things, Don’t Cost a Thing

If the idea of a souvenir is that it is connected to your memories and will spark a joyful feeling, those objects often come just in our everyday interactions on a trip. Complimentary items on planes and in hotels, for example, might remind you of great service or the incredible view from your balcony. Ticket stubs, programs, interesting city maps — all these things can remind you of adventures, art, and beautiful days in a favorite city.

Just look at my haul of free items from when we stayed at the TWA Hotel. I use these pencils almost every day and they remind me of all the fun we had during our stay!

Look to Nature

Natural objects can mean much more than anything purchased in a store. A flower petal or leaf pressed in a book, a beautiful unique pebble, a jar of sand or sea salt. These are simple things that can be incorporated into your décor at home that will make you smile every time you see them.

However, always remember to be mindful of specific laws regarding transporting plant material across borders before bringing something home. 

Boost Your Learning

If you’re buying for yourself or for someone else, consider something that will offer an inside view of the culture, language, history, music, or food of where you’ve visited. Bring home a local cookbook featuring the cuisine you enjoyed, so you can learn how to make it at home. There’s nothing like good food to make memories come flooding back. 

Keep the Dishes 

This is going to sound a bit odd, but hear me out. It’s perfectly acceptable to inquire at restaurants, bars or coffee shops if you can add the price of a dish to your bill. Yes, the actual plate or cup. So if you’ve had a particularly wonderful experience somewhere, share that enthusiasm with the waiter and ask if they’d be okay with you buying something to take home.

Imagine sipping your morning tea or coffee from the very same cup you sipped from in Paris. What could be better?

Something Old, Something New

One of the best adventures in a different place can be to scour antique shops for quirky treasures. If you have a reader in your life, a gorgeous old book might bring immense joy. Vintage postcards or photos can be a collector’s dream. Jewelry, scarves, cufflinks and bags all give a glimpse into style and history. Plus, you’ll have a great story to tell with every compliment you receive on your new statement piece.

If you’re going for something new, consider a practical item that you can use in your everyday life. An umbrella or a tote bag can be a great option. If you love to cook or bake, perhaps some local bakeware to cook your favorite meal in. Even a small musical instrument can be a great gift for kids, like an authentic ukulele from Hawaii.  

Tell Your Own Story

Living in the digital age gives you instant access to a world of creative sharing. Smartphones have incredible cameras these days, which make it so easy to capture and share your adventures. So snap away and take as many photos as possible. 

When you return home, you can then take all those photos and turn them into beautiful souvenirs books! Companies like ChatBooks offer custom books for as little as $15. Not only are these great keepsakes for you, but they make fun gifts for family and friends you may have been traveling with. 

Whatever your tastes, there are so many ways to approach the idea of a souvenir that ensures you’ll bring something home that has personal meaning and will spark many wonderful memories for a lifetime. Oh and still grab those chocolate bars at the airport…that’s totally worth it!

If you’re ready to start your own hunt for the perfect souvenir on the perfect getaway, give me a call and let’s get started! You can reach me by clicking here.

Happy Travels!