Every time we go on a trip, many of us would like to bring back something typical.
An unique item from there, which reminds us when we look at it of the experiences we had on our getaway. On many occasions we think about what we can take from one place or another, that is easily obtainable, relatively inexpensive and with enough variety to add value to a possible collection.
There are people who collect stamps, passports or simply tickets to museums they visit. We will try to give a couple of ideas for those who don't know what to take with them, in an affordable price range that anyone who travels abroad can afford. Small, common items, typical of the place we visit and cheap. What more could you ask for?
One of the most common, which usually has the name of the city we are visiting written on it. In addition, the colour they add to our fridges and the possibility that the magnet itself can be used to hold notes or papers, or serve as a bottle opener, make it a top gift.
It should be noted that buying travel magnets is so widespread that it will be incredibly easy to find them at any destination. They come in different sizes and are very affordable, and are easy to adapt to make gifts for those who are waiting for us on our return.
Whether bought or given as a gift, they all end up magnetized to household appliances, although some people even buy magnetic boards to display them. With thousands of shapes, at a glance they evoke the place where we bought it or who gave it to us. Without a doubt one of the best travel souvenirs that we can easily access.
2. Snowballs
Yes, the typical ones from the movies, which when you turn it upside down it looks like it's snowing inside the ball itself. They usually have a monument or something typical of the place, with an inscription so that we know where it was bought. Without a doubt one of the most popular collectibles of all time and also available in almost all the places we visit.
Snow globes are always little pieces of a magical place enclosed in a small sphere. There are branded ones, designer ones, personalized ones or homemade ones, but the ones we can find on our trips have that added value of being bought at our destination, chosen by us and that we can display in our living room, giving us reasons for conversation or giving us a wonderful feeling that reminds us of our trip.
Placing a little piece of our favourite city on our shelves is always a good option, which will be complemented as we visit all those pending ones, which are always many.
3. Thimbles
Has anyone ever imagined that buying travel thimbles is a typical thing ? Yes, very much so. It is one of the most common traditions when it comes to souvenirs from our getaways, and is very common as a gift for our aunts or grandmothers, who lovingly made those patches on our trousers.
They are made of porcelain, metal, glass or wood. Despite their small surface area, they can be found with some kind of decoration that reminds us of the place we visit. Painted, sgraffito, sculpted or blown, something characterises them with the place of origin of their purchase.
A curious way to immerse yourself in traveling collecting , which, although it may seem strange, is easier to find than many of the items featured here. In addition, they not only serve a decorative purpose, but can also be used in the home.
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4. Beer Bottles
Not only beers, since we have seen collections of soft drink bottles, among others, but a collection of beer bottles gives the feeling of enjoyment and a festive atmosphere, which makes us remember not only the city we visited but also the anecdotes and how much fun we had visiting it.
So now you know, drink beer and put away the bottle, there are all kinds, flavors, glasses and an almost endless number of options to complement it. But in moderation, because then the suitcase weighs more than it should.
One of our favourites. We love history and getting that photo before this or that monument existed is always a pleasure to immerse ourselves in history. Framing them and being able to remember what we discovered in that particular place is always a source of satisfaction.
And the best thing is that you have to look for them in antique shops, flea markets and specialized stores, which adds a precious task to the adventure of traveling, which can also be complemented by finding a suitable setting for the photo in question.
Small moments of history in a black and white image are a great option, as they tend to be unique souvenirs aimed at lovers of the past. If we add to this the fact that there are revealing photographs of specific historical moments, it is one more reason to go in search of and capture the best image.
A classic. There are beautiful and very well made ones that will delight coffee and tea lovers. We are not referring to those that have simple painted motifs of one city or another, but those that are more elaborate and make a difference in their design. They are always easy to get and are often a souvenir while we enjoy our favorite drinks.
From the ceramics used to the decoration of the handles, or simply bearing the shape of some part of the most famous monuments we visit, they are a perfect gift for those we remember while traveling.
This, together with the possibility of collecting beer mugs, makes this type of souvenir one of the most prolific and scalable in our collection, since we will find numerous possibilities for the same purpose depending on the drink we like to consume, or simply as decoration. In the end, having breakfast with our favourite mug will evoke wonderful memories to start the day with the best possible energy.
7. Keychains
One of the cheapest souvenirs , which we can also always carry with us. Keeping a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, a Las Vegas gambling chip, or anything else that has to do with our visit in our pocket makes the possibilities almost endless.
To keep house keys, car keys, or simply to differentiate the personal sets of each family member, key rings have always been very easy to get. Of different qualities, since they are made of plastic, wood, metal or leather, their decorative motifs will be a nice detail for those to whom they are addressed.
There are incredibly cool ones, which will delight the most sybarites and which we can display hanging from the doors of houses, from corks or from the dashboard of the car. In addition, you have some function such as bottle opener, flashlight, USB ports, or even construction levels. So a nice detail that can also be useful.
8. Stones
Yes, you read that right. Stones from every place we visit. This will undoubtedly be the most economical of all the possible souvenirs. In coastal areas people collect jars of sand from the beach, but why not go further and literally collect pieces of the places we visit? Of course, we ask, please, that they do not belong to important monuments or are part of the heritage of a place because if not, it would be a crime, as well as unethical.
In the middle of the city we can always go to a park, construction site or rocky oasis that will allow us to obtain this element without any problem. It is easier in coastal areas or wooded places, where nature itself will be our guide and will facilitate the achievement of our objective.
The weight of the suitcase alone can be what puts us off, but it is not necessary to take a very large piece, just a small souvenir of our time in one place or another.
9. Patches
To put on jackets, backpacks, suitcases, or simply decorate a blanket or fabric that we have at home. The possibilities of buying patches are extensive and allow certain embroidered motifs to be left visible so that everyone knows that we have been in one place or another.
They are very common when travelling, and there is a great variety in souvenir shops. There are some that can be sewn on wherever we need them, or simply stuck on with an iron on the corresponding surface. A solitary patch may not say anything, but several of them turn us into wise travelers of the world.
There are not only monuments, but also characters or symbols of the countries we visit. A statement of intent that will open conversations and make us smile every time we read where our patch is from.
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It may have been more common in the past, because we used to decorate the walls of our houses with local ceramics, which were usually decorated with an engraving or image of the main monuments of a city. However, this tradition is still carried out, bringing the walls of our home closer to us like a museum.
We recommend that in this case we take into account that the transport of this souvenir may be more fragile than others, it must be wrapped properly so that it arrives complete and we do not have pieces of plate instead of a complete one. Just in case, there are also glass, metal or other materials such as wood or plastic, the latter being more resistant.
Choosing a place in the living room or kitchen to hang that piece of our history is usually part of the same trip, but once we get home. An extension of the holiday to spend another moment with the family and remember the most curious anecdotes of the days we have spent away.
11. Transportation Tickets
Another classic, which will make getting on the trams or the metro almost an obligation at your destination. Using public transport also means that we collaborate with the environment, promoting green tourism and we can get tickets that remind us that we went to one place or another.
In many cities, transportation is integrated, but in others there are cable cars, funiculars, gondolas, ferries, boats, which have their own ticket. Discovering these activities that lead us to take these means of transport is always a reason for enjoyment, as well as a reason to collect the receipts of living those moments.
They are an inexpensive way to keep souvenirs, as you can simply put them in your wallet and keep them until you get home. They will surprise you by taking them all out together and you won't even have to think about buying anything. They don't act as a gift, but they will personally tell you about your experiences. In the same way, we can collect tickets for concerts or theatres that we attend.
12. Coasters
Just as you can collect beers, there are people who display coasters from the different countries they visit on their walls. They come in all shapes, colours, brands and even materials, since we have the classic cardboard ones, but we can also buy them in polycarbonate, plastic or wood.
Elegant and useful for extending the life of our tables, in some places like the Czech Republic, they are a deep-rooted custom when we sit in a restaurant. Placing a coaster indicates that we are going to consume a drink, which is usually beer, and there are games played with the coasters themselves. Placing them on top of our mug indicates that we do not want any more, or when lifting the beer, if it sticks due to condensation, it indicates that we will pay for the round.
They are also very light, take up little space and best of all, they are free. However, to get them we recommend giving a tip and making a good impression on the restaurant or bar where we have the drink. Later, from our living room, we will be able to see that we got that coaster in this place or another.
13. Old Banknotes
Since most countries in the European Union accepted the Euro, getting hold of the oldest banknotes for the destination we are visiting has become an almost impossible mission. It is true that there are specialized sites that allow us to acquire this type of souvenir, paying a collector's item. There are others that have not yet entered into sharing the single currency, which still gives us the option of getting rare banknotes.
Poland or Hungary are perfect examples, and we can complete our travel memories with some banknotes from their original currency, which will allow us to make “collages”, or simply to get closer to the history of the moment, since the banknotes usually feature portraits and engravings of the history of that place. In this way we can understand its characters and get closer to the past.
Not so long ago, it was very common to exchange money and take home the souvenir of the coins we had left over. Today, it is just another mission during our stay, but still obtainable, which will give a little more adventure to our travel experience. We love to look for those things that are not common, taking our time and dedication.
14. Bookmarks
We are lovers of reading and as such, we love to have a book in our hands. Since we are talking about travel, we are not only referring to the typical travel guides of the places we are going to visit, but to any book, even if we buy it in a language that does not mean much to us. A recommendation could be a recipe book from the place, which can always be useful.
It is true that buying a book to simply display it on a shelf may not be something that satisfies us, so our recommendation is to take a bookmark related to our visit with us from our destination. It will help us continue reading, always carrying part of a place with us wherever we are.
They come in thousands of shapes and colours. They can be purchased in bookstores, libraries or any souvenir shop. They are very inexpensive, useful, lightweight and a small gift that we can easily give as a gift, encouraging those who find it a little more difficult to discover the world of books. Highly recommended.
15. Sports T-shirts
In any city there is a football, basketball or hockey team that is typical of the place. There are those who collect the shirts that are typical of each team, of the most important players, which, in addition, tend to change year after year with new designs and qualities, which can turn them into collector's items.
They are usually very easy to get, and they are usually on display for tourists on a regular basis, as they have become one of the favourite options for young people and those who like sports. Their price range can range from very cheap to somewhat prohibitive, but we can almost always afford them.
If they are not sports-related, there are also many options to take home a typical local t-shirt , with monument motifs, the classic heart with the name of the city, or simply recognizable symbols of our destination. There are colors for all tastes, which makes them an inexhaustible source of gifts.
16. Flags
One of the nicest souvenir traditions is to buy a flag of the country you are visiting and then display it on the ceiling or wall. Every time you look at it, you can remember your experience in that particular country, creating a real collage of international colours.
If we add a signature, dedication or a quote from the people we meet on our trip, it will become a real mural of lived experiences, reminding us every time we read it where we were or who we met, which will make us relive our adventure mentally.
A different way of experiencing the trip that will end with a national symbol of the countries we have visited, making us part of its people, customs or gastronomy, as well as unforgettable memories.
Unique Travel Souvenirs / Best Gift Ideas
