5 Tips for Finding Travel Souvenirs You Will Actually Use

Skip the souvenir shop. I don’t know about you, but I can’t handle another tacky knickknack that I will end up getting sick of by the time I unpack it, or that will be thrown into a box never to be seen again. The whole point of souvenirs is to remind us of a great memory; so we should get to see it often, right? Here are some tips I started following when shopping while traveling, and now I am much happier with the things I bring back. I love working these items into my everyday life and decor so I can appreciate them all the time. Happy Shopping!

1). Add to a Collection (that you see or use!). For me, this is books. I collect old books and I make it a point to pick up at least one whenever I am traveling. At home, they all get mixed together onto one bookcase in a large display. It may not look like a bunch of travel souvenirs, but when I look at all those books it is like a map of where I have been. I have a friend who does this with t-shirts from breweries that she wears around the house.

2). Grocery Shop. I have mentioned before that I love grocery shopping on vacation and this is another reason why! It is fun to see what people in other places are eating, and to pick up new things to try. I do have an idea of what to get ahead of time but I always find cool stuff just wandering around as well. Snack items, candy, jam/jelly and spices are all great options. Of course they will get used up, but it’s fun to pull out a spice or cookie from a trip a few weeks after you get home. Think outside the box (literally) and keep an eye out for something in a pretty tin or jar. Those can be re-purposed as storage or a vase.

3.) Pick up some Home Décor. I love to pick up home items on vacation, whether it has anything to do with the location or not. Boutiques and antique shops are great places to find unique items. Anything that you would normally buy for your home, like a throw, serving dish or picture frame is a great souvenir because you can work it right into your everyday life. Like adding to a collection, these don’t look like typical souvenirs but they have great memories attached!

4.) Consider Art. Let me preface this by saying I use the word art in a very broad way. I have framed advertisements, menus, postcards and ticket stubs. I also have paintings and more traditional art work that was bought on vacation. This is the time to think differently and look at the little things you gather along the way. Maybe a handwritten note on hotel stationary or a museum map. Anything that is special to you can be turned into art. Framed and displayed is so much better then the bottom of a box, out of sight.

5.) Stick to your Style. I recently spent some time in New Mexico and didn’t come home with a single piece of pottery or turquoise jewelry. It’s just not my style. Many places have “must buy” items that people tend to purchase whether they actually like them or not. I used to do this. It doesn’t take long for these items to find their way into storage, because they just don’t fit with the other things you have. Don’t buy something just because it is traditional or expected. Stay true to yourself and only by things that you actually love. You will find that these things are much more appreciated over time.