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Buying Souvenirs: What Not to Buy When You Travel

Posted on May 25, 2019May 21, 2019 by admin

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re on Lake Constance in Southern Germany and we’re talking about buying souvenirs. When you travel, it’s always tempting to want to bring memories home with you so you can reminisce about a trip long after you’ve returned to your home and work. As much as we travel, we’re still always looking for the best souvenirs to remember a trip. It’s pretty easy to find lots of things to buy when you are traveling, but there are some things you should not buy. That’s what we’re sharing today: five things you shouldn’t buy when you travel.

#1 Don’t Buy Things for Other People

Of course, you may want to buy a small present for your parents, or your spouse and kids, but don’t let acquaintances talk you into bringing things back for them. If your coworkers find out you’re going to Germany, inevitably, someone will ask you to bring back a beer stein or some lederhosen. Those beer steins weigh a couple of pounds, so this can easily take up any empty space you have in your suitcase. Even if they offer to pay you, don’t do it or you’ll end up hauling way too much stuff around. Especially if you try to travel light as we do! If you want to let people know you are thinking about them, send a postcard.

#2 Don’t Buy Cheap Souvenirs that Get Thrown Away

Don’t buy those cheesy little souvenirs that cost 2 or 5 Euros. They’ll end up in the trash before six months is up. Instead of buying a bunch of little cheap souvenirs, save up your money and buy one good souvenir. We like to buy paintings or masks to hang on our wall. These last so much longer than a shot glass, keychain or magnet. Every time I walk through my house, I get to walk down memory lane and see all the fun places we’ve been.

#3 Don’t Buy Traditional Clothes

It’s really tempting to buy an outfit that represents the culture where you are visiting, but trust me, you’ll never wear it again. Whether it’s a Japanese kimono or the Australian cowboy outfit I purchased, it seems like a good idea at the time, but it ends up being a waste of money. If you love dressing up and really think you’ll use this when you get back home, go for it. But be honest with yourself and try to figure out if you are just caught up in the moment or if you will really use this item once you get home.

#4 Don’t Buy Bulky Items

Back to the beer steins in Germany, unless you can have the store ship it back home for you, don’t bother with heavy or bulky souvenirs. Dealing with overweight luggage is a huge pain and it’s not worth it. If you absolutely must buy a bulky souvenir, like a cuckoo clock in Germany, wait until the end of your trip when you only have to get to the airport and then home.  If you are traveling around Europe by train, any extra weight is going to be a huge pain.

Read: Top Ten Biggest Little Travel Annoyances

#5 Food Not Permitted by Customs

Some food, like chocolate, makes a great souvenir or gift to bring home. But other foods, like meat or produce, will likely get you flagged in customs and you’ll end up having it taken away. This is a good way to miss your connecting flight, too, as U.S. Customs rummages through your bags before letting you pass through to your connection. An easy rule of thumb is to buy pre-packaged, sealed food to bring home and you won’t have any issues.

Read: The Most Common Dumb Reasons Tourists Get Arrested

What do you look for in your souvenirs?

These are five things I recommend not buying when you travel. However, you should buy whatever makes you happy. If you have a snow globe collection, go for it. I hope this helps you pick out the best souvenirs from your travels. What are your best souvenir ideas? Tell us about them in the comments! For more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos:

  • Ten Biggest Rip-Offs and Scams of Tourists
  • 11 Travel Hacks You Can Actually Use
  • Rainy Day Travel Advice
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