Getting Souvenirs Home Safely
Welcome back! Sorry I've been MIA for the last few weeks. I had a birthday, threw a bachelorette party and now I'm taking the time between being a bridesmaid in a wedding this weekend to write a quick update.
Today I want to give you some tips to get your souvenirs home safely after your trip. There's nothing worse than painstakingly picking out the perfect gift for a friend and then realizing it didn't survive the trip home in one piece. So to help you avoid heartbreak, here are some tips:
1. Ship them home. This is the safest way to get any fragile souvenirs home. Some shops will offer to ship your valuables home for you so you don't have to struggle with figuring out the postal service if you are in a different country. This of course will cost extra money, but if you don't want to risk it, this is the safest way to go. For example, when I went to Ireland we visited the Waterford Crystal manufacturing facility where I bought vases for some family members. Rather than attempting to stuff them in my suitcase and hope for the best, I chose to have them shipped home. For special gifts like this, I recommend spending a little extra money to get them home safely.
2. Wrap them in newspaper, bubble wrap, clothes, etc. If you don't want to spend the extra money to have your gifts shipped home, keep them safe by protecting them from the jostling your bag experiences during travel. Ask the shop owner if they have any bubble wrap, newspaper or other material to wrap them in. Then, when you pack your bag, use clothes to put an extra layer of protection around them. Try to keep the object in the center of the bag to avoid any crushing when the bag is upright or on its side. (Note: This is not a fool proof method. Bags get thrown around at an airport and I cannot guarantee the safety of your souvenirs. Remember, the more padding, the better.)
3. Pack an extra bag. If you didn't leave enough room for souvenirs in your suitcase, at least leave space for an extra bag. FIRST make sure your airline allows carry-ons and know the weight and size restrictions. Some airlines will allow you to have a carry-on and a personal bag such as a purse or small backpack. However, others charge extra, so know before you go. I have a handy duffel bag that folds up to about the size of a small notebook that I bring with me, unfortunately they don't appear to have a web site I can direct you to. Longchamp and LeSportsac are popular (though expensive) brands that sell large bags that fold into smaller ones. However, if you don't want the added cost of such a high-end bag, keep an eye out for foldable duffels that won't take up too much room in your suitcase.
4. Know the airline's guidelines. Not only should you know the weight and size restrictions for your airline, but know what is and isn't allowed in your carry-on. If you plan to bring home a bottle of wine from France or olive oil from Italy, don't count on getting it through security in your carry-on. Most airlines only allow a small amount of liquid in your carry-on, so for larger, liquidy souvenirs, wrap them up tight in your checked luggage or ship them home.
Now that you know how to get them home, what souvenirs should you buy? If you don't want the typical touristy gifts such as a Statue of Liberty figurine that doubles as a lighter, look for smaller, more unique stores for one of a kind gifts your friends and family back home won't expect. Avoid the kiosks selling the same old tired keychains and visit the small shop with the friendly owner who wants to strike up a conversation or offer you tea. When we visited the Turkish market in June we kept seeing the same jewelry over and over until we wandered down a small alley and found a nice man who told us he designed and made each piece of jewelry by hand. He gave us a good deal and offered us apple tea and now that bracelet is one of my favorite souvenirs I've ever bought.
Jewelry, clothing and accessories are great souvenirs to buy for yourself or friends. You can show them off at any time and it always makes me feel pretty special when someone asks "Where'd you get that?" and I can respond with, "Oh, this? I bought it in Greece. NBD." (No big deal).
Or, if there is something you already collect at home such as magnets, key chains, buttons or anything else you're into, pick one up during your travels too. It will expand your collection and probably become the most unique pieces you own.
Traveling can be expensive, and not everyone factors a souvenir budget into their costs. However, that does not mean you don't get to bring something home from your trip (apart from the amazing experiences and world insight you gain). I always keep all of my tickets, maps, coins and anything else of significance I gathered along the way. You can also pick up less likely souvenirs such as rocks, sand, dirt, water, even air from the places you visit. Put them in small jars or make something unique out of the things you collected for free. Check out my earlier post for how to make a shadow or memory box from your souvenirs.
While planning for this post I realized it was going to be a short one, so I put together a list of the things I want from different countries, sort of a souvenir bucket list. I already have a Claddagh ring from Ireland, hanging lamps from Turkey, Murano glass earrings from Italy and Rosary Beads from Vatican City, but there are more things I hope to collect:
1. Beer Stein from Germany (preferably one I drank from during Oktoberfest)
2. Sari and jewelry from India (preferably something I wore to a traditional Indian wedding)
3. Russian Nesting Dolls
4. Carnival mask from Venice
5. Rug from Turkey
6. Japanese fan
7. Buddha statue from China
8. A traditional Japanese woodblock print
9. Boomerang from Australia
10. Chocolate from Belgium
11. Chinese lantern
12. Something plaid from Scotland
13. Something from the Day of the Dead in Mexico
14. A photo of the Northern Lights
15. Any kind of native mask from anywhere
That's all I could think of for now, but I'm sure there is a ton I'm missing. Let me know what souvenirs you hope to collect or which souvenirs are your favorite in the comments below! Then check out the Pinterest board for more souvenir ideas and tips.
Your fun fact today is short and sweet: Vikings did not wear horned helmets. Sorry, but that quintessential double horned helmet you imagine when someone says the word "Viking" was actually made up by Scandinavian artists and then popularized by a costume designer for Wagner's opera, "Der Ring des Nibelungen" in the 1870's. Don't believe me? Double check with the History Channel. And maybe skip the Viking helmet souvenir next time you travel North.
Thanks for reading, come back soon!
-Sam
Today I want to give you some tips to get your souvenirs home safely after your trip. There's nothing worse than painstakingly picking out the perfect gift for a friend and then realizing it didn't survive the trip home in one piece. So to help you avoid heartbreak, here are some tips:
1. Ship them home. This is the safest way to get any fragile souvenirs home. Some shops will offer to ship your valuables home for you so you don't have to struggle with figuring out the postal service if you are in a different country. This of course will cost extra money, but if you don't want to risk it, this is the safest way to go. For example, when I went to Ireland we visited the Waterford Crystal manufacturing facility where I bought vases for some family members. Rather than attempting to stuff them in my suitcase and hope for the best, I chose to have them shipped home. For special gifts like this, I recommend spending a little extra money to get them home safely.
2. Wrap them in newspaper, bubble wrap, clothes, etc. If you don't want to spend the extra money to have your gifts shipped home, keep them safe by protecting them from the jostling your bag experiences during travel. Ask the shop owner if they have any bubble wrap, newspaper or other material to wrap them in. Then, when you pack your bag, use clothes to put an extra layer of protection around them. Try to keep the object in the center of the bag to avoid any crushing when the bag is upright or on its side. (Note: This is not a fool proof method. Bags get thrown around at an airport and I cannot guarantee the safety of your souvenirs. Remember, the more padding, the better.)
3. Pack an extra bag. If you didn't leave enough room for souvenirs in your suitcase, at least leave space for an extra bag. FIRST make sure your airline allows carry-ons and know the weight and size restrictions. Some airlines will allow you to have a carry-on and a personal bag such as a purse or small backpack. However, others charge extra, so know before you go. I have a handy duffel bag that folds up to about the size of a small notebook that I bring with me, unfortunately they don't appear to have a web site I can direct you to. Longchamp and LeSportsac are popular (though expensive) brands that sell large bags that fold into smaller ones. However, if you don't want the added cost of such a high-end bag, keep an eye out for foldable duffels that won't take up too much room in your suitcase.
4. Know the airline's guidelines. Not only should you know the weight and size restrictions for your airline, but know what is and isn't allowed in your carry-on. If you plan to bring home a bottle of wine from France or olive oil from Italy, don't count on getting it through security in your carry-on. Most airlines only allow a small amount of liquid in your carry-on, so for larger, liquidy souvenirs, wrap them up tight in your checked luggage or ship them home.
Now that you know how to get them home, what souvenirs should you buy? If you don't want the typical touristy gifts such as a Statue of Liberty figurine that doubles as a lighter, look for smaller, more unique stores for one of a kind gifts your friends and family back home won't expect. Avoid the kiosks selling the same old tired keychains and visit the small shop with the friendly owner who wants to strike up a conversation or offer you tea. When we visited the Turkish market in June we kept seeing the same jewelry over and over until we wandered down a small alley and found a nice man who told us he designed and made each piece of jewelry by hand. He gave us a good deal and offered us apple tea and now that bracelet is one of my favorite souvenirs I've ever bought.
Jewelry, clothing and accessories are great souvenirs to buy for yourself or friends. You can show them off at any time and it always makes me feel pretty special when someone asks "Where'd you get that?" and I can respond with, "Oh, this? I bought it in Greece. NBD." (No big deal).
Or, if there is something you already collect at home such as magnets, key chains, buttons or anything else you're into, pick one up during your travels too. It will expand your collection and probably become the most unique pieces you own.
Traveling can be expensive, and not everyone factors a souvenir budget into their costs. However, that does not mean you don't get to bring something home from your trip (apart from the amazing experiences and world insight you gain). I always keep all of my tickets, maps, coins and anything else of significance I gathered along the way. You can also pick up less likely souvenirs such as rocks, sand, dirt, water, even air from the places you visit. Put them in small jars or make something unique out of the things you collected for free. Check out my earlier post for how to make a shadow or memory box from your souvenirs.
While planning for this post I realized it was going to be a short one, so I put together a list of the things I want from different countries, sort of a souvenir bucket list. I already have a Claddagh ring from Ireland, hanging lamps from Turkey, Murano glass earrings from Italy and Rosary Beads from Vatican City, but there are more things I hope to collect:
1. Beer Stein from Germany (preferably one I drank from during Oktoberfest)
2. Sari and jewelry from India (preferably something I wore to a traditional Indian wedding)
3. Russian Nesting Dolls
4. Carnival mask from Venice
5. Rug from Turkey
6. Japanese fan
7. Buddha statue from China
8. A traditional Japanese woodblock print
9. Boomerang from Australia
10. Chocolate from Belgium
11. Chinese lantern
12. Something plaid from Scotland
13. Something from the Day of the Dead in Mexico
14. A photo of the Northern Lights
15. Any kind of native mask from anywhere
That's all I could think of for now, but I'm sure there is a ton I'm missing. Let me know what souvenirs you hope to collect or which souvenirs are your favorite in the comments below! Then check out the Pinterest board for more souvenir ideas and tips.
Your fun fact today is short and sweet: Vikings did not wear horned helmets. Sorry, but that quintessential double horned helmet you imagine when someone says the word "Viking" was actually made up by Scandinavian artists and then popularized by a costume designer for Wagner's opera, "Der Ring des Nibelungen" in the 1870's. Don't believe me? Double check with the History Channel. And maybe skip the Viking helmet souvenir next time you travel North.
Thanks for reading, come back soon!
-Sam
Thanks for a fantastic post with some good ideas. Whenever we have family over, we end up stressing over excess baggage at the airport. So last time we ordered most of the presents online from http://www.clicksouvenirs.com and got them delivered back home, saved us a lot of hassle.
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