How to find inexpensive but unique souvenirs
Whether you鈥檙e a frequent traveler or go on a trip only every few years, finding the right momento to remember your adventures by is an important part of the journey. Finding inexpensive yet unique souvenirs is easy if you follow this guide on where to shop, what to look for and how to get a great price.
Where to look
When looking for one-of-a-kind souvenirs, check out local flea markets and festivals. Especially at festivals, you can find souvenirs custom-made for the event. These places often have vendors trying to appeal to locals, so these items will be more authentic and still affordable. When I was in Japan, I bought several charms while visiting a local Shinto shrine. These charms are sold to anyone visiting the shrine, not just tourists.
Even small shops or stands can have interesting items. I stumbled across an antique shop in Stockholm and bought several silver buttons with the royal family鈥檚 crest on them. I then strung the buttons on chains and had a unique souvenir to wear! Keep in mind that if you鈥檙e traveling during holidays, this is a chance to find seasonal souvenirs. Many cultures have celebrations during spring, summer and fall, so find out if your destination will have something special going on while you鈥檙e there.
What to choose
Now that you know where you鈥檙e going to get some great momentos, what should you be looking for? Figurines, paper products, items made from cloth, candy鈥攖hese all are ideal as they will be easy to pack and carry home due to their light weight, small size and unlikeliness to break when your luggage is tossed around.
Consider the area鈥檚 traditions and claims to fame. Sometimes the place you鈥檙e visiting is known for a food item or artistic style, which means everyone buys a sample of that item as a keepsake. And that鈥檚 OK! When I was in Sorrento, Italy, I picked up several small bottles of a local liquor called limoncello. The bottles came in fun shapes like a boat, which allowed me to pick certain ones for friends and family back home. Buying souvenirs and gifts with specific people in mind means they鈥檒l be more likely to be used and appreciated.
If you鈥檙e looking simply for yourself, pick things that will remind you of your adventures. It鈥檚 OK if the souvenir you buy isn鈥檛 something the place is famous for鈥攕o long as it invokes memories of your travels when you see or use it.
Get the right price
So you know what you want, now how do you get it for the best price? The answer, often, is聽. Another thing you can do is buy in bulk and negotiate a drop in price, which works especially well if you have a lot of friends and family whom you want to buy gifts for. If you know a local, having them do the buying for you can mean a lower price than any visitor might get. Lastly, be ready to walk away from the item if the price isn鈥檛 right for your budget. Such an ultimatum could make the vendor reconsider your offer.
