{"id":11439,"date":"2022-07-30T23:24:32","date_gmt":"2022-07-30T23:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/perfect-guide-picking-best-holiday-souvenirs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T10:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T10:41:23","slug":"perfect-guide-picking-best-holiday-souvenirs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/perfect-guide-picking-best-holiday-souvenirs\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways To Pick The Best Holiday Souvenirs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Souvenirs are an essential part of any holiday and while for the most part, holiday souvenirs are pure ‘tat’ and items almost produced with an immediate future in a dustbin somewhere, other pieces of holiday souvenirs can easily become treasured items that are reminders of the amazing time you had away.<\/p>\n

Here are a few hints and tips to help you on your way when souvenir hunting…<\/p>\n

1.) Avoid Nightmare Fuel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Needless to say, the last thing you want when you get back home is some evil-looking mask staring at your and frightening you when you go rummaging through the fridge for that midnight snack.<\/p>\n

Unless, of course, if you’re always constipated and need a good scare to make you poop your pants. \ud83d\ude42 Anything that effectively looks like something that would make you uneasy to have at home is probably best avoided.<\/p>\n

2.) Don’t be afraid to be a stereotype<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Souvenir shopping is definitely the time to look for something that’s a bit personal to you and less run-of-the-mill however don’t be so focused on looking for something so different that you forget why you’re getting the souvenir in the first place – to remember the place you are.<\/p>\n

Get the Eiffel Tower souvenirs in Paris if it calls out to you. Get Big Ben ones in London – just make sure whatever you get makes you happy and connected with your holiday or travels.<\/p>\n

Every time I’ve been to Portugal, I keep getting the Rooster of Barcelos; each one larger than the previous one and when I look at them now, they put a smile on my face.<\/p>\n

3.) Haggle<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Depending on where you are, don’t be afraid to haggle or to shop around for a good deal. If what you’re looking for is fairly unique then try a little haggling.<\/p>\n

Even in places like London where people rarely ever haggle, you can still get away with a little haggling; saving yourself a few pennies for the mandatory fish and chips later on.<\/p>\n

If what you’re looking for is fairly standard and available in a lot of places, then it’s worth shopping around till you find a reasonably priced one.<\/p>\n

4.) Don’t forget about size and weight<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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You still need to get it home after all. I tend to almost consciously forget this though I think my subconscious reigns me in each time by making me purchase something that is truly a struggle to get home but technically feasible.<\/p>\n

Those on Hand Luggage Only’s Instagram<\/a> would have seen the hats we got in Hong Kong which you technically can’t pack into a bag and hence we went through 5 different airports and cities wearing those hats.<\/p>\n

Then again, for the hassle, it did keep the sun out of our eyes and got us lots of compliments for the airline staff. <\/p>\n

5.) Think outside the box<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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I know I said don’t be afraid to be a stereotype before but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative when buying souvenirs. Anyone who’s been to Thailand knows (or will tell you) that elephants are a good call when it comes to souvenirs.<\/p>\n

However, when I was in Thailand, instead of picking a statue of an elephant, I saw a painting of an elephant (again, one that the amazing people on the Hand Luggage Only’s Instagram<\/a> would have seen already) which captivated me immediately and soon after becoming my Thai souvenir.<\/p>\n

It is still one of my favourite souvenirs out there and while I did the stereotypical elephant thing, I did it with my own twist on it. I did get a cute wooden elephant souvenir as well later on though.<\/p>\n

6.) Get something unique<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Where possible, try to buy something that you can only get in the place you’re visiting.<\/p>\n

I know, I know with the internet and worldwide delivery, you can buy pretty much anything you want from the comfort of your own home but that’s beside the point.<\/p>\n

Get something that you can’t just pop downstairs to a shop back at home and find on the shelves. The last thing you want is to get a souvenir and find that your local Tesco\/Walmart\/Coles\/Carrefour has exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n

7.) Check that it is legal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Don’t ruin your holiday by buying something that will get you in trouble back at home with customs (or even worse, the police).<\/p>\n

There are fairly clear rules around this and most souvenir places in most countries won’t sell things you can’t take back home but if you’re a more adventurous traveller and like to explore more alternative holiday destinations then do take extra care to ensure you’re not importing something contraband.<\/p>\n

Read more: How to travel greener<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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10 Easy Ways To Fly Greener And More Sustainable<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n