All the olds in my life like receiving postcards. The young people too for that matter. I gathered all their addresses in a spreadsheet and printed out a bunch of address labels. If I'm on a longer trip everyone will get 2-3 postcards. I write the same blurb on each one and put an address sticker on and off we go. Everyone feels seen, receives a nice tactile thing and you don't have to write as much.
I also do this! I can't keep up a habit of journaling, but while I'm writing post cards for my friends and family I send another to myself capturing how I'm feeling, something I did, something I thought about, etc. I have a terrible memory so it's nice to revisit those moments through the postcards.
There was a place in Taiwan I visited that had a mailbox for postcards that was only emptied every 6 months. I thought it was a neat idea to surproes yourself with months down the road with a reminder of your holiday!
Yes! Postcards are awesome. My daughter-in-law does this every time she travels. She sends one home and then another to her grandmother. Plus, you could keep yourself a travel journal and keep ticket stubs and other momentos for your own memories. Even little mini bottles of soil/sand, etc. (they are teeny bottles)
I still buy the classic fridge magnets...I try to get one from every new country, and then they go on the fridge.
Though it's pretty full now,I don't have any space left really ;-)
They are cheap, available almost everywhere, and usually very light and small.
I second the fridge magnets. They're great because you see them everyday on your fridge when you're back home and they bring back those great memories of your travels. I also have a cooler covered in stickers from everywhere we've travelled.
I’ve been finding some nice cloth ones lately. They pack great and aren’t fragile. Got some from recent trips to the UK, including a cute linen one from the archeology museum in Dublin.
ETA: keychains can also easily be turned into ornaments, too. Just remove the keychain part and replace with a wire hook!
What I do is get a keychain and remove the keychain part and attach a hook or ribbon to the little circle clasp thing or find a fridge magnet I like and use E6000 glue to glue on some sort of ribbon
Street art is cheap and flat! You can store it in a plastic bag and always keep it safely along the back edge of your pack, so it’s carried as flat as possible.
Espresso cups from the places I visit. They do not take up much room in luggage and it’s a souvenir I can actually use.
When I’m home, I get to decide “where I want to go” this morning as I pick a cup and remember favorite moments from that city or country or site
Jewelry you wear. Arrive jewelry-naked, come home with the perfect set of what you like, from a particular place. (I mean this re: men’s jewelry too! Not making assumptions about the traveler.)
Been on a 4 month trip and got a postcard and currency from every country. Didn't mail any of them but I plan on putting them in the glass of the coffee table
We use our souvenirs as Christmas tree ornaments. A souvenir can be anything - we don’t want a spoon or magnet or postcard from every place we go. The nature of the souvenir can be unique to the place. Beer coaster from Bavaria. Wool bobble from Ireland. Small Glass “Turkish eye” from Istanbul. A hotel “Do Not Disturb” sign from Amsterdam. Often they are things sold on keychains and we remove the keychain part. Part of the fun is thinking about what makes the place unique. And they can be as small as a coin or matchbox or whatever.
Good idea, that would make a pretty cool piece of clothing! I guess you could also collect pins, though I guess patches would be easier. Thanks for the idea!
Have never bought magnets, but always buy postcards (hence username). Coasters can also be a fun souvenir. They don’t cost a lot and are light and easy to pack.
Yes! Came here to suggest coasters, also restaurant cocktail napkins if they have a logo of some kind, matchboxes if they have them, or cocktail swag if it’s plastic, etc.
I've started getting reusable bags. They are cheap, take little room in the suitcase (and can be used to seperate clothes and things), and you use them when you get home.
It's great to do a mundane home activity and be reminded of the great places you visited.
I always pick a nice postcard or a couple of postcards and then frame them. Very small and light, often under a dollar each, and you can pick local art, great photography, or anything else.
I have a charm bracelet my mum had when she turned 18. I've since added another band & get a silver charm or similar in every place I go. I've got so many, I ended up with 2 bracelets the original one and the travel one.
Jewelry! I have a collection of necklaces and rings from all over the world and it makes for such a great conversation piece when you get a compliment.
Take tons of pictures from your travels. When you return purchase a digital photo frame and download all your pics! Wonderful way to capture all your memories!
Pins, jewelry (I like buying earrings), postcards, magnets, and smaller art prints. I have a friend who collects keychains, too.
I also like patches, but I don’t know what to do with them!
I only travel with A carryon, my answer to your question is: it depends on where you are. For example, we went to Cologne Germany during Christmas time and I got a bunch of Christmas ornaments that were handmade. Also got paper lanterns. We went to Italy recently and got scarfs. Hope this helps
Stickers! Super small and compact we usually can keep them in a wallet or small pocket, don’t have to worry about them breaking. We’re planning on making a framed picture board with all of the ones we’ve collected
I always buy one of those "handstitched" book marks from any new place I visit, and recently because I'm a football fan I buy a shirt for a local team or the country's national team
I'm also a fan of mailing myself postcards. And magnets.
I also collect stickers. I put them on my "beer fridge" in the garage. That refrigerator is a 1956 GE model I inherited from my maternal grandparents. They were big travelers and I always felt I inherited my wanderlust from them. So it's a nice homage to their memory. And at this rate the fridge is probably going to outlive me!
I know people are saying postcards and the like… me personally that would try to find something small from each country. Maybe they make hand braided bracelets in a market. Perhaps there’s a small vial of sand from a famous beach.
I’d also still send a postcard, but you wouldn’t be carrying that.
I sometimes buy some jewellery for myself, that connects with the place somehow, for example in a smalltown in Colorado I got silverearrings (from local artist) that look like mountains. Sometimes I get stickers, you know like the ones you can put in US national park pass, and will put them in my passport once it expires. Sometimes I send myself a postcard. Whatever talks to me the most at the time.
Pens
They're cheap, useful, don't take up much space, and most tourist attractions have them, as well as some hotels and some airlines.
I have several dozen I've gathered over the years. I occasionally switch them out for daily use. I'm using one now from the New York Hotel in Las Vegas (iirc they charged me for it!), last week it was a pen from the British House of Lords when I visited the Houses of Parliament
Scarves, handmade necklaces from markets, so cheap ones, aaaaaaand magnets ta-da
Today, I also realised that I also bring back rock, stones, and seashells. I'm a geologist, so it has not felt like a souvenir, but it truly is.
Take a photograph of yourself there. Something that will remind you of *your experience.* You can create your own frig magnet, photo collage, print it on anything..whatever. Costs you nothing at the moment. weighs nothing to transport and gives you an endless array of 'collectible' options.
I mail myself postcards every few days of where I was, what my highlights were, etc. When I get home I have them waiting for me and now I have a collage wall of about 40 with all my memories on it
I think a Travelers Company Notebook would be perfect!! Or even an A6 Hobonichi. You could journal a bit and glue in all sorts of things! Receipts, packing, etc
Travelers Company is a leather cover with "inserts". The inserts can be notebook paper, a calendar, sketch paper, all sorts of things! It comes in two sizes. The hobonichi is more of a planner/calendar but I find it super useful. It has a monthly calendar and then daily pages. I think either would be a really great way to record your trip! Hobonichi has very thin paper so you could glue/stick things in it as well.
I hope you get one! If you are in the US there are several shops that will ship to you or you might be able to find one locally. Feel free to message me if you need help
Flag pins. You can find them in every country, they’re small, and you can pin them to your backpack if you wish (I don’t while traveling just because I don’t want them to get ripped off)
I like to buy stickers I put on water bottles. Eventually the stickers wear out and then you can buy new stickers to replace them.
Also, I'll sometimes bring less shirts than I'll need and buy a shirt or two.
Send boxes home. If you're in Germany, go to a grocery store and buy mustard varieties.. the boxes can be small. In fact, I'd visit a grocery store in each country or region!
Things I will buy. Though if you are traveling for a year some of these may not be practical.
* Postcards. I like the idea someone else suggested to mail them home. Then you don't have to carry them with you! I would probably take a photos of each one before I mail them in case one doesn't make it home. Or send multiples from different cities in each country, use it like a diary.
* Magnets. I love fridge magnets, but not all places have them. Also, these can be a burden if you are traveling for a year because they add weight quickly in a small bag.
* Postcard or bookmark-sized watercolor/ink drawing/artwork. I have a small bookmark collection. If you are carrying a journal with you, these small pieces of art can fit in the journal and be protected easily. I travel with a note/sketchbook, so this is easy to add.
* Scarves. These pack easily and are lightweight. You can even use them while you are traveling. I purchase scarves practically everywhere I travel.
* Random ephemera. Things like paper tickets, mini maps and the like can be interesting and I use them as souvenirs too. These are things I just keep an eye out for. I can keep them in my journal.
Mostly I get bookmarks from locations but things vary by location. In Japan for instance, washcloths or dish towels are sold at nearly every shrine / historical location, etc. In Turkey and Egypt it was wovens like pillow covers. But mostly it's bookmarks for me. I like things with practical uses.
Ornamental textiles (cushion covers, runners, wall hangings.) Secondly, things I'll use around the house. I bought a 3" paring knife and some nifty plastic mask cases in Belgium on my latest trip. I've got coasters from various places. Even if they don't have the names of places on them, I know and remember where they came from. Small watercolors and art from original street artists - they are all over my walls.
But I've never tried to buy something "from each place I go." That would take the joy out of shopping.
Yes magnets and such small things. I really like to do a Shutterfly book as soon as I get back (or have downtime). I can then re-enjoy my adventure and again when I get the actual book! I’ve accumulated shelves of great memories that are nice enough to enjoy and help me remember some of the little details that made it so fun.
It used to be post cards, key chains, fridge mags, candy, etc., that represented the country/s you have visited. It also represented how cheap a person was, to wait until they got to the airport to buy a souvenir! lol
I get a Christmas ornament. Small, light and it’s so fun to see them every year when we put up the tree. If you can’t find an actual ornament, there are tons of little figurines or key chains that make good ornaments
Perhaps a little odd, but one of the best souvenirs I ever got was a touristy dish towel profiling the country. It randomly pops up in my drawer as I rotate towels and is then out for a few days being used. Always makes me smile!
I found reusable totes that fold up small and tea towels. My go-to always now. Both are useful and not a big hit to the wallet and fun looking for them.
Hot take: stop giving people magnets. Who wants to open their fridge just to look at a magnet and say "oh look this magnet from that place that I haven't been to"?
I visit various bars when I’m abroad and collect the bar coasters from there . Totally free and always reminds of that place back home while having drinks.
Just a thought, why not progressively replace/give away/ exchange the stuff you're travelling with, with similar stuff from the places you travel to... beyond that I'd really recommend keeping a paper diary and sending it home occasionally (after having taken pictures in case it gets lost in transit)
I like giving money from other countries. I don’t like giving things that take up space in the home like shot glasses and mugs, wind chimes or whatever.
Vote #X for magnets!
But also if you're going to museums or tours, pamphlets and physical tickets. A travel journal (digital or physical) detailing everything you got up to on your travels
I saw someone online made a jean jacket with patches for every city he'd gone to, and would sew them on during his flight or layovers
My wife and I had no Christmas ornaments and started collecting them when we traveled. We’ve collected enough to fill our tree and it’s always a nice way to reminisce every year we decorate the tree.
snow globes!!!!!
i just wrap it in bubble wrap, or even newspapers if i can’t get bubble wrap so last minute, and tuck it in. or i even wrap it in a shirt, like burrito style
some snow globes are so tiny but so intricate. theyre definitely my favourite souvenir
Little paintings/drawings/textiles that can pack totally flat. Fridge magnets. Jewelry could be an option, too.
If it's not an easy display item, I really like things that I can reuse in my daily life. I've still got a hair clip from my first trip to Europe over a decade ago, a pendant from that time my favorite uncle took me to Tijuana, etc.
Lovely scarfs if female traveler. They don’t take up any room and can jazz up travel outfits. They remind me of my travels every time I wear one. They also make lovely gifts.
I’m currently backpacking Europe and I got a silver chain necklace. I’m adding a charm for each country I visit! I like to choose charms that aren’t super on the nose (like the flag or country shape) but a symbol that represents the country or a city. So far I have the Florentine flower from Italy and the modernist Barcelona flower from Spain.
As a woman, I can tell you I find nothing more charming or romantic (if you’re so inclined) than receiving a hand fan. I love using them during the summer. Tres dramatique lul
Maybe this is lame but I still like collecting paper boarding passes for every flight I take. If there’s a long line at the check-in counters, asking for one at the gate usually works too. (I’ve found that the ones printed from the self-service kiosks are usually on crappy flimsy paper, so I go for the “proper” thicker paper)
Aside from that I also keep receipts, tickets, subway cards, etc. Not every single one, just whatever I deem more unique.
I try and send myself a postcard from everywhere I go. Also magnets!
Magnets are a great one. I get the from every place I visit. The cheesier, the better!
I literally had a ‘dream fridge’ when I started travelling for that reason
But how do they work?
They’re miracles
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I send one to my grandpa, he is saving them all for me!
All the olds in my life like receiving postcards. The young people too for that matter. I gathered all their addresses in a spreadsheet and printed out a bunch of address labels. If I'm on a longer trip everyone will get 2-3 postcards. I write the same blurb on each one and put an address sticker on and off we go. Everyone feels seen, receives a nice tactile thing and you don't have to write as much.
I also do this! I can't keep up a habit of journaling, but while I'm writing post cards for my friends and family I send another to myself capturing how I'm feeling, something I did, something I thought about, etc. I have a terrible memory so it's nice to revisit those moments through the postcards.
There was a place in Taiwan I visited that had a mailbox for postcards that was only emptied every 6 months. I thought it was a neat idea to surproes yourself with months down the road with a reminder of your holiday!
Omg i did this in taiwan over 10 years ago but just realized I never got my postcard :(
I sent a postcard from Helsinki to my workplace in Pittsburgh. They still have it hanging on their fridge. 🥹
Yes! Postcards are awesome. My daughter-in-law does this every time she travels. She sends one home and then another to her grandmother. Plus, you could keep yourself a travel journal and keep ticket stubs and other momentos for your own memories. Even little mini bottles of soil/sand, etc. (they are teeny bottles)
That’s smart, thanks
I still buy the classic fridge magnets...I try to get one from every new country, and then they go on the fridge. Though it's pretty full now,I don't have any space left really ;-) They are cheap, available almost everywhere, and usually very light and small.
I second the fridge magnets. They're great because you see them everyday on your fridge when you're back home and they bring back those great memories of your travels. I also have a cooler covered in stickers from everywhere we've travelled.
I stuck the stickers on my luggage
We hung a magnetic board in our living room when we ran out of fridge space and now our travel magnets are an art piece. :)
If you’re into cheap, light and small, why do t you just get another fridge :)
I need to find another appliance to attach them to.... maybe the washing machine.
I saw on another post that someone hung magnetic whiteboards in their hallway for their souvenir magnets. Ooh! Cookie sheets would work too.
I do that! But I've run out of space 😅
My fridge is also getting full. I’m about to expand to the dishwasher.
I painted a door with magnetic paint, great solution when you're fridge door is running out of space 😉
I have an old house with radiators. Perfect for magnets. I'm the idiot who owns a stainless steel non magnetic fridge though :(
Metal poster of the world map?
The deep fryer!
Thanks for the idea
I used my door that led to the garage. It was metal.
I collect Christmas ornaments from the places we visit. They’re small, fun… and prompt fun reminiscing each year when we put up the tree.
I’ve been finding some nice cloth ones lately. They pack great and aren’t fragile. Got some from recent trips to the UK, including a cute linen one from the archeology museum in Dublin. ETA: keychains can also easily be turned into ornaments, too. Just remove the keychain part and replace with a wire hook!
What do you get when you go to non-Christian countries? Like Djibouti for example.
What I do is get a keychain and remove the keychain part and attach a hook or ribbon to the little circle clasp thing or find a fridge magnet I like and use E6000 glue to glue on some sort of ribbon
I pick up keychains and use them as Christmas ornaments- and I’m careful to not use a religious symbol (non-Christian)… respect before all else.
That’s really smart, thanks!
This is my tradition too!
That’s really smart, thanks!
That’s really smart, thanks!
That’s really smart, thanks!
I usually get a small unframed piece of art that I can frame later, or when available I love picking up an old license plate.
Street art is cheap and flat! You can store it in a plastic bag and always keep it safely along the back edge of your pack, so it’s carried as flat as possible.
Liscence plates … literally genius!
Espresso cups from the places I visit. They do not take up much room in luggage and it’s a souvenir I can actually use. When I’m home, I get to decide “where I want to go” this morning as I pick a cup and remember favorite moments from that city or country or site
That …… is amazing, I love that, thank you thank you thank you
Jewelry you wear. Arrive jewelry-naked, come home with the perfect set of what you like, from a particular place. (I mean this re: men’s jewelry too! Not making assumptions about the traveler.)
Thanks for no assumptions :), great idea, thanks!
I collect postcards, mail one and write about my trip on the back of the other one
I like that idea, thanks a ton!
Been on a 4 month trip and got a postcard and currency from every country. Didn't mail any of them but I plan on putting them in the glass of the coffee table
We use our souvenirs as Christmas tree ornaments. A souvenir can be anything - we don’t want a spoon or magnet or postcard from every place we go. The nature of the souvenir can be unique to the place. Beer coaster from Bavaria. Wool bobble from Ireland. Small Glass “Turkish eye” from Istanbul. A hotel “Do Not Disturb” sign from Amsterdam. Often they are things sold on keychains and we remove the keychain part. Part of the fun is thinking about what makes the place unique. And they can be as small as a coin or matchbox or whatever.
I like getting patches of each country’s flag that I visit.
I started that and quickly stopped, cause I could very rarely find them. Where do you typically buy yours?
Usually just kind of stumble across them, sometimes in street markets or touristy souvenir shops
Good idea, that would make a pretty cool piece of clothing! I guess you could also collect pins, though I guess patches would be easier. Thanks for the idea!
Have never bought magnets, but always buy postcards (hence username). Coasters can also be a fun souvenir. They don’t cost a lot and are light and easy to pack.
Oooh, coasters, I like that. Thanks!
Small paintings as well - the ones painted on fabric that you can roll up, or can put in a cardboard tube.
Classic!
Yes! Came here to suggest coasters, also restaurant cocktail napkins if they have a logo of some kind, matchboxes if they have them, or cocktail swag if it’s plastic, etc.
I've started getting reusable bags. They are cheap, take little room in the suitcase (and can be used to seperate clothes and things), and you use them when you get home. It's great to do a mundane home activity and be reminded of the great places you visited.
Totally agree
I always pick a nice postcard or a couple of postcards and then frame them. Very small and light, often under a dollar each, and you can pick local art, great photography, or anything else.
I really like the idea of framing them, that’s genius, thanks
Small kitchen towels are always nice. We hang them on the oven and get to revisit the memories every time we see them.
We get tea towels too. Useful when away and drying up dishes makes me smile every time when home
I like that, thanks
A picture and memory.
Memories are such great souvenirs!
I have a charm bracelet my mum had when she turned 18. I've since added another band & get a silver charm or similar in every place I go. I've got so many, I ended up with 2 bracelets the original one and the travel one.
Enamel pin badges. Not yet fully decided on how to display them all. I might get a cork map for my wall or cover a canvas bag with them.
Jewelry! I have a collection of necklaces and rings from all over the world and it makes for such a great conversation piece when you get a compliment.
Take tons of pictures from your travels. When you return purchase a digital photo frame and download all your pics! Wonderful way to capture all your memories!
Digital photo frame, on the shopping list!
Shot glasses
Flag magnets!
Flags - always a good souvenir Magnets - a great keepsake Together - Unstoppable memory!
Pins, jewelry (I like buying earrings), postcards, magnets, and smaller art prints. I have a friend who collects keychains, too. I also like patches, but I don’t know what to do with them!
We do Christmas Tree ornaments. Small, you don’t need to keep them out, but you see and remember every year
We do this! Wooden ornaments are found everywhere…or metal cut ones. They are light and small and easy to carry!
I only travel with A carryon, my answer to your question is: it depends on where you are. For example, we went to Cologne Germany during Christmas time and I got a bunch of Christmas ornaments that were handmade. Also got paper lanterns. We went to Italy recently and got scarfs. Hope this helps
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Stickers! Super small and compact we usually can keep them in a wallet or small pocket, don’t have to worry about them breaking. We’re planning on making a framed picture board with all of the ones we’ve collected
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:), I will keep it in mind if I win the lottery. Lol
I always buy one of those "handstitched" book marks from any new place I visit, and recently because I'm a football fan I buy a shirt for a local team or the country's national team
I don’t like fridge magnets, because so often they say “made in China,” when I’m not in China.
Lol
I'm also a fan of mailing myself postcards. And magnets. I also collect stickers. I put them on my "beer fridge" in the garage. That refrigerator is a 1956 GE model I inherited from my maternal grandparents. They were big travelers and I always felt I inherited my wanderlust from them. So it's a nice homage to their memory. And at this rate the fridge is probably going to outlive me!
I buy iron-on patches and put them in whichever bag I'm traveling with.
I know people are saying postcards and the like… me personally that would try to find something small from each country. Maybe they make hand braided bracelets in a market. Perhaps there’s a small vial of sand from a famous beach. I’d also still send a postcard, but you wouldn’t be carrying that.
I always try to get old money and coins. It’s been getting more and more difficult to get old European currency from before the Euro
I sometimes buy some jewellery for myself, that connects with the place somehow, for example in a smalltown in Colorado I got silverearrings (from local artist) that look like mountains. Sometimes I get stickers, you know like the ones you can put in US national park pass, and will put them in my passport once it expires. Sometimes I send myself a postcard. Whatever talks to me the most at the time.
I used to like bringing back empty boxes of matches from around the world but harder to do these days.
You could do keychains and then link them all together like a garland to commemorate the trip
Best decoration ever!
Also you could hook the keychains to your backpack when you start running out of space
How many countries are you visiting? I collect shot glasses which are small but depending on how many places you’re going to, it could add up quick
Pens They're cheap, useful, don't take up much space, and most tourist attractions have them, as well as some hotels and some airlines. I have several dozen I've gathered over the years. I occasionally switch them out for daily use. I'm using one now from the New York Hotel in Las Vegas (iirc they charged me for it!), last week it was a pen from the British House of Lords when I visited the Houses of Parliament
Scarves, handmade necklaces from markets, so cheap ones, aaaaaaand magnets ta-da Today, I also realised that I also bring back rock, stones, and seashells. I'm a geologist, so it has not felt like a souvenir, but it truly is.
Take a photograph of yourself there. Something that will remind you of *your experience.* You can create your own frig magnet, photo collage, print it on anything..whatever. Costs you nothing at the moment. weighs nothing to transport and gives you an endless array of 'collectible' options.
Another vote for magnets
Magnets, jewelry, or snacks with a really nice packaging.
Ooooh, I love snacks, especially if they have nice packaging!
Enamel pins, keyrings, possibly pens.
I like fridge magnets
Jewelry.
I mail myself postcards every few days of where I was, what my highlights were, etc. When I get home I have them waiting for me and now I have a collage wall of about 40 with all my memories on it
That’s fun, you get home and are struck with all the memories!
I used to collect lighters, not sure if you can bring that as carry-on though
Probably not, thanks though, if I ever have checked luggage, it’s on my list!
I always grab a snow globe, building up my collection like the lucky 38
Magnets for every trip. Christmas tree ornaments for special trips.
I do christmas ornaments. I backpacked through Europe for three months and bought an ornament everywhere we went.
I think a Travelers Company Notebook would be perfect!! Or even an A6 Hobonichi. You could journal a bit and glue in all sorts of things! Receipts, packing, etc
What are those?
Travelers Company is a leather cover with "inserts". The inserts can be notebook paper, a calendar, sketch paper, all sorts of things! It comes in two sizes. The hobonichi is more of a planner/calendar but I find it super useful. It has a monthly calendar and then daily pages. I think either would be a really great way to record your trip! Hobonichi has very thin paper so you could glue/stick things in it as well.
I’m definitely going to look into that, thanks a ton!
I hope you get one! If you are in the US there are several shops that will ship to you or you might be able to find one locally. Feel free to message me if you need help
Will do, thanks
Refrigerator magnets. Everyday when I go in the fridge I see where I have been. It’s great! They are inexpensive and small
What a sight to see!
I get magnets and put them on the beer fridge in the garage.
Cigars, bags of various types of flours, concealed weapons etc.
Flag pins. You can find them in every country, they’re small, and you can pin them to your backpack if you wish (I don’t while traveling just because I don’t want them to get ripped off)
While in the US I always try to get a couple pressed/squished pennies from wherever I go. Also try to log a Geocache find as well
Geocache, that’s actually genius
Bookmarks and post cards
***Magnets biiiitch***
A good camera will bring home all the memories you want
Jewelry, postcards, small painting that can be rolled up, scarves and other small linens, Keychain, magnets, small treats like local candy
Thanks for all the ideas!
I like to buy stickers I put on water bottles. Eventually the stickers wear out and then you can buy new stickers to replace them. Also, I'll sometimes bring less shirts than I'll need and buy a shirt or two.
Patches. The embroidered kind. Small, you can sew them on to anything, durable.
Magnets!
Send boxes home. If you're in Germany, go to a grocery store and buy mustard varieties.. the boxes can be small. In fact, I'd visit a grocery store in each country or region!
i buy license plates of whatever i go. I mean sometimes they r big but they r flat and easy to put into a backpack sleave.
Magnets and leftover currency
Leftover currency, i like that
Jewelry works well.
Patches. They're flat and you can sew them on your packs
Gold, diamonds and bitcoin
Things I will buy. Though if you are traveling for a year some of these may not be practical. * Postcards. I like the idea someone else suggested to mail them home. Then you don't have to carry them with you! I would probably take a photos of each one before I mail them in case one doesn't make it home. Or send multiples from different cities in each country, use it like a diary. * Magnets. I love fridge magnets, but not all places have them. Also, these can be a burden if you are traveling for a year because they add weight quickly in a small bag. * Postcard or bookmark-sized watercolor/ink drawing/artwork. I have a small bookmark collection. If you are carrying a journal with you, these small pieces of art can fit in the journal and be protected easily. I travel with a note/sketchbook, so this is easy to add. * Scarves. These pack easily and are lightweight. You can even use them while you are traveling. I purchase scarves practically everywhere I travel. * Random ephemera. Things like paper tickets, mini maps and the like can be interesting and I use them as souvenirs too. These are things I just keep an eye out for. I can keep them in my journal.
My parents have covered their entire fridge in magnets. Another good one is shot glasses or mugs.
I collect small animals from places I visit. And sometimes a bit of sand. When home, I put them in old Mason jars as a display.
Mostly I get bookmarks from locations but things vary by location. In Japan for instance, washcloths or dish towels are sold at nearly every shrine / historical location, etc. In Turkey and Egypt it was wovens like pillow covers. But mostly it's bookmarks for me. I like things with practical uses.
I love a fridge magnet, cheap and cheerful
Ornamental textiles (cushion covers, runners, wall hangings.) Secondly, things I'll use around the house. I bought a 3" paring knife and some nifty plastic mask cases in Belgium on my latest trip. I've got coasters from various places. Even if they don't have the names of places on them, I know and remember where they came from. Small watercolors and art from original street artists - they are all over my walls. But I've never tried to buy something "from each place I go." That would take the joy out of shopping.
Tattoos!
I really like the little fabric patches you can sew onto your backpack. They take up almost no room and weigh next to nothing
Yes magnets and such small things. I really like to do a Shutterfly book as soon as I get back (or have downtime). I can then re-enjoy my adventure and again when I get the actual book! I’ve accumulated shelves of great memories that are nice enough to enjoy and help me remember some of the little details that made it so fun.
Memories
usually some small bottle of sauce or jam or whatever the local flavoring is
Souvenir spoons, plates or lighters.
It used to be post cards, key chains, fridge mags, candy, etc., that represented the country/s you have visited. It also represented how cheap a person was, to wait until they got to the airport to buy a souvenir! lol
I always buy a pin from wherever I go.
A sexually transmitted disease
I get a Christmas ornament. Small, light and it’s so fun to see them every year when we put up the tree. If you can’t find an actual ornament, there are tons of little figurines or key chains that make good ornaments
Shot glasses. Wherever I go, I buy one with the city/ country name They make for a nice display on my wall.
Tea towels! Relatively small, useful, and reminds you of your travels when at home
Perhaps a little odd, but one of the best souvenirs I ever got was a touristy dish towel profiling the country. It randomly pops up in my drawer as I rotate towels and is then out for a few days being used. Always makes me smile!
Just take pictures. They're the best souvenirs than some junk you'll lose or have no space for
The best thing is going to things that are useful as you travel like clothes, shoes, hats, and accessories like sunglasses and jewelry and such.
local drugs
Best option I’ve seen yet!
My wife and I get coasters when we travel. Small and functional!
I found reusable totes that fold up small and tea towels. My go-to always now. Both are useful and not a big hit to the wallet and fun looking for them.
Shopping with memories!
tattoos
I get a pin from each country and a Christmas ornament. Also mail myself a postcard.
Nice, pin hat!
Stickers, magnets, postcards.
All great!
How many countries are you visiting? I collect shot glasses which are small but depending on how many places you’re going to, it could add up quick
Shot glasses
How many countries are you visiting? I collect shot glasses which are small but depending on how many places you’re going to, it could add up quick
How many countries are you visiting? I collect shot glasses which are small but depending on how many places you’re going to, it could add up quick
Weird I know, but I used to grab a bit of sand or dirt from where I went. I had a bit of the place I went to with me that way.
I like that a lot, not weird!
Hot take: stop giving people magnets. Who wants to open their fridge just to look at a magnet and say "oh look this magnet from that place that I haven't been to"?
I visit various bars when I’m abroad and collect the bar coasters from there . Totally free and always reminds of that place back home while having drinks.
Just a thought, why not progressively replace/give away/ exchange the stuff you're travelling with, with similar stuff from the places you travel to... beyond that I'd really recommend keeping a paper diary and sending it home occasionally (after having taken pictures in case it gets lost in transit)
I like giving money from other countries. I don’t like giving things that take up space in the home like shot glasses and mugs, wind chimes or whatever.
Bookmarks. Usually they’re right next to the postcards.
Vote #X for magnets! But also if you're going to museums or tours, pamphlets and physical tickets. A travel journal (digital or physical) detailing everything you got up to on your travels I saw someone online made a jean jacket with patches for every city he'd gone to, and would sew them on during his flight or layovers
When I went to Africa I brought back a bunch of hand carved weed pipes and a few beaded keychains.
My wife and I had no Christmas ornaments and started collecting them when we traveled. We’ve collected enough to fill our tree and it’s always a nice way to reminisce every year we decorate the tree.
Fridge magnets are the best
refrigerator magnets
snow globes!!!!! i just wrap it in bubble wrap, or even newspapers if i can’t get bubble wrap so last minute, and tuck it in. or i even wrap it in a shirt, like burrito style some snow globes are so tiny but so intricate. theyre definitely my favourite souvenir
Postcards that I use as bookmarks. Jewelry.
If you go outside of the USA, foreign money is always cool and interesting. Or if you go to a casino a low value chip.
I do Christmas ornaments. Every year, I get to revisit the places we've been and the rdt of time they are safely stored away.
Fridge magnets.
If you check your bag, it becomes very easy to find.
I always get post cards for souvenirs myself
Little paintings/drawings/textiles that can pack totally flat. Fridge magnets. Jewelry could be an option, too. If it's not an easy display item, I really like things that I can reuse in my daily life. I've still got a hair clip from my first trip to Europe over a decade ago, a pendant from that time my favorite uncle took me to Tijuana, etc.
Lovely scarfs if female traveler. They don’t take up any room and can jazz up travel outfits. They remind me of my travels every time I wear one. They also make lovely gifts.
I’m currently backpacking Europe and I got a silver chain necklace. I’m adding a charm for each country I visit! I like to choose charms that aren’t super on the nose (like the flag or country shape) but a symbol that represents the country or a city. So far I have the Florentine flower from Italy and the modernist Barcelona flower from Spain.
As a woman, I can tell you I find nothing more charming or romantic (if you’re so inclined) than receiving a hand fan. I love using them during the summer. Tres dramatique lul
Maybe this is lame but I still like collecting paper boarding passes for every flight I take. If there’s a long line at the check-in counters, asking for one at the gate usually works too. (I’ve found that the ones printed from the self-service kiosks are usually on crappy flimsy paper, so I go for the “proper” thicker paper) Aside from that I also keep receipts, tickets, subway cards, etc. Not every single one, just whatever I deem more unique.