Travel souvenirs — what to avoid

Travel souvenirs are popular for a reason — they remind us of a place we visited and of a good time we had.

I know only one person who never buys anything while traveling, but most of us want to get a little something from a faraway country.

Alas, not everything that shines is gold.

A lot of souvenirs are just crap made for tourists who are excited to be there and don‘t pay attention to pour quality or kitschy designs.

From my experience, nothing good, or rarely anything good is in the nearest most obvious souvenir stands or shops around the local attraction objects.

Better to look for local art and craft shops, you‘ll find much more original and better quality products there.

It doesn‘t apply to museums’ souvenir shops of course, but prices there can be quite high.

Don‘t be afraid to go wander to a local market for a few hours, you can find real hidden treasures there.

Before you buy anything, try to find some information on local specialties — what people are making that they are famous and most proud of — and you‘ll get the answer what to bring home for presents.

To find such info is really simple — google it or ask your hotel staff.

Usually (not always though) the things people are trying to sell you very actively — like chasing you on the street — are not worth your money.

So, before you purchase another fridge magnet on your next holiday — try to be more creative and find something made by local craftsmen or artists.

You may even find yourself on a little unexpected adventure while looking for your perfect souvenir.