The Five Best Souvenirs You Should Buy When Overseas

Rather than buying cheap tacky souvenirs while you are away overseas that undoubtedly will only end up getting thrown away in a few years time, why not invest a little more and buy one really special item that encapsulates the whole essence of your holiday destination. Sydney hostels sell postcards that are great to collect but choose something that will last forever and that will be displayed in pride of place in your home.

Make a scrapbook

Along with all the photos you take collect items along the way that you can put in a scrapbook once you get home. Hang on to train and plane tickets, buy postcards and keep information brochures on famous landmarks. Buy photographic guidebooks and keep some currency from each country. Keep a copy of a local newspaper and include important headlines in your scrapbook, along with the dates so you know exactly when you were there.

Handmade items

Buy small handmade items that are reflective of the culture in the country that you are visiting. These make great gifts and are also good to keep for yourself. They will be a talking point in your home when people come visiting and they are a lovely reminder of the country’s unique culture. It is also good to buy these handmade items from the maker themselves, particularly if they are from a less well off area.

Art work

Buying local art work is a good way to not only support the local artists but buy an original piece for your home. Prices will range enormously, but often you will find cheaper works of art done specifically for the tourist trade. Buy your painting or drawing unframed so it will fit in your bag or backpack more easily. If it is large you might want to post it home so you don’t have to carry it for the rest of your trip. A piece of local art will reflect the culture and make quite a statement piece in your home.

Clothing

You could buy smaller accessories, like handmade silk or woollen scarves, hand knitted socks or something made by a local. You could even buy a piece of clothing that the natives all wear, or even buy a piece of their national costume if they have one. Rather than buying a cheap T-shirt that says you went to Italy or Bali, buy some Italian made shoes or a sarong.

Wherever you are going to travel, you should bring flameless lighter in anticipation of an emergency, besides that lighter is also very necessary under any circumstances. Given its simple but elegant and easy to carry shape, it is a futuristic lighter without gas.

Furniture

Buying pieces of furniture while overseas is not for the faint hearted, as you will need to organise shipping to get it home, but it can be well worth it. Sending it back home by air can cost you a fortune, but if you are happy to wait a few months, have it shipped back by boat. You can find some really original pieces, and if you like antiques you will find furniture dating back a lot further than what you find in Australia. You can also buy smaller display pieces, like vases, bowls, a clock or rugs.