Buying the Right Souvenirs

Do not feel bad, everyone has done it. Everyone has a tacky T-shirt or statue of some monument from their travels in their possession. It is hard to avoid the cheesy tourist shops that line the streets of destination cities. It is even harder not to shell out the few dollars for an "I heart" T-shirt after you have had such a good time in the city. But, here is why you should avoid them.

Most of those very cheap souvenirs do not actually come from the city. They most likely come from Asia or somewhere abroad where these items cost pennies to make. Companies buy these items to sell because tourists are happy to spend as little money as possible on these trinkets. What is the point of buying goods when they are not really "from" the area?

Additionally, some of the shops may not even be locally owned. Tourist traps attract expats to sell cheap goods because it is a good business and steady market.

So instead, try to stick to these three strategies when purchasing items.

1. Stay local and cultural

Try to buy items that are made in the city or country. Usually the items that have been made locally will be clearly labeled. Also, try to avoid stereotypical souvenirs and go for something that is more culturally significant. A Barcelona shot glass is nice, but it does not compare to a bottle of Catalonian Sangria.

2. Stay with shops that have history

Try to stick to the "mom and pop" shops when buying souvenirs. Every shop has a story and try to find the story out before you buy something. When you enter a store, try to talk to the sales associate about the shop and how long they have been in business for. Try to get the history so that the souvenir means something more than just something you purchased.

3. Do you really need it?

When buying souvenirs, ask yourself if you really need it. Although they help you remember your experience, try to think if you really need an object to do that. Souvenirs take up space in luggage and are often not worth all the hassle once you get them home. Try to buy souvenirs that you will use in your daily life. For example, bringing back a scarf from South America is useful because you can always wear it in the winter, but what exactly are you going to do with a mini statue of Big Ben?