<p>Hi! We’re going to Europe for a few weeks with our kids and are thinking about what might be the best momentos and gifts to bring back. There will be 4 of us–hubby, me, and our two young adult kids. Last time, we brought back a silver bracelet from London, wooden plaque from Rottenberg, crystal bowl and necklace from Murano. We also brought wooden steamers for folks to cook with (not enthusiastically received), chocolate and shortbread from UK.</p>
<p>Hubby wants a cuckoo clock this trip. We’ll be going to London, Paris, Rhine/Black Forest area, Munich & Vienna.</p>
<p>Would like suggestions on what things folks have most liked as momentos of their trips and gifts they’ve brought back that others have really liked.</p>
<p>My best (and most useful) personal “memento” is a hand-decorated blue, white and gold tea set from St. Petersburg ([Imperial</a> Porcelain](<a href=“http://www.ipm.ru/]Imperial”>http://www.ipm.ru/)). I’ve bought some Lomonosov factory-made porcelain figurines to give as gifts, and they were very well recieved. H bought some fake Red Army knives and bottle openers for his buddies. In Stockholm I got some Orrefors and Kosta Boda crystal pieces to give to my close friends. I did not do much shopping in Paris because the dollar was not doing so well when we went there. The folks at work always welcome European (and Hawaiian) chocolates. :)</p>
<p>I have a picture hanging in my kitchen from our last trip to Italy- a watercolor from the street where it was purchased. We bought it without a frame so it packed easily, and I framed it at home. If I were going to Paris again, I think another painting would be my choice.
We also found beautiful linens for both of our moms-tablecloths with pretty Italian prints. I would expect something like that might be possible from any of your destinations.
On one of my trips to London with my mom,18 years ago now, we both bought teapots. That was really fun to shop for. I still love my beautiful Sheffield silver teapot and use it all the time.
I can’t imagine you’ll have any trouble finding fun things to bring back for your friends or your own memories.</p>
<p>In addition to larger ticket items that catch my eye, I always pick up local Christmas ornaments if I can find them - makes decorating the tree each year a real pleasure!</p>
<p>Make sure you get a cuckoo clock that has an “off” switch to silence the little birdie and the chimes (speaking from experience)!</p>
<p>There are always the tourist oriented cuckoo clocks, expensive china, crystal, jewelry, etc. but I noticed that in Germany, Switzerland, and many other areas many of the beer glasses have the name of the brewery on them and many of them have cool shapes to the glases. While working in a city in Switzerland for a week or so I often ate at a small restaurant that proclaimed to also be the oldest, small brewery in Switzerland or something like that. On the day before I was going to leave I asked one of the staff, who by now recognized me somewhat, if I could buy some of the glasses that had their brewery name on them. They went away for a bit and then came back and gave me 4 or 6 of the glasses. I was happy they would and asked them ‘how much’ but they wouldn’t accept any money for them. I thanked them profusely and brought the glasses home in my suitcase and even made it back with none breaking. Those glasses are an instant reminder of that time spent there.</p>
<p>When in Scotland on a family trip we asked at another restaurant my D had frequented on a a previous trip if we could buy one of their unique ceramic placemats, unique in that it has a design of this old restaurant on it and that it’s ceramic, and they also ended up giving us one which my D now has displayed. </p>
<p>Another no cost item are the unique coasters they use for drinks that you can generally have some of. </p>
<p>When you’re over there pay attention to some of the more routine items around you that are common in that particular area yet are unique to there in some way. Some of the least expensive items provide the most reminiscence.</p>
<p>Note though that on one trip I made over there when my kids were little I did buy some cuckoo clocks to bring back for them because they’re just kind of cool.</p>
<p>HImom - we also try to find a Christmas ornament (or something that hangs that could be used as such) from each trip. </p>
<p>The other thing that we occasionally do when we find a great restaurant or hotel with a beautiful business card is to have it framed. I always smile when I walk past them hanging on my walls.</p>
<p>I think you should definitely start a tradition of getting a new silver bracelet from each vacation spot! :p</p>
<p>HIMom - years ago (pre-kids) H and I went to Paris and bought some pictures from a street vendor at Montmartre / Sacre Coeur. We still have them hanging over our fireplace – they bring back wonderful memories. </p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad, the china I was talking about was not “tourist oriented”; it is as Russian and as “made in St Petersburg” as it gets. The factory which dates back to the 18th century survived the Russian revolution, WWI, WWII, and even the communism era. Many cafes in St Petersburg served tea and coffee in plain white porcelain cups made by that factory. I was told that such tea sets were traditional presents for weddings or very special occasions (of course, it is a huge expense for a typical Russian family to buy one of them, but for me it was the price of a dinner for 2 in a fancy restaurant). Sorry for a little detour. You lucked out with the beer glasses; I can’t imagine they would continue giving them for free to all CCers who could follow in your footsetps :)</p>
<p>Bottom line - I always get something that reminds me of a particular place, but when it comes to gifts for others, I have to compromise. What I could think of as memorable could be considered meaningless junk by others.</p>
<p>Holiday ornaments is a great suggestion, but it might be hard to find them in May. Unlike us, the Europeans do not start to celebrate their Chrismas in July ;)</p>
<p>Well you know that I would give my .02…
We usually buy original art work, late nineteenth and early twentieth century are a great value in France and Italy(no vat even on small purchases). On the last trip to Paris (2 years ago) I got three small Art Nouveau drawings(designs for tiles) by Maurice Pillard Verneuil at a reputable gallery. I know I paid under 45 eu each. Signed Paul Berthon woodcuts only 30 eu. I hadn’t come prepared to transport the art, so the gallery owner told us to come back in an hour. When I returned, he had fashioned a secure portfolio and copied all the documentation he had as well as a few personal notes on each piece.
Otherwise, I am not a great shopper. Friends and family have to settle with my pictures and boring stories.</p>
<p>For gifts some have suggested I bring back tubes of flavored condiments that are hard/impossible to find in the US. That sounds like a fun gift for giving. Will consider looking at artwork for purchase–D has the artist’s eye and will likely be very helpful there. Might consider sturdy (non-glass) ornaments, tho I already have more wooden ones than I know what to do with.</p>
<p>I would look for a nice Sabino Glass figurine or animal while in Paris - I splurged on one while there on my honeymoon and still enjoy it.</p>
<p>If you get the condiments though out them in the checked bags for the flight back - I tried to carry some on coming back the last time and they were confiscated (not a liquid or gel I thought but they took them anyway)</p>
<p>Yea, I’ll bring extra ziplocks & put them in checked luggage. Our carry on alllowance is about 15 pounds from Vienna to Heathrow anyway, so can’t carry much more than our jackets for the plane & things we need in flight.</p>
<p>Cookbooks are an interesting thought, especially if they’re in English (would be challenging for us if they’re not). We’re not multi-lingual. Maybe I’ll buy a very basic French one for my niece who is graduating & has taken French in HS all these years.</p>
<p>When we did several country trip with girl scouts my daughter chose a charm for a charm bracelet in every country and we put a charm bracelet together. She still wears it 5 years later and it is one of her favorite things.</p>
<p>Some of our favorite momentos are paintings or drawings. My daughter and I each bought charcoal drawings from a street artist in Venice (actually watched her draw them) and small oil paintings in Versailles. They were not expensive. My daughter had hers framed a couple of years back and they hang on the wall of her apartment. I wish I had started this earlier as they are daily reminders as they are not put away in some drawer. Well they will be - my daughter and my son are having mine framed as their birthday present to me this year which I am really excited about. (that part is a bit expensive).</p>
<p>My daughter collects shot glasses so they are a fun souvenir. We also got into this thing of finding hard Rock Cafes in various cities and buying the “local” HRC t shirt for the kids and the bottle opener magnet for me. (probably sounds odd but they are kind of cool as each country does a different design, tulips in Amsterdam, motor scooters in Rome etc, and I really like them - I have them from places a friend has travelled to as well).</p>
<p>Talking of Amsterdam - we bought tulip bulbs there (you can get ones that can be imported to the US) and they are about to bloom - a lovely reminder every spring.</p>
<p>I’ve been in a get-rid-of-junk phase for some years now, so the only thing we bring back are photos… which I promptly make into a photobook using blurb.com or mypublisher.com.</p>
<p>Photobooks are lovely. Do they only work with digital photos or can they use regular photos too? (I’m thinking of the boxes of pictures that should be sorted through.) Also, do the photots need to be in the condition that you want or do they do mild re-touching?</p>
<p>With momentos, do you get VAT refunds or not bother? The only times I’ve been abroad, I never bothered with it, but might consider it if it’s worthwhile (if the cuckoo clock seller won’t deduct it at the time of sale & mailing–maybe I’ll find one who will).</p>
Maybe I’ll buy a very basic French one for my niece who is graduating & has taken French in HS all these years.</p>