<p>I don’t tend to buy stuff. Granted, my traveling is somewhat limited, but I would likely NOT buy anything besides perhaps a piece of unique clothing that I would actually wear or a food good. </p>
<p>One tradition we started when my kids were little though was after each trip we took we would make a “patch” out of felt or other material that would depict something about our trip - the shape of the state, the name of the city, a landmark - whatever - and then we randomly sewed the patch on an inexpensive fleece blanket. Everyone liked snuggling with the blanket, we sometimes took it on car trips and it is still fun to look over all the patches we created. :)</p>
<p>I’d rather spend the money on theatre tickets or another experience on our trip instead of stuff, although I do like the idea of bringing a kitchen implement back. As far as souvenirs for folks back home, we might buy a gift for an upcoming birthday while on vacation if we happen to see the perfect thing, but we have never set the expectation that we will return with presents for everyone. </p>
<p>We’re continuing the fridge magnet collection from when the kids were little, although there’s no place to display it.</p>
<p>:Lately, I’ve been buying picture frames at my destination - not those tacky souvenir shop ones but if I can find a unique frame it makes a nice addition to the photos displayed in the living room. Sometimes I put a photo from the trip into the frame, and sometimes it holds an unrelated picture (two memories in one!).</p>
<p>I try to buy one thing that’s unique or speaks to me. Granted, I often fail to find anything that’s unique or speaks to me, but when it works, it’s great. When we were in Prague, I bought a poster from the Museum of Communism (“Pray We Don’t Catch You at Another Museum”), framed it, and then hung it in my hallway. Every time I see it I smile and think of that trip.</p>
<p>Sometimes I buy small Christmas ornaments. I’ve also taken my own pictures and framed the best for my bedroom. Like nottelling, I don’t buy something from every place I go - I don’t buy something just to buy it - but I do keep my eyes open.</p>
<p>C’mon, PG, two weeks with just a carry-on? Of regulation size?</p>
<p>I am traveling for one week with one large suitcase, one medium-sized suitcase, and a carry-on. And I think it is apparent that I am not a fashionista.</p>
<p>Of the things that I have acquired that I was most pleased about: an aboriginal shield, acquired at a roadside stand in Australia (perhaps technically in the Outback, but not very far into it), a warrior doll with a removable head mask from Thailand, a book by G. B. Airy (Astronomer Royal) that was his personal copy (and will go to a library in the future), a small rug from Greece (shipped), a leather purse from Florence, Waterford bowls, a small black lacquer box with a Russian folk-tale depicted on it, a book on the Viennese school of Fantastic Realism.</p>
<p>Something I wish I had purchased, if I had been able to bring it home without breaking it: a large glass balloon for sale in Venice.</p>
<p>I do bring trinkets home, too. I also tend to get the guidebooks for museums or historic sites. </p>
<p>I avoid souvenir shops – I have no desire to buy mugs, magnets, picture frames and other kitsch that have the name of the location in large print. But I almost always buy stuff when I travel. Like Sue22, I love getting inexpensive jewelry, usually handmade. I shop in small clothing boutiques and look for interesting cuts and designs. I buy vases or serving platters/bowls in indigenous designs. If I can go to an outlet, I’ll buy locally made items – I bought a lot of Naot shoes in Israel from the factory store, for example.</p>
<p>I also take a lot of photos. And I’ve started making photobooks. For two trips I made this year, I have 3000 photos to sort through!</p>
<p>I am also very fond of Disney comic books in foreign languages, though I know that some would consider that anathema. I buy the local graphic books or comic books as well. I have purchased newspapers in languages of places I visit rarely (e.g., a Welsh newspaper).</p>
<p>“C’mon, PG, two weeks with just a carry-on? Of regulation size?”</p>
<p>Yep. I’ve done so several times this year – China and Japan for 2 weeks in February, Germany / France / the Netherlands / Russia for 2 weeks in March, and I’m leaving Saturday for France / Spain / Germany. I roll my clothes, which is the big trick, and wear scrubs as pajamas since they pack so flat. For this upcoming trip, on 5 of the days, I’ll be with clients, and I have 5 separate outfits (no repeats) for those days. But I will re-wear other outfits on days where it’s just myself touring. It’s all nice casual, though - I don’t wear business suits or anything like that. All my toiletries/makeup fit into one very small bag that I keep constantly packed. This is a point of pride with me </p>
<p>Quant, we are heading to China for two weeks and each of us is only taking a small suitcase. We are doing domestic flights there and can’t have anything over 40 lbs. I learned a long time ago that on air trips less is best. Now, car vacations I pack more.</p>
<p>No trinkets, mugs or t-shirts. Everyone has way too many of those. Unless it’s something I really want (generally an artsy piece made in the country) I don’t buy things while traveling. I have enough STUFF. </p>
<p>How envious I am of all you travelers! PG has been more places this year than I’ve been in dozens of years.</p>
<p>My magnets have moved to freezer, as I have a SS fridge. I still like the nice mugs from vacations. I gave away all the plain ones. I would a mug at Disneyworld if it was interesting. </p>
<p>It is interesting how we role model for our kids. When vacationing with son in Jamaica and later Maui, I bought coffee for my closest friends. We didn’t spend time shopping. Son bought home chocolates from Switzerland for everyone, and similar “1 size fits all” from other places. He splurges on local art work.</p>
<p>We started getting pencils (or pens) from vacations and travels when D was small and still follow that tradition.,. They all go in a single mug in our family room. On our road trip from VA to MI last week, H and I both bought hats, and we got some local foods for ourselves and a couple of family members we like to remember.</p>
<p>We used to do snow globes and tree ornaments, but the former were kind of tacky and we always forgot about the latter until after the holidays!</p>
<p>We have a lot of pottery. We have a baeckeoffe (crock pot looking thing) and a kugelhopf (bundt cake) from Alsace, serving dishes from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Our wine glasses are from France and our fancy tablecloth is from Belgium. We have original art on our walls from New York City (twin towers), Saratoga (horses), Maine, Paris, and Sierra Leone. For a while we got Christmas ornaments but the tree is full. We have a hand-tied rug from Nepal. Years ago we stuck our oldest in lederhosen and a Tyrol hat.</p>
<p>Most of these were things we would have bought anyway, but were cheaper and better quality while travelling. At this point, though, we are done accumulating and mostly limit it to t-shirts on the closeout rack and consumables (tea from London).</p>
<p>I used to bring back Christmas ornaments but I stopped because I hadn’t put up a big tree in a couple of years. </p>
<p>This last trip, we bought sketch pads and spent time drawing the beautiful scenery. I learned that my H is pretty good at sketching! It was relaxing and we had something to bring home. I did splurge on coffee when we toured a plantation. </p>
<p>As for packing, we each brought a carry on for a two week trip. It was doable because we sent out laundry (so efficient, it was returned by the end of the day). Except for golf bags, its been a while since we’ve checked baggage. I also ditched my Canon camera for my iphone for photos. I was nervous about missing out on some good photo ops. I love to frame my favorite vacation photos.</p>
<p>Most of all photos, but we do have an extensive magnet collection. I prefer the ones that are 3D, or other not just a photo. We used to do snow globes but they’ve tended to become more and more generic, so not worth the bother usually. I did get a snow globe of the Great Wall when we were there on a business trip, just because I could. I’ll get DS a shot glass if there’s an attractive one, and maybe a T-shirt.</p>
<p>If there is a local specialty that I like, I might bring home a small sample. When I went on a cruise with my mother last year, I got aloe from Aruba, sea salt from Bonaire, and Gouda from Curacao. I might buy an inexpensive art/craft item at a fair or market if it appeals to me and will go in our home. I bring lots of shells from Sanibel!</p>
<p>I would buy Chanukah ornaments if there was such a thing!</p>
<p>“I am traveling for one week with one large suitcase, one medium-sized suitcase, and a carry-on.” You may not be a fashionista but you sure bring lots of stuff! Our family just completed a 10-day trip and each of us, plus our guest had a single carry-on, even the fashionista teen. We bristle at the airlines charging to ship luggage, so we make it unnecessary. The most frugal packer was our guest, whose parents work for the airline. They NEVER check bags.</p>
<p>The key is bring multi-purpose shoes, and only a couple of pair at that, clothing that can be combined in multiple ways, and can be washed somewhere about mid-trip without needing to be ironed. I can’t imagine what one person would need 3 bags for, even allowing for a different outfit (or two) each day of a week-long trip.</p>
<p>I’ve done 3 weeks with a carry-on. I will do anything to avoid checking luggage. Whenever I go clothes shopping, I am on the lookout for good travel clothing – thin sweaters that are warm, skirts that don’t wrinkle, etc. I will check bags on the return, only if I need room for the stuff I’ve bought. It probably helps that I’m thin – my clothes are sized small, which helps to fit more into a bag. </p>
<p>From a trip in France a copper double boiler and an oiled table cloth. From Germany chocolate, Christmas ornaments for sure if it’s the right time of year. From Scotland Rennie Macintosh inspired jewelry and some modern jewelry. From Jordan, mosaic refrigerator magnets, a headdress to wear as a scarf, a mosaic table (that was shipped to us), and inlaid boxes. Oh and the world’s best olive oil - fresh squeezed in front of us! (Our driver got a whole Jerrycan’s worth at the same place.) Son got a beautiful inlaid backgammon board and a scarf.</p>
<p>I have to say one of my favorite things we brought back is the diary my youngest put together in Japan. He dictated, I wrote stuff down. And we pasted in postcards, ticket stubs and the like. It’s quite amusing to read about Japan from a 8 year old’s point of view. We didn’t bring back a lot from Japan because the nice stuff was so expensive!</p>
<p>QM, I’m also able to easily travel for two weeks in multiple climates with one carryon suitcase, and a tote bag purse. </p>
<p>I volunteer at a charity thrift store, and I can’t tell you how many “trip souvenirs” come in as donations. Everything from Belleek china things to Hawaiian print shirts.</p>
<p>Christmas ornaments and decorations. From Paris: handbags, scarves, Fleur de Sel, chocolates, lotions and soap, cafe au lait bowls, coffee mugs from special museums. Reusable shopping bags (small and useful)
There is the walking cane with a sword in it that my sister and I brought back from England in1979 for our Dad. I carried it on the plane. We will fight over that one day. </p>
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