For even the most seasoned travelers, a highlight of every trip is finding a perfect piece of the destination to bring home: something that will spark happy memories long after the vacation ends. “Even before I was in the travel industry, I’ve always loved buying things on my trips, because I’ve always loved having a piece of my travels with me,” says Carly Ritter (@elite.travelbycarly), a luxury travel advisor with SmartFlyer. “They’re reminders of where I was, who I was with, and the memories that were made.” With that in mind, Westport Lifestyle spoke to Westport-based luxury travel advisors for their top tips on making the most of your souvenir shopping on your next vacation.
Set Aside Time
First, and maybe most importantly (if a bit obvious), leave yourself time to shop if it’s important to you. “I have had clients who want an itinerary where they have activities every single day, and I warn them not to do that,” says Kristin Zovich, a luxury travel advisor with Gold Coast Travel (goldcoasttravelct.com). “Then you don’t have time to explore those hidden gems.”
Ask a Local
Want to avoid junky tourist traps when you’re looking for things to bring back? All our experts agreed; your best bet is to ask a local for recommendations, whether that’s the concierge at your hotel or a guide on an excursion or tour. “If you’re going on a tour, talk to your guide—they’re a local, and they’re an amazing resource,” says Kristin. For example, on a recent trip to Portugal, she did a bike tour, and her guide pointed her in the direction of a farmer’s market where she could pick up handmade items. “If you can find a place where locals would actually go to shop for their day-to-day items, you can pick up some amazing things,” she says. Similarly, Carly and her husband did a wine tour in Sicily, then asked their guide to accompany them to a wine shop where he helped them pick local wines. “That was amazing, because we could buy from more vineyards than the ones we had been to [on the tour],” she says. One last tip: before you buy a trinket, says Kristin, flip the item over. “Make sure that it doesn’t say ‘made in China!’”
Try Treats
Edible mementos are always a good bet, and great for sharing with friends and family back home. “I love to cook, and I love food, so I like to bring back perishable items I know I’ll use at home,” says Ashley Lancer, senior travel advisor at VWT by Chase Travel (valeriewilsontravel.com). “When I went to Japan, I brought home tea and candy, like uniquely-flavored Kit-Kats. When I went to Mallorca, I brought home a dish to grind garlic and make aiolis. When I went to Africa, we brought back biltong and a beautiful butter dish I keep in the fridge and see every day.” Treats make great gifts, too. “Off the coast of Portugal, I ran across this shop that was selling sardines, local olive oils, and the best tuna I have ever tasted,” says Kristin. “I ended up bringing cans of the tuna home for my friends.”
Look for Home Decor (That You’ll Actually Use)
It’s an easy way to bring a souvenir into daily life: for example, a set of small planters she bought in Sicily lives on their side of Carly’s kitchen sink. “They’re very traditional Sicilian style, in bright, bold colors, and they are just so joyful,” she says. They also picked up poster-sized prints of beautiful wine labels from a vineyard they visited, a way to preserve their trip as literal art. Kristin, whose husband is Croatian, decided to turn one of their powder rooms into a Croatian-inspired setting. “We got painted ceramic fish, because fish are very prominent in coastal areas of Croatia, and hung them up next to a picture of Dubrovnik. Every time we go into that room, we remember our trip together.” And if you fall in love with something, says Carly, sometimes you just have to go for it. “We bought a rug in Morocco, and we weren’t sure where we were going to put it. It’s in my office now. Sometimes you just have to have faith that you’ll find a home for it and make it work.”
Don’t Feel Pressured to Buy
You might be in a location known for a specific item—like rugs in Morocco—but just because it’s their most popular product, or because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, doesn’t mean it’s the right purchase for you, says Ashley. “Figure out who you are back at home and what would actually fit into your lifestyle and decor,” she says. And if you find you’ve come home empty-handed, no big deal—turn to your camera roll. “I take a lot of photos when I’m traveling, and I get a lot of them blown up and framed,” says Kristin. “It’s original, and it brings you back to that memory every time you see it.”
Pack Smart
Planning ahead is a good way to make sure there’s room for whatever you pick up: “Even if you pack correctly, it always feels like you’re bringing back more than you packed somehow!” says Ashley. “So I always leave some room in my luggage.” Kristin says she sticks to smaller items to be mindful of the space she’s left herself. And there are tried-and-true tricks if you’re planning to purchase something larger, like bringing an empty soft-sided bag you can check on the way home. (Pro tip: your clothes make great insulation.) Carly and her husband brought a mirror home from Marrakesh by getting it bubble-wrapped, adding an arm handle, and using it toward their carry-on allowance, keeping it in overhead bins during flights. You also don’t have to bring it home yourself: “I remind my clients that a lot of amazing products can be shipped back,” says Ashley.
“If you’re going on a tour, talk to your guide—they’re a local, and they’re an amazing resource,” says Kristin Zovich.
“Figure out who you are back at home and what would actually fit into your lifestyle and decor,” says Ashley Lancer.