An underrated and fulfilling part of traveling is finding gifts for friends and family back home. It’s a great way to show them you were thinking of them while you were away, and it can also be a lot of fun! Here are four tips for finding the best gifts on your travels.
Buy Local Items
First, instead of buying regular airport souvenirs or waiting till you’re back to purchase something from where you’re from, buy local items instead.
One of the best things about gifts from travel is that they can be unique and memorable.
So, think about what local items would make good gifts. For example, if you’re in Mexico, you could pick up some colorful hand-painted pottery or a bottle of tequila. In Thailand, you could get some locally made beauty products.
Don’t be deterred by the size of unique items you know your loved ones would love either. You could always hire a loading and unloading service to handle that aspect.
Check Online
To find local items, travel blogs and review sites are a great way to see what gifts are popular in the area you’re visiting.
Take a look at Amazon or other online retailers that ship internationally. You can often find unique items on these sites that would make great gifts.
Alternatively, if you’re visiting a country with a large ex-pat community, you could check out their online stores. These stores typically sell items that are popular among locals and ex-pats alike.
Here’s what to look out for:
- At least 4 stars.
- A mix of positive and negative reviews. Only positive reviews often point to fabrication.
- Free or discounted delivery.
Go to a Local Market
Local markets are a great place to find gifts, as they usually have a wide variety of items for sale. You can often find good deals on things like clothes, souvenirs, and even food.
When you’re at the market, don’t be afraid to haggle with the vendors. It’s expected, and you can often get a better price if you do it. Just make sure to be respectful when you’re doing it.
If possible, go with a local friend or guide. They’ll be able to help you find the best deals and avoid scams.
Get Creative
If you’re really stuck or forgot and pressed for time there are always creative ways to work around it.
For example, you could make a photo album of your trip and include pictures of you with the people you met along the way. Or a scrapbook of pressed flowers from your travels.
Just be sure to put some thought into it and make sure it’s something the person would actually want.
Hopefully, these tips will help you find the perfect gifts for your friends and family. Traveling can be a lot of fun, and it’s even more enjoyable when you can share the experience with the people you love.
