How to shop abroad without feeling like a tourist
I have a strong dislike of anything one could call a ‘souvenir.’
This may originate in the summer I spent as a cashier at Goodwill. I freely admit that as a college student, there was a certain joy I found in employee discount. You can still luck into incredible second-hand finds there and any other thrift store.
What really bummed me out that season was seeing all the discarded travel remains on the shelves and racks. I’m talking mugs for Daytona Beach, figurines of Mt Rushmore, salt-shakers from the Wisconsin Dells, and a plethora of other tacky kitsch. It was at this point I resolved to never buy anything on an adventure that would only be thrown away. Easier said than done!
Here’s some strategies I’ve learned along the way to source meaningful trinkets and mementos from adventures:
Avoid any store that says souvenir on the signage
It’s going to be filled with plastic cups from China, scratchy t-shirts made of synthetic fabrics, and mass-produced baubles. Not worth it, in my opinion.
Choose to buy something meaningful without branding
You don’t need a mug that says ‘Peru’ to know that you went to Lima. I recommend investing in jewelry, something you can wear, that has a story, without being a walking billboard. It gives you memories every time you wear it without being obnoxious.
About a decade ago, I cleaned out all the low-quality cheap jewelry in my collection that I got at Target, the stuff that breaks easily and ages poorly. I now only get jewelry when I go on trips. It gives me one less thing to pack, and leads to a really fun curation of wearable art.
Two sets of earrings I obtained on my travels: birds purchased in Dublin in 2018, and simple gold studs from Mexico in 2024.
Art museums are your friend
There are a lot of benefits to shopping at a museum gift store. Firstly, it’s all for a good cause. Museums tend to have a mandate to protect and preserve artifacts. They provide access and education. Why wouldn’t you want to support them with your dollars?
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the shopping selection tends to be well-curated. It’s often easy to find high-quality goods sourced directly from the artist.
Like anything in life, there are exceptions. Madame Tussauds, for example, might technically be called a museum, but I’d venture their gift store has a lot of plastic shot-glasses and fridge magnets.
The most successful trip for museum shopping was definitely my trip to Peru this year.
I saw plenty of plastic llamas figurines on sale in airports and sidewalk stands, but Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima had the cutest ceramic llama for sale - sourced directly from the artist!
My favorite museum in Lima was AMANO (Museo Textil Precolombino). Their gift-shop is top-notch to match. I have a fun set of playing cards decorated with the beautiful textile traditions of historical Peruvian cultures.
Not everything needs to be brand new
I talk about this in my blog on how to shop vintage in Miraflores — read more here.
Essentially, how I decorate my home is very meaningful to me. I never decorative things from big box stores. I don’t want art on my wall that you can easily find in Ikea or Target. Curation means something to me. Getting a vintage piece on your adventures can be a really meaningful way to remember your experiences.
If you have the time on your trip, I encourage you to browse an antique shop or two. It may take a bit of searching, but you can find some really interesting things along the way.
I visited Çukurcuma street in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district during my visit in 2024. This little Orthodox icon of the virgin and child was only $10 USD!
