Buying travel souvenirs
Whether you’re visiting a new place or a proven favorite, one of the best aspects of traveling is bringing memories home. Some people enjoy collecting particular items, such as coins, spoons, magnets, Christmas decorations, or stamps. Of course, you’ll also find mass-produced tourist trinkets in any popular destination. While there’s nothing wrong with these items, they don’t always convey the true feel of a place.
For more unique souvenirs, shop for native products. Arts and crafts create great memories. Some of the unique items you’ll find in the Caribbean include carnival masks (Puerto Rico), batiks (Saint Lucia and Barbados), Creole dolls (Martinique), caymanite (a semi-precious stone from the Cayman Islands), and modern interpretations of cave paintings. Taínos (Jamaica). If you’ll be adding your purchase to your home decor, consider how it will fit in with what you already have.
These items are not only authentic to the region, but you can also get a first-hand experience with the maker. For example, artisans in Dominica create their wares while you watch. Since they make items differently each time, if you want something, buy it right away. That’s a good rule of thumb elsewhere, too. Even if the item is still available, you may not be able to go back and purchase it.
In some cultures, haggling is expected and considered an important part of social interaction. If you haggle with vendors, make it fun and remember that they need to make a living too. Tourists from prosperous regions like the US, Canada, and Europe will likely find that prices remain lower than those found in their home countries for similar products. Still, cost may be a consideration. Street vendors are cheaper, and many of these artists are talented at what they do. Browsing your products can be a lot of fun and yield unexpected treasures. When cost isn’t an issue, art galleries and unique boutiques showcase the best an area has to offer.
One of the most distinctive features of any culture is its music. Even if you don’t attend a big concert, you’ll often find musicians playing in public places. If you like what you hear and they have CDs for sale, why not buy one? Or pick up some local music at a CD store. When you’re home and want to get that vacation feeling back, just listen to it.
Even consumer goods like cigarettes, coffee, specialty foods, and soaps can prolong the memories of your trip. Although they won’t last forever, they can be a nice reminder while you wear them. Some, like guava liqueurs from Sint Maarten, may be difficult or impossible to find elsewhere.
In countries affected by colonial rule, travelers will often find goods from their home countries as well. For example, Aruba offers traditional Dutch items like wooden shoes, windmills, and Delft pottery along with native products.
Of course, there is always the lure of duty-free shopping. And even when shopping isn’t tax-free, prices for luxury items can be significantly less than what you’d pay at home. While these things won’t be specific to your vacation spot, they can still serve as fond keepsakes. Many countries place limits on how much you can buy duty free; after the maximum dollar amount, you will have to pay tax.
Travelers should also be aware of other regulations regarding their purchases. While some products may be easy to purchase during your visit, they may not be allowed in your country. Agricultural products, live plants, and animals are among the top offenders. Products made from endangered species may be illegal to both purchase and transport. If you are caught with prohibited items, your memories will be confiscated and you may be fined.
Wherever you travel, a little research will go a long way to ensure that your travel memories provide many years of happy memories.