Travel Tips For Shopping Abroad
Travel Tips For Shopping Abroad
Travel Tips For Shopping Abroad
Do you buy things on your travels? We do, and we have a few tips for shopping abroad. Sometimes when you travel, you will have an impulse to buy souvenirs... to... well... to do just what souvenir means... to remember your trip.
We're not talking t-shirts here... we're talking articles that will bring back memories of that city or country. We're talking about tips for shopping abroad for regular old tourists.
You're not going to get the best "deals" or the best "stuff" unless you just get really lucky, but you'll get some fun things and fun memories of finding them.
Purchasing art while on vacation can be a great way to add some excitement to your trip. Think of all the fun that can be had searching out that special piece that will bring back the memory of blue seas, snow-capped mountains, a memorable ruin, or tropical birds.
Each travel destination you visit is sure to have a distinct flavor that can be captured in artwork or crafts that are unique to the area. Your souvenir could be a painting or it can be fabric, woven panels, embroidered work, or batik.
You can buy native works of art like wood sculptures and masks. We've brought home unique musical instruments... a balalaika, a Tibetan horn, a didgeridoo, and a few drums.
It's fun shopping for a little antique piece or some ethnic clothing, but no matter what you go looking for, there are some tips for shopping abroad that you should keep in mind.
If you're going to look for something specific on a trip, do a little research before you leave home so you know about how much you should expect to pay for it.
Also do research so you know how to judge the quality. There are a lot of fakes and cheap knockoffs out there, a little knowledge may help you avoid getting ripped off... though with many items, even experts can be fooled!
Assume what you're getting isn't old or authentic.... that's it's made new for tourists and made to look old.... That's not all bad, many countries won't let you take antiques out of the country anyway.
For anything you buy, we think if you pay a price you can live with, assuming it is just a souvenir and not a valuable treasure, you'll be happy with it whether it's new or old.
While it's fun to say you bought this in.... you name it... Europe, Africa, Asia... Think about it before you buy. Can you get the same thing at home.... and get it cheaper without the hassles of getting it home? Will you really use it? Display it? Or is this an impulse that's a great idea when you're in that little shop, but something that will end up collecting dust in a box or in your closet?
Sometimes to "get over" that impulse to buy, we just buy some little thing that will remind us of the trip... things that lay flat and pack easily... hand made cards and cloth items or little pieces of inexpensive jewelry. When all else fails, we buy what we call "tacky tourist curios". Funny little pieces that we bring home and hang on our Christmas tree.
I guess that's our best tip for shopping abroad... really give it some thought before you buy it.
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