Bring Gifts from Home when you Travel

That is a wonderful idea. I always give small gifts to bus drivers on my regular route or post man who offers great service and It is an un-expected treat and I always get a great response. Plus doing so overseas would maybe squash that Ugly American image. We live in a Mountain Resort Area at the foot of Mt Hood and post cards of the area might be a great idea to take on our trip to Europe this May. Thanks for the Idea. I wonder how little local candies would work. This is our first European trip and we are learning as we go.

A gift that always goes over, is VERY American, and is not widely available in Europe? A bottle of barbeque sauce.

Well, frankly, I think I'd rather receive cash than a postcard of San Francisco. Are you certain that the conductor in Vienna wasn't just being very, very polite to a foreign visitor? If I gave directions to a visitor here in Montreal, I can assure you I would not LOVE it if I were then given a postcard. I would think it extremely wierd.

I agree. People depend on tips to survive! But a postcard and cash would be nice. The postcard would be something a little extra, a kind gesture.

Hi Bonnie,

We always bring postcards of "home" along with us to Europe. We never leave them in place of a tip, just as an interesting extra. Funny, we had them in our "day bag" while walking in Mittenwald when we went into this little place for dinner. Lo and behold, practically an entire wall was filled with postcards from all over the world! The owner seemed delighted with ours and put it up with all the others. The most intereting part is that when the owner "learned" we were from NJ, we spent the better part of dinner talking with the people at tables next to ours who were interested in what NJ (and the USA) is like. One German couple from Stuttgart actually invited us out with them after dinner and we spent the rest of the night in a local bar talking with them. You never know...

Oh, we were back about 2 years later on another trip, and there was our postcard, just where it was placed on the wall.

Paul

A tip + postcard is a good idea.

But for friends in Europe, I always take BBQ sauce. I had no idea that was such a treat until last year.

Even tho the tourist industry in Europe benefits from Rick Steves' TV shows and books, many Europeans have never seen a RS video or DVD. I gave some RS DVDs to one host.

American magazines that you read on your 8-9 hour flight overseas are always good to pass on. "Taste of Home" magazine was greatly appreciated by Lettie in Bacharach last fall. I don't mean as a tip but just to share.

I keep a post-card size laminated US map w/ me so I can show people where we live (n Idaho); also have a couple of photos of our town and our pet(s). For pre-booked small, family owned/run hotels, I take a small jar of huckleberry jam ----huckleberries are similar to blueberries but native to the Pacific NW.

If you are going to be staying with any crafty ladies (or men!) bring over some American craft magazines. I know craft magazines are not that great in some European countries and the style of the British and US magazines are quite different so a lot of people like to see the mags from across the pond.

I am also a big fan of postcards as gifts!
I put labels with my address and email on some of them, for the instances when you make a connection and want to stay in touch.

And I also carry a little laminated map to be able to show people where I come from, I cannot begin to explain how often I use it, no matter where in the world!

I didn't bring any gifts for the B&B's I stayed at- however, the apartment we rented in Ansbach was on the bottom floor of their home, and since we were there over Christmas, she left a card, a can of homemade cookies, and chocolate "Santas" for all four kids on the table. I bought her an ornament at Kathe Wolfhart and on Christmas Eve left it for her with a bottle of wine and a box of Lebkuchen.

I live in Hollywood, CA and always bring postcards showing The Hollywood sign, Grauman's, Griffith Observatory, and the Walk of Fame. Always a good conversation starter. As I was born in the Bay Area nad left my heart in San Francisco I also take post cards depicting, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the cable cars, etc. as well. B&B hosts, bartenders, restaurant proprietors and taxi cab drivers love the post cards along with their tips. I also take a few unique key chains, such as ones from LAPD, Warner Bros., NBC, etc. Again, practical and well received. Lastly, I always have a map of California with me. I'm a proud native and love showing where Mtns. Lassen and Shasta , Big Sur, Avenue of the Giants, Anza Borrego, Surf City, The City By The Bay, the Central Valley, etc. are located.

A packet of spices that make chilli, often on sale, not bulky or heavy . Almond Roca or Applets ( I am from WA)are nice but heavy and bulky . Sorry a post card is no gift in my well traveled book.

"Sorry a post card is no gift in my well traveled book."

Guess well traveled John you've never been to Specs in San Francisco and as a Californian I like to bring oranges, garlic, brussel sprouts or In and Out burgers BUT it isn't quite the same. Beside you can't expediently leave your name, email address, home address, etc in a can of Almond Rocca or box of Applets. The postcard is a simple way to share those details with people you've met.