Souvenir Suggestions needed!

I'm not trying to be unhelpful, but why don't you wait till you get there to see what is available? If you want it "say" something about your time there, you need to have spent some time there first. For example, when my daughter and I went to Costa Rica, we didn't shop for anything to take back until about halfway through our trip. When we did shop, we found beautiful little ceramic magnets in the shape of a flower that we had seen all over the country, and foldable wooden trivets made from various colors of native woods. We also encountered a glassblower along the way, where we bought pendants, and we bought coffee beans to bring back for the coffee lovers. You will probably know the right things when you see them.

In Rome, buy Popeners for everybody. I've been doing it for years, they are the perfect gift.

I would suggest that whatever you do, don't spend too much time worrying about the perfect gift - unless you just really love shopping, which some people do. I've spent precious time on my travels trying to find something special for everyone, imagining the excitement when the gifts were opened, only to be disappointed by the, "Oh, a (whatever)... thanks". That's all. My friends and family aren't ungrateful so-and-so's, it's just that, although they appreciated being remembered, it was my trip, my memories. In most cases, whatever gifts you buy your loved-ones, the souvenirs won't mean as much to them as they do to you. There are of course exceptions, but if ever I get to travel again, I'm going to find something simple that will work for everyone and spend the rest of my trip...enjoying my trip:) BTW, the most appreciated souvenir I ever gave was one that I bought on impulse - a Ferrari hat I got my dad just because he's hard to buy for and I couldn't think of anything else. He actually really got a kick out of it:) (edit 5-6, spelling :P)

If you have any readers, the leather bookmarks you see in the museum gift shops are wonderful. The best response I have ever gotten from souvenirs was the year I blew up my pictures I took in England had them framed and gave them to my family for Christmas.

Before our last trip to Europe, I requested a drawing from our grand daughter (she was 6 then). She drew a great picture of herself and her grandma and grandpa. We brought that drawing to Europe and took a digital picture of it at different locations throughout Europe. When we returned, I made a photo album of her "drawing" as it traveled with us throughout Europe.

Most everyone here is saying the same thing, and I have to concur. So here is my advice on how to do it. Get away from the main streets and big shops. Small towns, markets, and places where locals go are where you'll find the interesting things that aren't just the Roman version of plastic crap.

Since I do travel a lot it is not feasible for me to bring things back all the time, but what I have learned is definitely what was posted above and that is the joy of buying french linen napkins at a french market while you smell the wonderful foods is a memory of your trip...not theirs. I would buy them for myself, invite friends to share a french meal and enjoy time tasting new french wines you have learned about after you get home. I will bring something if I see the perfect gift, but I have decided that I will not waste time in search of the appropriate dollar amount gift just to have something. However, some things that I have brought and were appreciated were herbes de provence, new music, silk scarves. Have yourself a wonderful time and if you see the perfect gift, fine...if not, oh well! Share your trip memories and pictures.

I'm with Rik and the Popeners, except that mine broke already. Buy back-ups.

Scarves from the Picasso Museum (and close by) in Barcelona...light weight, easy to pack, useful as well.

Hi Emily. Try to find things that specific family members and friends would like. When I was in Italy I bought hair sticks for my sister (kind of like chopsticks that keep your hair in a bun). She wore hair sticks all the time at home and I bought her 3 or 4 pairs from this small store in Rome and she loved them. It's good to find a gift from the country or city you're in that's practical or something that the receiver wouldn't buy for him- or herself.

What are Popeners?

Popeners - Pope bottle openers, available in Rome. I bought a couple for friends and they loved them!! I know I loved receiving herbes de provence...

Hi Emily! I second the suggestion to purchase sourvenirs from museums. You will find quality items which represent the country and culture. Also Budget Travel Magazine has a monthly feature for what you can purchase in a specific city for under $100. Great feature but I have trouble finding past articles even though I search their web site. Also, scarves and pashimas can be great gifts if you have a sense of the colors and styles your family and friends like. Last, try the markets (clothing) for cheaper options of the items above and below. Need to check carefully for quality but often these are a great deal. Here are some ideas from Barcelona from my files. Custom Espadrilles - La Manual Alpargatera is located on Carrer Avinyó 7. Open: Mon-Fri 9:30-1:30 & 4:30-8 Sat 10-1:30 & 4:30-8. Contact: 93.301.0172 The small shops on and around Placa Sant Jaume offer unusual crafts, candles, toys and tchotchkes, and on Avinyo, there's plenty of affordable chic clothing for teens and moms alike. Continued below

Emily Continued from above. Souvenirs BoBa Carrer del Rec 42 Barcelona, Cataluña, ES +34 93 310 67 43
BoBa" stands for "bonito y barato"beautiful and cheap. Playful women's casuals in a bright, Mediterranean palette of hot reds, coral pinks, minty aquas, and the like. Fun, youthful patterns and cheeky printsducks, birds, rabbits, elephantsare balanced by sexy, grownup cuts and studied craftsmanship. Look for no-brainer scarves and check out the curious woven-felt necklaces and brocades Date:1/11 In Italy, one of the crafts that make wonderful gifts are the paper notecards and similar items, beautifully embellished in color. Also leather of any kind. France and the south of France use Provence fabrics for tablecloths, napkins, and other house items. Very distinctive. I like to have an idea of what a city or region is famous for in arts and crafts before I go, so I know what is representative of their culture. Good gifting!

I love to shop the grocery for unique food items. Not expensive, and if it's not liquid, easy to carry on. I look for stuff I can also check in my bags mustards, jams, chocolates or cookies. It's so much fun to enjoy a taste of the country when you return home, and share those flavors with family/friends. Also, I look for hand crafted items. We bought a temple hand carved from a guy in Sicily, he was working on them from the back of his car just ouside Marsala, by the salt fields....very unique item. He made a few Euro, and we got a wonderful item to remind us of our trip!

Really depends on what you are your friends like. My personal favorite cheap but local souvenir is scarves for the various local soccer (which they call football of course) teams. They are typically $10-15 and are unique to the city and team. I love collecting them. Just my thought.

I love your idea, Sandy; really sweet!

Penny: I agree with you wholeheartedly... what is special to you, isn't necessarily to all of your loved ones. Emily... enjoy your trip and make souvenirs a small part of it. Linda

Grocery stores have the best gifts (and inexpensive too!). Italian or Spanish olive oil (I found it in mini bottles in Spain), spices (Smoked Spanish Paprika - pimienton - is very inexpensive at El Corte Ingles in Barcelona), Italian tomato paste in a tube, etc. If you have someone you know collects or appreciates specific things keep your eye out (I have a friend who collects fridge magnets of famous paintings). But I agree though, it's your vacation, so make souvenir shopping a very small part of it. Side note: I've had people request that I buy them specific items for them while I'm on a trip. I've always said if I happen by whatever it is they're wanting, I'll get it for them, but won't seek it out. My only regret on my last trip: the hour I spent in the Barcelona Hard Rock Cafe that I could have spent in La Boqueria. Never again!

Reusable shopping bags from grocery and department stores.

I love to bring home stationery, cute note pads, and calendars -- always the right size and color! :)

This isn't for everyone on your list but if you have friends/coworkers with "unusual" taste like I do, by far the most popular gifts I have given them was propaganda...and it's free! I was in Italy a couple of years ago during an election and had stacks of it in the form of pamphlets, fliers, posters, you name it. I found about a 2" stack of posters peeling of the wall (ok, maybe assisted), folded them up and took them home, and now they hang in a few living rooms in Atlanta as art collages. It looks awesome. I just got back from Italy and brought home a stack of anti-government stuff that's hanging in offices all over town...and most have no idea what it says, but it looks cool.

I would try and not stress over it beforehand. You will know it when you see it. Shopping with something specific in mind is very difficult. Just leave room in your bag when packing and take less than you think you will need.

I'm only a man so I don't really understand, but why would you buy people stuff to remember your holiday?