Souvenir Savvy

LIKE EXTRAORDINARY meals and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, souvenirs can be an enriching part of travel. But what separates a treasured travel keepsake from future clutter? Here’s how to find meaningful souvenirs that will help keep your vacation memories alive long after you’ve returned home.

Source from local artists and makers

Support small businesses, artists and craftspeople by purchasing souvenirs directly from the producer — you’ll remember the interaction fondly, and have a one-of-a-kind item with a unique story behind it. “Shopping at artisan markets can be a great way to meet makers and ask them about the products,” says Lauren Yakiwchuk, travel blogger and co-founder of the travel website Justin Plus Lauren. But be on the lookout for carbon-copy goods, Yakiwchuk advises. “If you see the exact same items in several booths at a market, they’re likely mass-produced.”

Seek out regional specialties and culturally significant items

Before you go, research what products the region is known for — tracking them down will be an exciting treasure hunt. “I look for something unique that will remind me of the place I visited… something I wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere,” says Yakiwchuk, whose souvenir collection includes glühwein mugs from a German Christmas market and a locally made pewter quaich (a two-handled drinking cup) from Scotland. Specialty packaged foods and drinks, traditional crafts, textiles and paper products are all great options.

Check for travel compliance

Eyeing a special bottle of aged balsamic vinegar or a box of locally made pastries? Make sure that your edible purchase can come home with you. To avoid disappointment at the border, check Canadian customs regulations for food and drink products before you buy. Another consideration: what is your keepsake made from? Because some souvenirs are made from animals and plants that are at risk of extinction, there are international laws that prohibit their import and export. For example, it’s illegal to bring home items made from ivory or rhinoceros horn, which could support poachers and threaten endangered wildlife. If you aren’t sure what a product is made from, be sure to ask the seller.

Pack smart

Finally, consider logistics. Is your souvenir fragile? Yakiwchuk wraps breakable objects with clothing or packages them securely with bubble wrap. And if you’ve found your dream item but it won’t fit in your luggage (think: that gorgeous rug from Marrakech), see if it can be shipped. “Some shops will actually ship the items to [your] home,” Yakiwchuk says. With a little planning, you’ll wrap up your holiday with a souvenir that will enrich your home for many years to come. AMA