12 Creative Ways to Make Your Travel Experiences Last a Lifetime For Under $15
Traveling is a great way to experience culture, meet new people, and see amazing sights. But once you come home, how do you keep the memories of your travels alive?
There are many ways to commemorate your travels, from taking photos and videos to keeping a travel journal or buying fridge magnets. But the best way to celebrate your travels is the way that has the most meaning to you. Here are 12 ideas to choose from that won’t bust your budget.
Fridge magnet
Magnets are lightweight and easy to pack, making them a convenient souvenir for travel. You can use them to decorate your fridge, locker, or other metal surface, reminding you of your adventures every time you see them.
“I have a few hundred of them from my travels that I keep on sheets of metal that hang in my office behind me. They become a conversation piece during conference calls and are a good icebreaker when I meet new people on a conference call. They’ll ask what they are, I’ll explain they are magnets from my travels, and then I’ll ask them where they are from. If I have a magnet from that area, I’ll pull it off the wall and show it to them. It’s silly but a nice way to start a conversation.” says a traveler.
“Amazon is a pretty great source for finding magnets from past travels. You might struggle with more obscure places, but all the well-known countries, cities, national parks, etc are on there.” shares another.
Christmas Ornaments
Christmas ornaments are a festive and meaningful way to decorate your home for the holidays. If your destination doesn’t have Christmas ornaments look for keychains or any other element that could easily be hung on a tree.
“I do that as well. I also try to buy a pair of locally crafted earrings because they take up no space in my luggage, and I remember where I was when I bought them each time I wear them. Have a beautiful collection now.” shares another.
Food
Food is an excellent souvenir from a country because it allows you to experience the local culture and cuisine even after you return home.
“Not a permanent thing, but I always bring food back. Coffee from a local roastery and spices from a local shop are my usuals.
If it’s a place with a chain I can’t get where I am, I’ll usually do that too (when I came back from a two-week trip in the UK last year, Cadbury dairy milk took up a significant amount of space in my bag because I was bringing it back for me and my family. I’m still working at it; that’s how much I brought back!).” shares another.
Photos
Taking tons of photos is a great way to remember travel because it allows you to capture the sights, sounds, and feelings of your trip in a way you can cherish for years to come.
“If I can take one amazing photo during a trip, that’s the best souvenir. I had a printed book put together after our trip to Paris because the photos there were fabulous. I hang some of them on the walls.” shares a traveler.
Buy Stickers
“I buy stickers; we place them on a snowboard that belongs to our late son. I also spread some his ashes wherever we visit,” shares another.
Kitchen Towels
People also buy things that can be utilized daily—such as kitchen towels.
“Tea towels from the different places I’ve been are on rotation in my kitchen,” says one.
“I’ve decided to start doing this; excellent idea for both function and memories,” says another.
Postcards
This is one of the easiest to find and keep and the least expensive item on our list.
“I’ve been collecting them since I was 8. Of course, my first couple are from the zoo and the major city near where I grew up. But I’ve kept up with it since, and it’s a great souvenir. They’re cheap, barely occupy space, and sometimes I’ll find some by a local artist (rather than the cliché Microsoft-Word-art-oversaturated-image souvenir shop designs). Although sometimes I’ll get tacky ones if I think they’re campy and funny,” shares another.
“And when my loved ones travel, they’ll get me postcards. I keep them separate from the ones from places I’ve been, but they’re still fun to have/receive”, shares another.
Shot Glasses
“I go to the tourist trap souvenir shops and get a shot glass with the country or city’s name. They’re small, light, inexpensive, and don’t break easily. They’re all made in China, but it’s a creative and colorful souvenir.”
I have a display cabinet that currently has 44 shot glasses in it. The most recent is from Portland, OR (“Keep Portland Weird!”), and my favorite is from Jordan. They’re a predominantly dry country, and there weren’t any shot glasses in the souvenir shops. I got a little coffee cup, pretty much the same size as a shot glass,” shares one.
Scrapbook
“I make scrapbooks, so I’ll save tickets, maps, coins, etc., and make a book for the trip (especially if it is longer). I also like to get little pins from everywhere I visit and put them on my corkboard at home,” shares one.
“This. I started making scrapbooks when my partner and I got together, and we started traveling. So I saved ALL THE EPHEMERA. I sometimes regret setting that precedent ten years later because it’s become so much work. Like, our early scrapbooks are beautifully detailed and even illustrated, but for the last few years, I’ve just been shoving things into clear page protectors and calling it done” shares another.
Coffee Mugs
“I buy coffee mugs and rotate them between using them and displaying,” shares a user.
“Same! It brings back memories whenever I rotate through them, and it’s a great conversation starter when you have guests over and serve them in one,” shares a traveler.
Local Items
Local products are unique and authentic and support the local economy. It is one of the best things to remember about your travel adventures. A traveler says, “I look for one exceptional and authentic item from the trip’s destination and bring it home. It has to be locally made and represent the region.
- Alaska: Salmon Knife
- Costa Rica: hand-carved wooden mask
- Bhutan: prayer flags hand carved wooden mask, and a singing bowl
- Amsterdam: small blue-painted porcelain figurine
- South Africa: glass elephant made from a local business that creates jobs for locals and uses recycled glass.”
Postage Stamps
Postage stamps are unique to a country and are a great reminder of your time there.
A user shared, “I frame postage stamps from each country and put them on a gallery wall going up the stairs. I love seeing them and being reminded of my adventures.”
Favorite Book
“My daughter buys her favorite book in the language of the country she is visiting. She has a great library,” says a parent.
Enamel Pins
“I buy enamel pins! They are everywhere, typically less than $10, and small! I commissioned a friend to weave some hanging flags for me to stick them in, and they are hanging up on my wall right now!” says one.
Article Source: Reddit
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