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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