|
As you travel around, you
will more than likely purchase gifts and
souvenirs. When purchasing items abroad,
you need to consider Value and Transportation.
Before making a
purchase, know the value of the item.
See our page on
Foreign Currency
so that you well informed on what you are paying
compared to your home currency. If you know the
items value in your home currency, you are
better able to make informed purchasing decisions.
Our
Alternate Storage Duffels page will give you
additional ideas on how to get your items home.
 |
|
Cuckoo Clocks -
Black Forrest, Germany |
Returning with your
souvenirs and gifts
In some
cases, the best way to return with
something heavy and large is to have
it shipped. For example, if
you purchase a Cuckoo Clock, most
shops in the Black Forrest area of
Germany will provide packing and
shipping of your clock. We
have done this in the past and found
that it worked fine. When
shipping back to the US, you avoid
paying the VAT (Value Added Tax)
that is charged when shipping back
to countries in the EU.
For small
souvenirs, it may not be an issue bringing
them back with you in your carry on
bag, but for larger items or items
that are not allowed through
security, you may have a problem.
It can be expensive to ship
something back using the postal
service but there are alternatives
such as purchasing an inexpensive
piece of luggage for the sole
purpose of checking it in on your
return flight or bringing an extra
bag with you to be used for the same
purpose.
See our page
on
Alternate Storage Duffels
providing more information on how to
return with your souvenirs.
General Gift Ideas
Consider looking for a
Cookbook
featuring recipes from the region...although you may have to look around for
one in your language. Cookbooks
are great, but it can sometimes be
difficult to find the same ingredients
when you have returned home; so you may
have to be creative.
You
may want to consider purchasing Christmas Ornaments at the different
locations you will be visiting. If you
plan to decorate your tree with travel
ornaments, keep in mind that different
things other than actual Christmas
ornaments may also work great. For
example, in Italy where Pinocchio is
popular, you will find small wooden
figures perfect for hanging on your
tree.
Gift Research
As
you travel around to different
locations, you will find gifts local to
the region such as Ceramic Steins in
Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In Italy, you will find marble statues
of Michelangelo's David, Wooden
Pinocchio's and small replicas of other famous
pieces of art. At the Bran Castle or
'Dracula's Castle' in Romania, a popular
souvenir is the ceramic Dracula coffee
mug.
 |
 |
|
Dracula Mug |
Hand Made Wood
Plate |
|
Bran Castle, Romania |
Poland |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Brass Dancing
Shiva Statue |
Ceramic Stein |
|
India |
Austria |
|
