Every time I travel, I face the same dilemma: do I spend $50 on a cute souvenir that’ll sit on a shelf, or save that money for an unforgettable experience? On my last trip to Thailand, I skipped the trinkets and splurged on a $45 cooking class instead. Now, every time I make pad Thai at home, it feels like I brought a piece of the trip back with me. But I’ll admit, sometimes I miss having a physical reminder, like the handmade scarf I picked up in Peru that I still wear years later. How do you find the right balance? Do you lean more toward collecting experiences or material keepsakes? And what’s been your favorite “souvenir,” tangible or not?
Rising Star
The physical objects I acquire that go on a shelf are things that I paid $0 for. Stones, tile fragments, things w logos like coasters, napkins, plastic cups. If I buy something, it has everyday utility like a belt or a knife or eye glasses. I'm not big on spending money on experiences, I can find plenty of entertainment for free while traveling.
I lean toward experiences, but sometimes a physical item that you’ll actually use, like your scarf from Peru, feels worth it. I try to only buy things that serve a purpose—jewelry, art, or kitchen tools—so they don’t just gather dust. My favorite? A hand-carved wooden spoon from Morocco. It’s simple, functional, and every time I use it, I think about wandering the souks.
I’m all about experiences, but I like to bring home something small and meaningful—like a postcard or a local spice blend. It’s the best of both worlds: I have a keepsake that doesn’t take up much space and a memory tied to it.
We never make time to shop on trips and bring back very little. Material things and shopping are so excessive at home. We do like to take lots of photos to remember what we experienced. Photos take up so little space and cost. We show them all constantly on Alexa devices and our TV screensavers.