As of: January 31, 2024, 11:23 a.m
By: Franziska Kaindl
Comments
Press
Split
Mass-produced goods or handmade craftsmanship?
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.
© Pond5 Images/Imago
A holiday souvenir is a must for many travelers.
But souvenir shops often line up with the same goods.
If you want something special, you often have to invest more time.
For some, a magnet from the respective holiday destination is enough, while others want something that is typical of the travel destination - such as lavender from Croatia, olive oil from Greece or the sweet dough rolls, called ensaimadas, from Mallorca.
But handicraft goods are also always very popular with holidaymakers - but the quality can vary greatly.
Especially if you are traveling in typical tourist areas, you will often find one souvenir shop lined up after another, with some of the same cheap goods.
Three tips for finding unique holiday souvenirs
If you really want to find a special souvenir among all the products, you should follow a few tips.
Travel blogger Lucia Polla and adventure photographer Jackson Groves have put together some of them for the hotel company
Accor
:
Find out in advance what really belongs to local craftsmanship.
Those who already know are less likely to be overwhelmed by the large masses of goods.
Pay particular attention to products from local artists - these are usually more expensive, but of higher quality: “Handmade items require time and skill, and this is also reflected in the price.
Souvenirs that are sold very cheaply or are too good to be true are usually mass-produced,” says Polla.
Consider the location of souvenir shops: on the streets and beaches where many tourists travel, there is often an oversupply of products and goods.
However, if you leave the main shopping streets, you will often find a small shop that offers truly unique items.
So it's worth taking side streets and just letting yourself go.
Ask locals for their recommendations - after all, they are most knowledgeable about the traditional crafts in their region and may have a little insider tip for holidaymakers, is Groves' advice.
You don't want to miss any news and tips about vacation and travel?
Then sign up for the travel newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.
As much fun as souvenir shopping is, the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) warns against holiday souvenirs that could be confiscated at customs.
These are usually products from protected species that are misused for tourist purposes - in the form of fur, horns or jewelry.
If in doubt, it's best to leave it alone.
Holidaymakers could also be doomed by souvenirs that they pick up on the street: a holidaymaker in Turkey was arrested last year because she – unknowingly – wanted to take archaeological stones with her.