The 6 Best Travel Souvenirs to Use At Home

I know that there is a whole debate on whether or not you should have souvenirs. Marie Kondo and the minimalists of the world might be against them, but I am very pro-souvenir. It is lovely to have something that you use on a weekly or daily basis to remind yourself of your travel memories. Yes, we can all take four million photos now, but unless you print them and put them up, you don’t actually see them that often. So, these are the 6 best travel souvenirs to use at home, and keep your memories at the forefront!

Obviously, everyone has their own preferences and things that they use on a daily basis. I know someone who bought a French roast press on a trip- as a tea drinker, it would be useless to me. However, with this list I’ve focused on items that can be of use to most people. You will notice that I have not put mugs/cups on here, though. I used to collect them more, but they are quite difficult to transport without damage! So, onto the best travel souvenirs to use at home…

The 6 Best Travel Souvenirs to Use at Home

1. Keychains 

Do you have keys? Yes, it’s 2020, of course you do. (Even if you have the keyless car start deal, you’ve still got a fob.) Car keys, house keys, office keys, lock keys, there are a million different keys in our lives. I like keychains as a travel souvenir for a few reasons. You are usually using them several times throughout the day, meaning that a) you have that visual reminder, and b) they aren’t just sitting there. Also, they are fairly affordable, in the grand scheme of souvenir prices. With the exception of West End/Broadway shows, most keychains tend to be around the $7/£5 price point. Although they clearly aren’t free, they are cheaper than most things available. And they tend to be rather hard-wearing! I’ve had a keychain break here or there, but for the most part, they are still standing several years later. (Paint does wear off, so you might want to do engraved or the photo style.) This is most of my own travel keychain collection, and each have their own lovely memories.

2. Postcards 

Postcards, the poor man’s print. As you can see from the photo above, which is about 20% of my postcards, I love postcards. Firstly, they are widely available from gift shops. They are extremely affordable, often on offer, and are easy to find. Secondly, they fit into any luggage or suitcase, without adding to the weight. (If you are anything like me, that cannot be undersold.) Thirdly, they often have the shots that you wish you could get. The square at dawn without anyone in it. The aerial shot of a city or town. Maybe the full stained glass that you can’t get without standing on scaffolding. Or just some of the items that aren’t on display in the museum at the moment, or of a cathedral or palace that doesn’t allow photos. In any case, they give you options.

And lastly, they are photos that you don’t have to print yourself. While we used to print photos on the regular, it is becoming an oddity these days. I am on the hunt for a larger photo frame so that I can put up 15-20 of my postcards. I already have the postcards ready to go, so as soon as I have the frame, I can get going.

3. Pamphlets 

This is absolutely a budget souvenir, because 9/10 times they are free. Occasionally, you will visit somewhere that doesn’t offer a pamphlet, but that seems to be quite rare nowadays. Some are nicer than others, but they give you the key information needed about where you have visited. I’ve also seen quite a few framed pamphlet collections by fellow history lovers that are quite cool. Also, if you know your late medieval/ early modern history, pamphlets were once THE thing to have. I love looking back at my collection, as a history of where I’ve been and what I’ve done. And much like postcards, they take up essentially no room in your suitcase. (Once again, I can’t stress how important that is…)

4. Guide Books/ Exhibition Books

Here is where my historian’s bias shows- I am a massive fan of buying guide books and exhibition books. (If you are reading my blog, I’ll make an educated guess you are also interested in history.) Maybe it is just me, but I’ve got to say, I actually go back and look at guide books all of the time. Sometimes it is that I can’t remember what I saw or read, and want to clarify it. In other cases, they are perfect for research for later blog posts. They also are another source for pictures that you weren’t able to take yourself, especially in places that you can’t take photos. (My Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral books are invaluable for that reason!)

Head to my post on exhibition books for more on why you should or shouldn’t buy one!

And I’ve got to say, they make pretty fantastic coffee table books. The entire point of coffee table books is to a) look nice, which guide books/exhibition books typically do, and b) to be a talking point for guests. Unless you have bored them by talking of nothing else, most people enjoy hearing about travel! The one downfall is that they can be quite heavy, depending on the book. (Ahem, Dior: Designer of Dreams book…) If you know that you like buying books when you travel, make sure you leave room when you are packing.

5. Tote Bags 

If you have followed me for any length of time, I am sure that you have already heard about my love of tote bags. In this age of needed sustainability, they are the ultimate souvenir for me. Unless I am buying meat, I will not use a store provided bag- it’s either my own tote bag, or no bag. And having tote bags that I love and remind me of my travels were key in getting into the habit of using them more. They can widely range in price from a few dollars to $20 or $25. Depending on what it is, I’m willing to pay more. The Alice Tait illustrated map of Bath was close to $20 CAD, and it was absolutely worth it. I paid less than $5 for my St. Paul’s bag,  though, which seems an appropriate price for how thin and simple it is.

I travel a lot to see different musicals and shows, and I love stage-dooring and getting my tote bag signed. I have tote bags signed by both the West End and North American casts of Six the Musical, as well as the North American touring cast of Anastasia. If you are ever seeing a show anywhere, I would recommend getting a tote bag as your souvenir if you want one- they last much longer than shirts/hoodies, and still tend to be cheaper than most souvenirs. (Musical merchandise is NOT cheap, friends.)

Note: From what I’ve read, you need to use a cotton bag at least 5,000 times to even out, environment wise. For some of mine that are 5+ years old, I’m at over 600 uses, which is not bad. I like to use the thinner cotton bags for produce like peppers, tomatoes, and apples now, meaning I get even more use out of them.

6. Odds and Ends

There are all sorts of souvenirs that you can buy to use at home. Lately, I’ve started buying notebooks, to use for research I want to keep. Coasters can be great, as long as they aren’t breakable. Fortnum and Mason tea (in their signature green caddies) are another favourite of mine, as the caddies make great pen cups afterwards. If you are a patch or button person, they can be an affordable and light souvenir! (Yes, that is a westie…) Bookmarks go well with… all of your books. And I love colouring to relax, so small colouring books are one of my newer souvenirs. Whatever items that you would use often yourself make wonderful souvenirs! Remember that because something works well for one person, it doesn’t mean that it works well for another.

So, what are the best travel souvenirs to use at home for you? 

Cheers,
The Historian
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