I had one of those cookies on Sunday night at Andina. I agree – one of the best cookies ever. Thanks for the recommendation. I probably never would have ordered it otherwise.

Another place to try: Two Tarts Bakery. Fleur de sel chocolate chip cookies are divine!

It seems there are few unique souveniers available anymore, at least not in my price range- many of the products available in foreign countries I visit are made in another country or are available on the internet or domestic shops that specialize in imports. I thought the bottle of Cantillon beer my bf brought me from Belgium was so cool, then I started seeing Cantillon pop up in the nicer beer stores where I live (still loved the beer, but if I ever go to Belgium I know I can save the space in my suitcase and just pick up a bottle at home).

I dislike clutter and tchotchkes, even if they are tchotchkes I got from an exotic location.

Finally, I love scrapbooking. I take lots of photos and journal while traveling, then when I get home I get a lot of entertainment and enjoyment out of assembling my own souvenier (the album) and I know I’ll enjoy looking at them for years. If I don’t record all the small details and nuances on paper they’ll be lost within a few years, no matter how much I may still admire that piece of jewelery I bought or the photo of a landmark hanging on my wall.

One thing I do with postcards that I am sent is give them back to the sender for Christmas. That way they keep the memory and the message. It is highly appreciated, and I don’t really want to keep the postcard myself.

I’m not sure what to make of this since whoever mentioned it above seems to have had no problems with it…

The reason I think it was Snapfish is that it started running badly when I was using the website, and when I went to it on my mini laptop, it did the same (except not quite as bad, as that’s the one I’m on now).

But one thing we do is our “normal” shopping while we are away. For example, we take a trip just before the start of school and do a lot of the “back to school” clothing shopping while we are away.

What we end up with are “souvenirs” that only we know about. My daugter and I were talking with my mom last week when we realized that everything we were wearing – both of us – from socks and underwear to sweaters and boots, and everything in between was purchased somewhere else.

LA, Vancouver, Seattle, San Diego, Toronto… not a stitch of it from home. And ever bit of it a “secret” memory of the trip when we bought it.

Also, I’m a hobbyist photographer, so looking for and taking interesting photos is part of the fun of exploring, and provides a default activity when traveling alone.

As for purchased souvenirs, I’m an accessories hound, so always pick up locally made necklaces, scarves, etc. – I know I’ll use and love them, and don’t buy a lot for myself when I’m at home. And I’ll look for local books and music to look into once I get home. Also shop for upcoming gift-giving, if I find something really right for the recipient – rarely just to bring back souvenirs.

There’s an Indian Flute from a festival in Wyoming, made by a local craftsman.

Sandstone coasters.

Silver earrings from the Rocky Mountains for my wife.

Some Indian jewelry from Mesa Verde.

Riding boots from Colorado (yeah, I used to ride a little.)

Sandstone hookends from near Bryce canon,

Books, alas, no more – they’ve become all too easy to import these days.

I think the only thing that was generic was a dinosaur skeleton model – those are sold all over the world, but hey, it struck my fancy. Gave it away later, though.

Anything else is still cherished or in daily use, like the coasters protecting my desk.

But its true. What I enjoy most from my international trips is my memories. What better way to preserve them but through pcitures.

You can keep most of the knick knacks and statuettes, etc.

We find taking photographs not only nostalgic, but they are cost-effective reminders to where we have gone and what we’ve done.

For our son, we collect patches depicting the places he’s been, and then sew them onto his backpack. His current backpack reads like a passport – with patches from various places in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, California, Virginia, amongst others. It’s a great conversation starter for him at the beginning of each school year.

“Travelers who took the Grand Tour across Europe during the 18th century spent months and years learning languages, meeting politicians, philosophers and artists and bore sketchbooks in which to draw and paint — to record their memories and help them see better.

Cameras replaced sketching by the last century; convenience trumped engagement, the viewfinder afforded emotional distance and many people no longer felt the same urgency to look. It became possible to imagine that because a reproduction of an image was safely squirreled away in a camera or cell phone, or because it was eternally available on the Web, dawdling before an original was a waste of time, especially with so much ground to cover.”

My own travel sketches are my favorite souvenirs.

Ok but back to the story. I love photos! And the one thing I try and treat myself to when I travel is something to place a photo, or photos in usually some sort of photo album or frame. Are they cheaper back home? Depends but they don’t mean the same and it cures the desire to bring something else that’s not nearly so useful or lasting.

I like the magnet idea, but then again I bought a mug in New Orleans when I went there recently, and I love it. But I don’t want a million mugs sitting around, either. I also like the idea of consumables.

Yes, I like photos, but I also like maps. Not just road maps or political maps, but stylized maps of the countries I visit. These aren’t always easy to find, but when I do locate them, they’re awesome reminders of my time there.

I also like t-shirts. Since I’m a t-shirt kind of guy, I tend to keep my eye out for plain and simple t-shirts. When Kris and I went to Belize in February, I got a t-shirt that simply says “Belize” on an orange background. I also got a blue shirt from Guatemala when we went across the border. When we go to Italy later this year, I want a t-shirt with the Italian flag.

But mostly I agree with Sierra: photos are awesome!

I definitely take photos, but if I’m going to buy anything I focus on value, utility and size. Value means focusing on stuff that is a regional specialty and for which I would pay much more at home. Utility simply means it has to be something I will use regularly, while size means keeping it small enough to pack.

In Bali, for example, I bought silver jewelry in a small village famous for their designs and skill. It cost a fraction of what it would cost in the US, and I wear it all the time.

In Thailand, I spent my money on a cooking school, where I learned the skills I still use in recreating the foods I ate while there. It was a great investment.

In France, I bought a small watercolor from an artist in the Montmarte. When I buy travel art I don’t buy the typical tourist art (landmarks, etc.) but work by a local artist I’m drawn too. By buying direct from the artist you can also negotiate, and my small French watercolor has, on the back of it, the piece of paper on which we wrote our negotiation bids until we settled on the right price. It’s a reminder of the purchase experience, which was a lot of fun.

Overall, I think original art is my favorite thing to purchase abroad (I also have a painting from Bali). Every time I look at it I remember the trip and the experience, which is something a scrapbook sitting on a shelf just wouldn’t allow. Best of all, art packs well!

But, like most, I have picked up other souvenirs along the way. I enjoy the little things that remind of my trips or moments on the trip. I have a small shelf dedicated to souvenirs. A menu from a taverna in Athens, a small bottle of Greek wine that was served on our flight from Athens, a framed photo from a trip to Peurto Vallarta, a tiny can of soda served on a flight to London. When I accumulated those things I never once considered the cost and yet all were free(the framed photo was given to me by one of the people I took the trip with). They were just things that seemed appealing as souvenirs. I guess, to me, anything that reminds me of a time/place/experience serves as a great souvenir.

I also like to collect bookmarks of my travels. They’re cheap (usually $1-$5) and weight next to nothing (won’t weigh down my suitcase). I am big book reader (2-3 books a week) so I love to pick bookmarks that compliment or contrast my book or remind me of a wonderful trip.

I completely agree with Becky about not buying for others. The only time I do is if it is food or alcohol that I know someone really, really wants. Though those dish towels of Moxiequz sound really cute and useful!

(I dislike buying small things for others. I don’t think they appreciate it–after all it is MY trip, not theirs, and they really can’t appreciate that special food, momento, etc.– it brings back memories to ME, not them. I have no expectations from others when they take trips and I guess I want the same attitude in return.)

I’ve also “invested” in earrings with a special stone (amber from Poland, “Jerusalem Opal” from Israel, etc.) or emblem from that country/region. These are something I will use and are not too expensive (sterling silver NOT gold). My girls bought pyramid charms when we went to Egypt and we made them into earrings when we got back. I bought the real earring findings at Michael’s and made up our own pairs of earrings–with exactly the motifs we wanted.

They take up almost no space and I think about my trips whenever I put them on.

We also buy postcards, so we aren’t stressing about getting the perfect shot for our scrapbook.

Two other things I buy — inexpensive jewelry from stands in markets and small booklets that you but for 1 or 2 dollars or Euros. Those have all the great pictures and a bit of history of the place as well.

I kept a couple for myself and gave the rest out as gifts to friends and family. They were a hit. Everyone needs dishtowels (they would actually be used, not just cluttering up a shelf) and they made for a great conversation starter. The couple I have in my kitchen bring back fond memories of my time there.

And fortunately – at the time – the US dollar was very strong against the Kiwi dollar. I essentially got them for over half off.

Granted these were a very deliberate “touristy” item sold at the airport but I have to say they worked out very well as frugal and useful souvenirs and gifts.