Tips on Buying abroad
Do you buy things on your travels? We do, and we’ve got a couple of tips for shopping abroad. Sometimes whenever you travel, you will have an impulse to buy souvenirs… to… well… to do just what souvenir means… to recollect your trip.
We’re not talking t-shirts here… we’re talking articles which will bring back memories of that city or country. We’re talking about tips for shopping abroad for regular old tourists.
You are not likely to get the best “deals” or the top “stuff” unless you simply get really lucky, but you will get some fun things and fun memories of finding them.
Purchasing art while on vacation often is an ideal way to add some excitement to your trip. Imagine all the fun that can be had seeking out that special piece that should bring back the memory of blue seas, snow-capped mountains, a memorable ruin, or tropical birds.
Each travel destination you visit is certain to have a definite flavor that can be captured in artwork or crafts which can be unique to the area. Your souvenir might be a painting or it can be fabric, woven panels, embroidered work, or batik.
You can buy native artworks like wood sculptures and masks. We’ve brought home unique musical instruments… a balalaika, a Tibetan horn, a didgeridoo, and some drums.
It’s fun shopping for a little antique piece or some ethnic clothing, but no matter what you go searching for, there are some tips for shopping abroad that you ought to keep in mind.
If you’re going to look for something specific on a trip, do some research before you leave home so you know about how much you need to expect to pay for it.
Also do research so you understand how to evaluate the quality. There are many fakes and cheap knockoffs in existence, a little knowledge may assist you to avoid getting ripped off… though with many items, even experts can be fooled!
Assume what you’re getting isn’t old or authentic…. that’s it’s made new for tourists and made to seem old…. That’s not all bad, many countries won’t let you take antiques out of the country anyway.
For anything you buy, we think if you pay a price you can live with, assuming it is simply a souvenir and not a valuable treasure, you’ll be happy with it whether it’s new or old.
While it’s fun to mention you bought this in…. you name it… Europe, Africa, Asia… Give it some thought before you buy. Can you get the same thing at home…. and get it cheaper without the hassles of getting it home? Will you really use it? Display it? Or is this an impulse that’s a great idea when you’re in that small shop, but something which may end up collecting dust in a box or inside your closet?
Sometimes to “get over” that impulse to purchase, we just buy some little thing which may remind us of this trip… things that lay flat and pack easily… hand made cards and cloth items or little pieces of inexpensive jewelry. When all else fails, we buy what we call “tacky tourist curios”. Funny little pieces that we bring home and hang on our Christmas tree.
I assume that’s our best tip for shopping abroad… really give it some thought before you buy it.
David Henry is a travel industry expert and has been providing discount travel services for 25 years. The next time you are looking for any travel products take a look at online travel discounts. 1 easy search compares all the leading tour operators for package holidays, flights,hotels and car hire and then allows you to book direct with the operator to make great savings
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