Best gifts for yourself
 

We'll be in Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Prague in Sept/Oct and wonder what visitors to these cities buy for themselves, in addition to chocolates and holiday gifts. Is there a particular gemstone, type of jewelry, glass or crystal, clothing, handbag etc that is especially popular?

Found some beautiful etched/carved glassware in Prague. LOTS of options in crystal and glass.

Lots of beautiful crystal/glass in Prague, as well as Garnet jewelry.

Vienna also has fabulous crystal. If you are looking for a chandelier (sp?), Vienna will have some beautiful ones- albeit expensive.

Enjoy your trip! Prague and Vienna are two of my favorite destinations (Salzburg is pretty as well, but I've never been to Budapest).

I enjoy going to the grocery store and looking for unique stuff, but in HUngary I love the cosmetics, there are some Hungarian purse/shoe designers that may interest you...

I've brought back a few small things for myself not based on what was popular but when I saw it I loved it! I have some gold and topaz earrings from Sorrento, a lng spangly necklace from Montepulciano, a small red leather purse from Florence, a small leather wallet from Paris. I try to keep it small and beautiful and of course something that will last and always make me remember the time and place.

I don;t know where you got the chocolates idea. The really good ones are Belgium = then Switzerland.

Prague has a lot of garnet jewelry - but check out prices online here before you go - some is attractive, some old fashioned and IMHO prices not that great. Also a lot of crystal everywhere - but also big $.

Keep in mind that authentic Czech garnets are TINY!!

Prague:

Moser on Na Prikope. Beautiful glass store with stained-glass windows. Expensive crystal that graces the tables of kings.

Dr. Botanicus. This is a bath/body store that also carries homemade jams and things made out of herbs (like those meditation pillows). It is behind the Tyne Church in Old Town Square. The bitter orange bath oil is fabulous.

Thingorjus

I've purchased quite a few trinkets on the Charles Bridge, in Prague. You can also find great things at the airport! One of my favorite things to buy are the black and white photos for sale. Most are matted, and they fit really well in the pocket of my suitcase. I've only carried cut glass back a few times. You can get it shipped back home,if you have a lot, but I just carry it on with me. There is a lot of neat arts & crafts style jewelry, as well as hair ornaments, pottery, etc. One year I bought a huge (3' by 3') silk scarf that is hand painted. The picture is of a horse and carriage going though Old Town Square. I framed it and it is hanging over my bed. I look at it every day, and it is a great souvenir. I bought it at a store in front of the Tyn church. I also have some amazing garnet earrings from there.

Some Viennese shops carry beautiful little petit-point pins set in silver or gold. In Salzburg, look in the Villeroy et Boch shop, on the main street leading to the cathedral area. You'll find beautiful tableware and Christmas decorations.

I like bringing back linens/lace - easy to pack. Prague is a great place for interesting glass/crystal. Budapest is a good place for a lapdance.

Prague: Becherova
Budapest: Unicum

I was also going to say garnets in Prague. I was there a few years ago and since my birthstone is garnet I decided my one "big" gift for myself on that trip would be a garnet ring.

I did look around in several of the shops before making my final decison which may or may not have been the absolute best price, but I love the ring and wear it everyday.

While in Budapest last November our guide suggested the beautifully made wooden "magic boxes" in the covered market, second level. They are a unique souvenir or gift. They come in several sizes and many different finishes. (I bought six small ones at $16 each as holiday gifts for the children in the family and they were a huge hit with them.) Also, we were recommended to buy the paprika in the market, but in the sealed packets only, as these keep fresh longer. This market also had a very large selection of aprons, scarves and shawls to choose from as well as embroidered table clothes, napkins, etc.

In Vienna, we treated ourselves to a visit to the J&L Lobmeyr Crystal showroom, Karntnerstrasse 26. IMO Lobmeyr makes the finest crystal in the world and chandeliers of Lobmeyr crystal can be found in concert halls and palatial buildings worldwide. We had to visit this place. I was shocked that they actually have a bargain table - not seconds but some discontinued items or single parts of larger sets. We bought a gorgeous bowl for just under $100! It now has a place of honor among other crystal that we have collected over the years.

In Prague consider jewelry with Moldavite stones. It is a gem that comes almost exclusively from the Czech Republic and is fast running out. It was formed by a meteor impact. The stone is sort of an olive green- really quite lovely. The regular quality Moldavite is the darker, smoother, greener stone. The most prized Moldavite is lighter in color and has a fern-like appearance to its surface. The regular variety cost about the same as garnets.

There is a store in Prague, just off Wenceslas square - entering the square from old town it will be down an alley to your right, just past the sausage stand - that sells exquisite decorated eggshells. That is pretty much all that they sell. They are not expensive and make wonderful decorations, gifts, tree ornaments etc. They pack them very well - we had none break.

Many stores in Prague also sell amber. However beware, some of the amber that you see, particularly the less expensive pieces, are actually pressed and molded amber powder and scapings.

There is a shop also in Salzburg that sells the decorated eggshells. They were 10 euros each. They were arranged in the windows according to a theme--some decorated for Easter, Christmas, Halloween, etc. The Halloween eggs were painted to look like Jack-o-lanterns.

Thanks so much for the many good suggestions -- I think we'll skip the lapdance :-)
k2

The only thing I ever buy is the occasional picture--usually a nice print or watercolor--but even those rarely.

I am just not interested in buying stuff or having stuff.

I do like to look, though.

Oh, I bought some carved cherubs in Oberammergau.

Sausages from Prague/Czech Republic! You can also get some very decent white wine there; visit a wine shop that lets you taste before you buy!

Sausages?! Unless they are smoked & shrinkwrapped from the airport, I don't think you can bring them back on a plane! I did manage to smuggle my reindeer jerky through customs at JFK. The 1st guy gave me a hard time, so I hid it, and told man #2 that I had candy & wrapped cheese. Got through OK, but sometimes the dogs at customs will sniff it out...