Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Cheap Souvenirs

Like any shopping, you have to have an eye, imagination, and a good idea what interests your friends and family (if that's for whom you're buying). Museum stores have great selections - postcards and prints of the collection, journals, pencils, magnets, notecards, posters, etc. Wal-Mart type chains (Monoprix in France comes to mind) for gift wrap, notecards, school supplies, housewares like milk pitchers or cheese graters. Hardware stores for house numbers, cutlery, drawer pulls, utilitarian housewares. Department stores and stationery stores for paper, stickers, rubber stamps, pencil sharpeners, pens, portfolios. Postage stamps! Flea markets for odd saucers, doilies, weird ashtrays (look for the tables "1 euro a piece" or "1 pound each" - be prepared to to paw through some real rubbish for a couple of gems), posters, old magazines and books (wouldn't your friend who's into retro love a 1950's decorating magazine?). If you want the usual souvenirs (hey, I buy 'em), then keychains, magnets, pens, calendars, snowglobes, postcards at an tourist shop will be relatively inexpensive. Don't get caught up in the "I have to buy for everybody in my family" cycle. For the special few (like Mom), make a SHORT list of things they like and buy for just them. For yourself, do a similar list - do you collect egg cups? Blue glassware? Buttons (my downfall)? Do you like to sew? knit? needlepoint? You can find great souvenirs if you just plan ahead, and are willing to take some time. The best souvenirs of all? Photographs. Enlarge the photo of a street sign that's the same as your family's for Dad; the cat in the window that looks just like Tommy, your sister's favorite cat; the photo of you in front of Queen Victoria's statue, just like the one of your Mom on her honeymoon....