After quickly reading most of the earlier posts, I feel like Scrooge.

We buy very few souveniers and no gifts. I don't care for shopping at home and sure don't want to have to do it while on vacation.

The main reason we buy few souveniers is that we don't have a home which has the room or decor that would allow us to display all the things we see and like. While we may see many things we like while traveling, almost always the question of "Where would we put it?" comes up. I just can't see spending alot of money on an item that I have no place for. I'd rather put the money toward another trip.

Heck, I don't even buy souveniers for people I genuinely like, much less co-workers and kids of friends.

Most of your major expenses should already be figured prior to leaving. So you're really talking about disposable income while there. I'm not sure how long you're staying but my last trip to Paris I took 1000 Euros & I brought some (about 100) home. (I was in Paris for a week, 2 adults & 1 infant). This is pretty typical for us. We eat well, drink well, bought my daughter a couple of outfits. Traveled by Metro & hit some Museums. If I need more funds or am running low, I'll use my credit card or an ATM. You should pretty much KNOW about what you will spend even if unintentially, unless you plan to charge everything while you're there. I may lose a little on the exchange but work for a bank so I don't do too bad converting to Euros prior to leaving. I guess that is how I budget.

Tat, I think coasters are those things you put under drinks so they don't harm your table tops.

This is interesting reading and everyone is different. I am a real estate broker and in my last five trips to France I have sent a number of my current clients a post card. I have usually sent 30 or 40 post cards each trip. Yes, it does add up to some money, but I do get feedback from the people I send them to. I usually print out a set of mailing labels on my computer so it saves me a lot of time addressing post cards and I try to get them all written and mailed out on the first or second day -- then I can forget about it and enjoy my vacation.

As to gifts, for the past five years I have done almost all my Christmas shopping in Paris. I can usually get most of it done in an afternoon in the Bazaar de Hotel de Ville (BHV). I frequently get household items that you can not normally get in the US. Over the years I have also purchased a number of sweatshirts for gifts. The quality of the sweat shirts in France seems to be better than you normally find in the US (quality of the fabric) and the designs are tastefully done. My sister still wears the one I got from Paris for her about 5 years ago, she has is dry cleaned and it still looks like new. I have another lady friend who I purchased for her sweat shirts from Paris and Versasilles. She like them so much that she had her seamstress install a small zipper in the back so she did not mess up her hair when she put them on.

As for me, I usually purchase something "special" just for me on each trip. It is a wonderful reminder of an exceptional time I had in another country.

Yes I do have a budget. I try to purchase everything on a credit card, I keep a running total of my purchases while I am on the trip and when I get home I pay the bill when I get home. I just don't like their interest rates. By keeping a running total I can keep track of how much I am spending through out the trip.

I would love to be able to take back five or six cases of wine with me. You could save yourself 60 or 70 per cent if you could get it through customs. I do take 6 bottle back each time and I have never had a problem with customs. I try to bring back as many of those $50 bottles of wine that you can get for about $10 in France. I have a friend who has a vineyard near Nantes and he gets about 3.25 Euro for a bottle at his vineyard. If I could purchase it here in Traverse City, Michigan it would most likely cost me somewhere between $10 and $15 dollars a bottle. Another interesting point: Here in Traverse City we have a number of vineyards and if you went directly to their vineyard would most like pay between $15 and $20 per bottle for their wine. France is a real bargin when it comes to buying wine.

I usually end up finding something I must have. After that, I curtail my spending. I send out a lot of postcards for friends and bring back gifts for my children. I always budget for everything except the "must have" surprise.

Hi Tat,
There is a chain of stores called Monoprix that I frequent for gifts. They have wonderful soaps packaged very nicely for only a little over one Euro each. Cheap and not a big deal. Then I go down to the grocery market on the bottom floor where they sell the best shortbread cookies for 1 or 2 Euros. My next gifts are bought at a store(also a chain) called La Vaissellerie.
This is a kitchen shop where you can pick up things from 2- 50 Euros. Great small items like wine openers, small packages of herbs to smell good, etc.
All these pack well in my rolling bag so it doesn't nmatter how heavy it is.
I check it and then one more store!
My last shopping is done at the small
market on thebottom level of CDG.
There I buy the hazelnut and chocolate candybars, fresh bread, Brie, and even butter! This I carry on in a separate bag, and yes everything comes back
just fine - have done it for years.
After saying this there will be no butter when I go in February!!!!
Nothing is expensive and I can bring back things my friends and family love - believe me, the food is what I am asked to return with.
Sorry this is such a long message - hope it helps
Good luck, Sue