We're visiting Andalucia and are wondering about taking gifts home from Spain. Are Lladro figurines still affordable? Other ideas?

Whether Lladro figurines are affordable or not depends on your affordability threshold as well as which Lladro you are buying. LLadro is from Valencia. Andalucian products I can think of are fans and shawls. They can be more expensive than the Lladros. Other products I take home that do not get into problems at the customs are baked goods like mazapan and polvorón. You can buy these at the Madrid airport also.

Andalucía has beautiful ceramics. They have vases, jars, pitchers, plates (of all sizes), plaques, etc. That is what I would buy.

Obviously it depends on the taste of the person to whom you are giving a gidt. There is a company that makes more modern versions of Lladros called Sargadelos. They are a Galician company and may not be widely available in the south.

It's funny you mentioned Sargadelos, I thought of it as I collect them and have bought them for presents. The only reason I didn't mention was that I thought maybe more meaningful to bring something from the area the poster was visiting. I usually buy them in Santiago, but have bought them in Madrid as well. Their price is more reasonable than Lladros , which have gotten very expensive.

I beleive Lladros are made in Valencia. And many first time vistors are unaware of Sargadelos.

Hey, your talking to someone who buys caganers as momentos of Spain (really Catalunya)for myself and others.

It´s funny, Lladró in Spain is considered by many as a terrible gift for someone...but most foreigners I know always ask about it. I wonder why, it may be a difference in tastes...

Living in Galicia it is natural I have some Sargadelos around the house.
But I have found you can purchase it in the USA too.
http://www.thebestofeurope.com/sarga...n-c-73_80.html
for those that are interested here is the official website
http://www.sargadelos.com/
I have also found that the official shops do not stock so much as some shops which sell other bits of porcelain, which is rather odd.