HImom

We're going to London, Paris, Rhine/Black Forest Area, Munich & Vienna and are wondering about inexpensive gifts to bring back home for friends & family--under $10-20 apiece, preferably less. The last places we'll be is Venice & then 7.5 hours in Heathrow airport. We'd welcome suggestions. Thanks!

Palenque

I collect beer coasters - free from pubs with local European beer symbols on them - free and easy to carry and reminds me of each beer - but i give them to others and they rather like them too. Of course i give them something else as well

Leburta

We love shopping in local supermarkets for relatively inexpensive things to bring back -- cookies, mustard, seasoning, etc. The best things, of course, are not fragile, dried, and easy to pack. I understand you need to be especially careful with your carryons if you are going home through Heathrow, which is notoriously strict on the number of pieces you carry on.

seafox

Look in German or Austrian grocers for Krauter salz - it's a sesoned salt taht's great on anything - inexpensive and a conversation starter. In Venice go off the main areas and look for a potter - there are a few, buy small bowls about 2inches across or les(actualy you can do that anywhere). they are great to keep on the counter handy when chopping garlic or herbs.

HImom

Hmmmm, seasonings sounds good. I haven't had much luck bringing back anything breakable, even from CA to HI. More ideas?

joannyc

From Venice, wine stoppers made w/ Murano glass
From Germany, wooden or hand-blown Christmas ornaments

Christina

I wouldn't recommend you bring back seasonings, etc. as they will likely be thrown out at customs. You aren't allowed to bring back products made from plants, generally. I've seen the customs dogs go after a guy's baggage who was lying and claimed he didn't have any plant items, and they found some spices in there or dried something. Ditto most food products. YOu can bring back candy or mustard in jars/tubes.

Why don't you just wait until you get there and enjoy picking up things you see yourself that you like while shopping? YOu don't have to plan everything.

joannyc

I've brought back seasonings from Italy and Hungary without a problem.

Ninkette

I've also brought back seasonings and lots of food products from Italy and France without a problem (and declared them).

HImom

Christmas and holiday ornaments sound nice. Maybe bookmarks and/or letter openers, since they're small. It's nice to have some idea of things to be on the look out for, since it's always something I agonize about and would prefer to have a few things in mind.

I have also picked up the disposable coasters along our travels and brought a smile to those we share them with.

CarolJean

I go to the grocery store and buy tubes of mustard and mayo (often herb flavored.) These are inexpensive and great for picnics, backpacking, rving, etc. (and they are small and inexpensive) just don't put them in your carryon. I am also a beer coaster collector.

HImom

The carry on between Vienna and London is VERY limited anyway, so we will likely check most things. The tubes of condiments sound like a fun thing to bring back and hopefully will be happily used by the recipients. Thanks for this suggestion and all the others above as well. Any others, including things for my kids to bring back for their friends? Perhaps D will bring back earrings for her friends or other small wearables. Not sure what S mught bring back, but perhaps they have ideas of their own.

wanderfrau

You gotten some good suggestions

Beer coasters can be beat -- flat, light and free

Since you don't usually find the tubes of mayo, mustard and tomato paste in the States, cooks of all sorts love them and the various flavors.

One of my favorites are fancy paper napkins. You find all sorts of gorgeous designs.

No one mentioned chocolate. Milka and Ritter Sport are good German brands that are difficult to find in the States. Ritter has lots of interesting flavors and kids like the Milka cows.

I'd avoid the fragile Christmas ornaments. Instead look for the beautiful wooden Christmas and Easter items. Just be sure they are made in Germany. Be careful if you visit a Kaethe Wolfhart - many of her things are mass produced outside of Germany.

SharonG

Just back from Paris and I brought home several tubes of mustard (flavored with herbs de provence and pepper), a tube of artichoke cream (contains artichokes and olive oil) and a small plastic bottle of balsamic fig glaze. Put it all in my checked luggage. Got these things at Bon Marche's Le Grande Epicerie. But at Monoprix I got these great chocolate bars filled with cognac and cointreau. Have had them before and they are favorites. Plus fleur de sel and other little jars of spices. Declared everything and had no problem in customs when I returned through Chicago.

HImom

SharonG, love the idea of artichoke cream! That will definitely be a huge hit around here as most of us LOVE artichokes! Those chocolate bars also sound quite exquisite! Flavored condiment tubes sound pretty interesting as well.

SharonG

At Gare L'Est, there was a shop that sold confiture in little tubes as well. Plus these squares of chocolate with a plastic spoon or stick embedded in them. Turns out you put them in milk to make super chocolat chaud. There are just too many good things to eat in Paris.

alohatoall

Good quality dish towels -- some are really beautiful, they're easy to pack and unbreakable, and always useful.

HImom

Good idea about dish towels and chocolates! Yum! Will share these ideas with hubby & kids too.

jpie

We collect plastic placemats with photos on them of where we have been so we can sit out on our deck in the morning here in California and stare at Eze or Paris or the London tube map with our coffee They only run around 5 euros and I have occasionally given them as gifts. From Paris my favorite gift to give is a small sterling tea spoon from Marriage Freres-it only runs about 8-10 euros and nice to give with some of their tea or alone. Also, Galleries Lafayette and some of the tourist stores sell great plastic shopping totes with the metro map which is always a big hit. And from the south of France, lavender is light and easy to carry and has the side benefit of acting like a sachet in your own suitcase before you bring it home.

suze

Small size fancy wrapped soaps from France
Calendars, scarves, placemats, dishtowels, lace (easy to pack)
Unusual items from the grocery store