mesange

I love the sugar packets idea! I also have a sweet tooth, but until now have usually bought local-specialty candy as a souvenir. But on my next international trip, a sugar packet may find its way into my pocket too.

A friend always buys a photo album in the country she's visiting, then puts her trip photos inside---evocative and useful too.

And I always think it's fun to visit stationery shops abroad---interesting papers and cards, calligraphy brushes, neat pens, some to keep and some to send or give.

Have fun collecting!

hopscotch

Ash trays and beer coasters.

krisbtx

Count me in as another magnet collector. They're small and pack easily and make the dull white of the refrigerator a little more interesting. I also collect wall art of some sort, which reminds me that I need to do more traveling because my walls are painfully bare.

mabern2

Not very origional, but I collect shot glasses. Thus far I have about 15 or so...not to many. I started with magnets but they tend to take over.

I also managed to collect a few different sugar cubes (still packaged of coarse!) and cute thin sugar packets on our last trip.....maybe a beginning of a new collection??

L84SKY

I bring home the sugar packets too. My husband can't resist the beer coasters.

He gets a T-shirt. I have a growing assortment of angels that I've picked up while traveling. It wasn't an intentional collection, I just like unusual ones. I don't go out of my way for them but they seem to find me.

rfbk50

I hate to admit to this but I collect Hellman's mayonaise jars. As a child we would put the Hellmans jar on the kitchen table and I would read the label. On the bottom it said "Known as Best Foods west of the Rockies" I knew if I could buy "Best Foods Mayonaise I would be far from home. It took me over 20 years to get west of the Rockies. I bought my first jar in Las Vegas. I have since purchased Hellman's in Great Britain (it has a special seal from the Queen), France, Belgium, China and Italy. I have all those jars hidden in the back of my cupboard but I do get satisfaction knowing that I finally got "West of the Rockies!"

tuscanlifeedit

I collect statues, pictures, prints, paintings, etc. of the Blessed Mother. If we aren't in a particularly Catholic or Christian country (although flea markets and antique shops turn up amazing images of the BVM in all sorts of places) I like to get images of goddesses and other female spiritual figures. Our house is decorated with my collection and I love it.

I also like to get small prints and little pieces of original art. We have begun a collection of small bowls and dishes including a model feast dish from the Anthropological Museum of BC; a few little Italian ceramic bowls; a miniature Royal Copenhagen dish from the antiques market in Arezzo, and a bowl made from the serpentine stone of the Lizard Peninsula in SW England. My brother added to our collection with small bowls from Turkey and Africa. We love these.

We also bring home packets and jars of food products, but these always get eaten rather quickly. ;-)

loverome

I like to get magnets and cookbooks from places I've traveled. I also like to pick up postcards for myself to display.

From time to time, I've sent postcards home to myself. Not only is it a good souvenir, it's also was a quick and easy way to have a mini journal of the trip.

rooks423

I always try to pick up a calander of the city/country I am visiting. That way I have a picture and a date.

cybertraveler

Christmas ornaments...so our tree tells the story of all our vacations!

JameJamerz

I collect keychains and my mother collects ornaments as well.

JameJamerz

I collect keychains and my mother collects ornaments as well. Sometimes we also buy playing cards.

Poohgirl

Some things I collect are jewelry, coffee mugs, post cards, and music CDs. I used to buy T-shirts, but I won't do that for a while because I have way too many now. I never thought about collecting rocks, but my little nieces insisted on me bringing them rocks from China when I visited there last year. If I find some really cool clothing at a decent price, I'll get that, too.

Zeus

I take photos of toilets in Europe. Each is unique and rather freaky. Someday I hope to publish my collection. I currently have close to 50 shots. And I'm not s@#$-ing you!

Kavey

Egg cups. I collect egg cups.

kachinadoll

Ha! I take unusual washroom shots too. A good one of me (clothed) standing over a floor hole in Mijas, Spain Bullring. I have a cast on my leg...did thru' the whole trip. (not easy) Another one of me (clothed) sitting on a monk's lap toilet at The Monesterie Club, Paris, France. There's me at the Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, Calif. sitting on a tiny hand painted child's toilet. They also have a laser that runs a small waterfall down a wall... in the mens, when they pee. Also like to take bathroom (Male/Female) signs photos. Some establishments have quite the sense of humour. My friends think I'm strange, but I think it's funny. Northern Michigan has some great rest room stops. One is a lovely, small log cabin with a tiny bridge over stream running in front overlooking Lake Michigan.. There was a proper porch with wooden furniture to sit outside and they even supplied newspapers to read on the porch or wherever) C'mon guys...you must have seen unusual washrooms too.
I also collect small booklets or books on historical or interesting places I have visited/stayed...also letterhead, postcards,cups (stopped the cups, due to the weight, space and split up with my ex...I now have one whole kitchen cupboard filled with cups from around the world...that I do not use, for fear of damaging them. My ex still has the other half), fridge magnets, key chains, small glass figurines, bracelets, bags,pens, beachglass, seashells, small rocks,bills and coins. I usually give out pens, candies and keychains to tour guides and hotel staff of where I live. They love it. On return home I give out pens, keychains and fridge magnets and candy or coins to pals. Have fun with whatever you collect. My son collects leather hats from "my" travels. Another relative collects glass fish. Postcards are always good to buy, one from each place...in case your shots don't turn out.

emmabro

What a great question ! sad as it may seem i collect stones from everywhere i go ! Not huge rocks but small pieces !!! then i have a little piece of where i've been when i get home maybe if i finally get round the world i'll have enough pieces to build a small globe Happy travelling everyone XEm

grsing

I used to collect keychains (have a couple hundred), but now that I have to pay for myself, pictures work just fine; if there's something in particular that a specific city has, then I might get it, but not often (only one on this past trip was a Hofbrauhaus glass).

offwego

Toothpaste

I always buy toothpaste from a local grocery store or pharmacy.

I have found some very interesting varieties so far.