We all know how it goes, you go on holiday, you walk around, get some magnets and bring them home to everyone you know. They smile, say thanks and forget about them once they stick it on the fridge. Well, maybe your friends have a particular passion for magnets, but let’s be honest, they’re not really the most exciting souvenirs. While we get why magnets are such popular gifts, we think there are so many other ways to get a cheap, easy to pack and also fun souvenir. In this article, we have some suggestions on the items you can get back from your holiday. Read along and get ready to surprise everyone when you come back from your next trip!

Practical bits and bobs

Let’s start with something that might not be in everyone’s mind when they think of a souvenir: practicality. If you want your gift to be truly appreciated, you might want to think of something that the other person can use regularly. This doesn’t have to take up your whole backpack, so think of small and practical items. For example, if you go to Ireland, you could bring back some hats or caps, depending on how much space you’ve got and the style of the people you plan on giving them to. For women, you could look at some hair clips with Celtic art on them or different cultural touches. You can find a great variety of Celtic authentic gifts online and look through, we guarantee they’re better than any magnet. This way, you can get the people around you something that will remind them of your trip and how thoughtful you were every time they wear it. Socks and tote bags are also great ideas and they can be found in most souvenir shops for decent prices. 

Small art pieces

When you walk around a tourist city, you usually see two things: souvenir shops and street vendors. If you go to a souvenir shop, you’ll get your common magnets, caps, T-shirts and mugs. If you take a look at the street vendors, you’ll get some similar stuff, but you might also get small art pieces that have a more unique feel. We’re not talking about the art pieces that get painted in front of you, although if you have a bigger budget, they’d make a great present too. We’re thinking more about some handdrawn postcards that can serve as small art pieces in someone’s house. Cards, coasters or postcards are small items that are similar to magnets, but either serve a purpose or they are easier to display in any room. The best thing about postcards as souvenirs is that you can add a meaningful message on them or even post them from your travels for an even more thoughtful touch. 

Traditional goods

Let’s be honest, one of the best things about the holidays is the food you get to try. So why is it not so common to bring back snacks and treats for your loved ones? You can either try out a selection of snacks on your holiday and pick the best ones to take home, or you can make it a little guessing game to pick something for each one of your friends throughout your trip. You can have a tasting night with everyone, share stories from your travels and get everyone in the spirit of your holiday! This is a much more immersive experience than getting a simple magnet and it gives you the opportunity to live the holidays a little longer as well. The best thing about this idea is that if you completely forgot about souvenirs, or you don’t have the space, you can just pick something up in the airport.