Saturday
Jan222011
January 22, 2011 One bag Dilemmas--Souvenirs
For those of us who one bag, there are times when the small of luggage we take can actually cause a problem. I’d like to start a series of discussions going on how each of handles a particular problem.
First ups, souvenirs. Most people buy them and they can very easily add weight and bulk to our one bags. How do people here handle souvenirs and is it still possible to one bag it if you are a shopper?
(BTW, if you have other “one bag dilemma” topics, feel free to post your suggestions in the forum and I will put them on the blog—incrementally.)
(Frank II)
Reader Comments (29)
Seriously, I try to pack my bag only 2/3 full to leave room for purchases and souvenirs. To the point where I tell myself if I really might want to bring that extra item of clothing - I can always buy something when I arrive instead! I have to be strict with myself for it's easy to think "I have a small bag to start and there's still room to spare, might as well fill it!"
I also take a roomy foldable "Pilage" tote bag from Longchamp as a "just in case" bag. This way I can use the tote as my one-bag and if I really must - check my real one-bag (the horror!)....or if I'm able to - carry on both bags. I've done this and pretended the Longchamp tote was my "hand bag".
Here is a link to the Longchamp site, the "Pilage" comes in several sizes, and colours. It folds flat and is easy to take along. It's a little pricey for a spare bag, but sturdy. You can get them with short handles or long to fit over the shoulder.
http://www.longchamp.com/en/bags-tote-bag-women-255.html
http://www.longchamp.com/en/home-e-shopping/home-sur-mesure-usa/sur-mesure-etape-1-561.html
Still, starting from before you leave - the statement "pack half the clothes you think you need, and twice the money." Makes sense!
Mostly, be very selective with souvenirs. Maria's note to start with some space does help, too, so when you start collecting you have a place to put it.
The purse I've used on several trips is a mini-messenger bag from LL Bean (I've not seen it since purchasing it in '08). It's about 9x9, so if a souvenir can't fit while I'm out and about, I can't buy it.
My only exception to the size rule has been the occasional t-shirt, and I wear them while on the trip (ie, the useful souvenir).
If shipping is really expensive, it will make you think twice about buying that handmade pottery lamp for Aunt Ethel...
When visiting family in Europe, and thought I would have plenty of space in my bag for the return trip...as most of the packing space was taken up with items they had asked me to bring over for them and I presumed once I handed out the loot - all the more space left for me. However, it goes both ways - they in turn gave me things to bring back home for myself and to bring to family over here too. Like several large hardback coffe-table books! Hence my bringing the spare bag just in case.
For things I purchase for myself when I travel - I am selective, if I can wear them all the better. (scarves, a piece of jewellery) If it's bulky or heavy, perhaps the shop can ship it home for you too. Also, with the internet for shopping - if you really feel you must have it - sometimes it's easier to just order on line and have things shipped home too.
If I don't have any plans of buying anything there but I still run into a must-have item, I can just as well buy a cheap bag there. Usually not more than 10-20USD and I can use it as a gift once back home.
Only once did I get something shipped. It was a rather big paper mache sculpture that I had shipped from Mexico to Germany in a giant wooden crate. It was expensive but worth it.
Generally, though, I'm not a big souvenir person. I take photos. But I don't buy knick-knacks.
To bring back wine and alcohol, I've read and heard that Rimowa luggage can handle such. I do not own their pieces, sadly, but it's an intriguing aspect. Plus Rimowa is much cheaper to purchase in Germany. Well, that's a practical souvenir - a nice carrier, and the bottles!
I live in a small place and tend to go for souvenirs that are either small (refrigerator magnets), useful (the occasional t-shirt), or consumable (alcohol, tea, etc.), but they add up, and if anyone has a birthday coming up I like to try to get them things they couldn't buy in the US or online. So after having to buy a tote bag during my last trip, I'm planning ahead this time. I'm still planning to go out with extra space in my bag.
One of my favorite things in the printer's tray is a ceramic pipe stem my Dad found in the mud along the Thames. I don't know if it was legal for him to take, but it reminds me of the trips we've taken to London, together and separately.
I have also considered, but not yet tried, the Little sticker books that you can make from your own photos. I think Moo cards sells them. I'd order them at the end of my trip and have them sent home. The stickers would have my best photos from the trip. Then everyone would get a sheet of stickers, and I could even write on the back and mail the sheets as post cards. My friends would get to see more than one photo (as happens with a post card) but could also use the stickers for whatever odd purpose it is that they are always using stickers.
I will stock up at Boots and Marks & Spencer for myself, but those are places I always shopped at before I emigrated to Canada.
I leave some room in my bag for shopping and books, DEFINITELY books, those I generally buy at the airport 2 or 3 for 1 sales! I did make a pact with myself last trip......I must realise that as I do buy items (usually clothes), I do not need to pack too much for the trip.
My husband invariably buys tee shirts.
Years ago we did break the bank when my husband laid eyes on a rather superb collectible chess set, last one left. He had to have it and no way could we have traipsed around the UK and France with it, too big, too heavy! The shop arranged for it to be shipped to our home and as we were travelling for five weeks, we chose the slow and cheap method (which took eight weeks. We did have to pay quite a bit of duty on it at the Post Office. It now collects dust in the library/living room!
There are rare times when I don't buy anything other than toiletries, which I use during the trip anyway.
This year I am going to Spain (three weeks), the middle week will be me taking my mum to England for a week, she rarely shops now and as I need to stick to her like glue, I won't have time.
I now try (and frequently fail) to cleave to the old caver's dictum, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. As I've aged, the memories become more dear than any of the treasures that I've bought (especially since I've begun to run out of space at home). I try to bring home only one small item to use as a touchstone for the experience. I find, oddly enough, that things that are strongly scented, like spices, are the most evocative for me.
BTW, the Barong is the answer to the how to onebag formal wear for men. You will never have to look like "just another penguin" and it is the most comfortable "monkey suit" that you can wear.
I also found myself lacking in both writing in my journal and taking photos. I guess I get so wrapped up in the experience I forget.
So, years ago, I started buying postcards. Yes, some I sent home, but most were for my benefit. I would write my journal on the back of the post card. So, let's say I bought one of the Eiffel Tower. Well, on the back of the card, I'd write the day and date and what I did that day or part of that day. . In a sense, it's a low tech photo journal.
These souvenirs take up practically no space, weigh very little, and give me great memories.
I used to buy books especially for long flights home...but now between my Kindle and IPod, I only buy a book if it's something I really want and can't find it at home.
I've never done it since. The books were worth it, but heavy! Just getting it from Customs at LAX to another terminal for my flight to PHX and then on to DTW (for a family gathering) was nearly the end of my back!
Other than that, my only other 'souvenirs' of my first trip (on my own) to Europe were: one small Swiss Army penknife, good for cutting up food as we traveled about, a set of Mary Quant watercolor eyeshadows (which I wore continuously until they were gone), and a pair of red wool socks which kept my feet from freezing in Switzerland. That was it. What else did I need? Those socks lasted until the late "90's, and every time I wore them I thought of Lausanne. I still have the penknife. I even have some of the books (although I've given many of them away to good friends as gifts over the years).
Oh. I forgot - I also bought at shirt at a hotel in Amsterdam. I wore that out, too. I also wore it IN Amsterdam, so I guess that wasn't really a souvenir, but actual clothing.
That trip was over 30 years ago, and I haven't changed much. I travel smaller now that I did then (although my clothes are no longer the same size... boo... Why go somewhere and buy tacky things to commemorate it, since most of that 'stuff; isn't even locally produced and comes with the ubiquitous 'made in China' label? Then again, if more people traveled the way I do, Goodwill, Sally Ann, and the local thrift stores wouldn't have items to sell...
Alas, for their most affordable line, Salsa, which is NOT cheap, it also does not do well with the heavy-handed tactics of current baggage handling. We have had two of their 29-inch cases, one has a dent, the other developed a split, and has been donated, and replaced by an ultralightweight Antler. So, if and when we get to Germany...we won't be buying more Rimowa, not to mention I'd be taking my Redoxx Air Boss, or perhaps my Osprey Porter 46.
I also like Frank II's post card journal suggestion. I have some trips well documented in a journal and some not at all. I tend to buy post cards anyway, so combined with a slip-in photo journal, I think I want to try it.
We don't buy t-shirts anymore because we have enough to last us well into the next life, but once in a while we'll buy an article of clothing representative of a country such as a man's barong shirt in the Philippines, or jummy caps in Scotland.
The grands also get some coins and we always bring back a piece of currency for the lady who owns the local pub as she has a collection, thanks to us.
I doubt that I have more than a few ounces more coming home than going unless I'm helping carry fabric home. Sharon, on the other hand, makes up quite well for the smallness of her clothes in relationship to mine.
The thing with the dents is a nice reframing idea from the PR department. But you know what? It's quite true. Even after a single trip or two the case will not look new anymore but it will still look spectacular. Imagine the young Liz Taylor with messy hair. :D
That said, a case like the Samsonite Oyster or Delsey New Volume, which are their most simple and lightest hard shell cases made from ABS with a hard frame (important), will protect the contents just as well as the Rimowas and cost 1/5th. They will also not attract as much attention as the Rimowa. I get mine opened at least 50/50. And not always is there a note in there that it was opened. I have gone as far as putting a note in there saying that I have a list of the contents, photos of the contents and that they please put a note in there when they opened it. This has helped somewhat but not always.
I also just remembered that I saw a nifty little invention for transporting wine bottles. It's an inflatable sleeve, like an air mattress, that goes around the bottle. Smart idea. Light and doesn't take much room on the way there.
Wine and watches are one of the top items to bring back to the US (specifically from Europe but possibly also from other countries). The import tax on wine is minimal. You have to declare everything over one litre but up to six bottles most agents will just wave you through. Too much hassle for $10 or so collected. The watches you can declare also. Though mostly they never notice. If you do declare, the duties are in the range of less than $100 even on a $5000 watch. You can get a tax refund when you take the item outside of the EU. On such an expensive piece the mostly 19% of VAT they add in Europe are obviously quite a lot of money. More than $700. A watch will also not weigh you down so much. ;)
The VAT on art is lower than on normal products in EU countries. Around 7% VAT. There is no import duty on art when you bring it into the US.
I've also been collecting refrigerator magnets. They're a bit heavier than postcards but you can find some quirky ones out there; my favorite being a cartoon cow from the Pyengana Dairy Farm in Tasmania. :)
I found that I'd buy postcards for other people and keep the best ones for myself (well, technically I'd buy doubles so I can keep some too) and store them in my photo album. But I also copy "travel photos" from various websites of my favourite cities and save them on the computer to glance at too.
Averaged over the two trips, 1.5 bag travel! So maybe not one bag travel :)
My buying habits for souvenirs has completely changed overseas. I would always buy items made in the country I was touring to support locals. During the last 5 years I've had difficulty doing this: for example, in my recent tours to Ireland and Scotland I found most things were made in China. I had to work to find something made in the country! I now buy art post cards and cards by local artists when I tour overseas. Most of our friends are now into minimalism and don't expect anything more than postcards/cards.
My typical souvenirs tend to be small and useful: I collect scarves and local jewelry which turns my black travel wardrobe into something fun as I travel. I leave room specifically for these items.
Every once in a while I find a really unique kitchen item that I end up bringing back - but that is why I also leave room in my suitcase. I also enjoy buying art items and papers. Both don't take much space and are not too heavy.
As with others, I've shipped unexpected purchases. I also love books, but most now can be bought on the internet - I write down the ISBN or if I really don't think I can find them (i.e. a book in a foreign language) I buy and ship home. I've bought other items that shipped such as a custom ladies formal kilt I had made in Scotland. So I have a budget for shipping home on trips to Europe.
On a trip to Hawaii on business I was given gifts by the company I was helping and I was asked to shop for some items for another project we were working on back home. I shipped everything except the Chinese hats (for a display) back in three flat rate boxes. The hats were my second carry on item.
When traveling outside the US I'm usually carrying things for people from here that they can't get. They pay for the checked bag going and coming I don't usually have costs. So I fill that empty bag with souvenirs and gifts.
My husband and I are like Maggie in that we try to buy handmade items from local people in whatever country we are in- it can be a challenge. This fall, we're going to Italy & Germany (stopping along the way somewhere in between) and I've committed to a carry-on. I'm off to finish reading this entire site, but wanted to let you all know (if you revisit this post) your tips will certainly help us newbies with a hassle free packing/hauling vacation.