It’s way too easy to buy the souvenirs that most others do: T-shirts, snow globes, and teddy bears.  But your trip is unique and what you buy should reflect that.  Here are some useful, memorable souvenirs that you’ll be itching to take home on your next vacation.

1. Postcards

Yeah, they’re cliché, but some can be great pieces of art in your home.  Even if you aren’t able to send the postcard home from the city you’re in, they’re definitely worth the 50 cents.  They’re easy to frame or place in a collage board once you return.

2. Antiques

Yes, these are harder to find (aka they aren’t in the touristy shops), but they have more meaning than an “I <3 NY” t-shirt.  Especially in places like Europe which has been established for much longer than America, you’ll find plenty of things.  I’m glad I spent the €10 on a religious book from the 1800s that I found at a small shop along the Seine River in front of Notre Dame located in Paris.  Even though I don’t understand many of the French words in the book, it’s a great decoration that has character and historical value.

3. Jewelry

Although prices can get real steep, real fast, a piece of nicer jewelry will last longer than a magnet of the Bean in Chicago and will be more useful than a San Diego snow globe.  Sometimes the extra dollars, euros, pounds, etc are worth it for something that you’ll wear.  *It’s also a great conversation starter!

4. Boutique finds

These items, too, can get expensive, but you’ll most likely wear it more.  In Paris, I found a darling boutique called Anoki where I bought an adorable leather purse (32€) and bracelet (6€).  I found that prices of some items in this store were much more reasonable than many, many stores in Paris especially on the Champs-Élysées.

Bonus: here are some more mementos that come free of charge—well, free on top of the original purchase.

5. Shopping bags

Although some may be only as glamorous as the THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU white plastic bags, others may have some artwork or phrases in the native language.  I still have my Anoki Paris bag because a)it’s cute and b)reminds me of the enjoyable time.  These bags can also be used as gift bags, a desktop decoration, or stylish storage.

6. Coins

It’s a bummer that virtually you can only exchange currency with bills (only for a “small” fee), not coins.  Although you can’t switch your pound coins for euro coins, they are nice, small treasures that fit in your wallet, meaning minimal space lost on the way home!

7. Receipts

Okay, so receipts aren’t necessarily fabulous.  But it can fun to look back and see the different types of foods you ate, where, when (and how much—yikes!).  Especially if you plan to revisit the area, it will be much easier to remember the names of the places you visited on your previous trip.  Don’t forget to save your ticket stubs and museum booklets, too!

{What do you like to bring home from your trips?}