Maybe you you have a friend/relative who asks you “Send me a postcard while you are away!”
Maybe you are the kind of traveller who can’t help bringing some little object to the beloved ones from the places you visit.
Maybe… you do both things (writing postcards and buying stuff) on the very last day of your trip. So you go to one of those typical-but-made-in-china shops that make you feel a mass tourist despite the very amazing and unconventional things you’ve seen in your trip.
If you’ve ever experienced something like this, this light post can help you find some easy solutions and let you send/buy great classy and very personal though unconventional travel gifts.
I’m telling you how to do it and where to go… and the gifts you can make while resting on the bed.
Ready?
#1 – Use Apps to make gifts with your photos… while sitting on the sofa
Let’s start with the easiest thing to do.
So you are tired after a whole day walking in the streets of some of the amazing cities you’ve visited.
Maybe you are waiting for your travel mate to finish making up or having a shower and you don’t want to sleep or watch tv or read my blog?
There are actually some free apps that allow you to create great travel gifts from your pictures, and you can then send them directly to your beloved ones (or to your place).
You can create magnets by the pics that you have just taken with your smartphone or create postcards out of them.
My favorite one is Lalalab, that I often use also to create polaroid photo boxes to give as gifts in general.
If you download it and make your first order, use the code PG65GP1L and you’ll get a 5 euros discount on any order (and I’ll have it too :-P) .
There are also other apps to create this kind of fast and very personalized gifts with your travel pics (like Photosì).
#2 – local handicraft shops

Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov
Now, let’s suppose your travel mate is over with the make up and all this stuff. It’s time to have another walk around your destination.
So, instead of looking for the most trafficked streets and the big malls, look for some handicraft shop on the internet where you can admire some little, precious and unique handmade object.
From Savelli Religious Vatican Gifts Shop in Rome, where I found some art and classy object that my aunt really loved, to my beloved shops in the side streets of Sofia, I could write a book about the magic of these places, where I highly recommend you to talk to the shop keeper and artisans. They’ll be able to tell you so much about their stories and the life of the shop, so you’ll have a story to tell other than a gift to give.
#3 – Give moments and inspiration more than objects
Once, a beloved person went to London knowing that the thing that I most missed of London was Autumn.
So I received an artwork made of leaves, sand and colors. It was a great and very personal gift.
If you are not so good at art and manual works, you can still use your creativity and write some verses or a song inspired by the lake in front of your accommodation.
#4 – Look for food street markets

Nice Spice Market
I know you might think that giving food (mainly fresh) as a gift may not be a good idea. But you should consider how many colorful and versatile kinds of food you can find in a street market!
Spices, dried fruits (both also very healthy) can be easily bought in small plastic bags (this also applies to tea stores).
Once back home, you can share them in smaller glass containers. You’ll be bringing a very local, creative and colorful gift that people will finally use, unlike all the other stuff you might have bought before.
21 Comments
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Ana Ojha
Hi Sabrina,
These are some great travel gift ideas for loved ones! I’m a huge fan of Lalalab and absolutely loved it!
Have a great weekend!
xoxo Ana -
CATALINA
Food street markets and local handicraft shops are my favourites. Knowledge is essential when buying souvenirs for friends and family, I love buying personalised gifts. My partner loves football so everywhere I go, I need to get him a scarf with the local team.
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Ali Rost
Such a timely post. I’m on vacation right now, in fact. I love the idea of picking up something from local handcrafted shops. My brother and sister in law traveled to India last year and brought me back the most beautiful handmade scarf. It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received! x
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David Elliott
I really like the point about giving moments and inspiration rather than stuff. We always fixate on stuff unfortunately. But in the long run, the moments last far longer and make a far bigger impact.
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Ellie
Just think that’s so lovely that they made you a patchwork of the leaves!! Autumn in London was always my favourite too. I love to look for little local souvenirstores when I’m away too, its far nicer than something you could get just anywhere.
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Bhumi
Great tips! I love bringing gifts for my people as much as I love to travel. One can find real work of a place at the street markets.
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yukti
Lovely tips and I loved how you created photo into little magnets. Very innovative gift. I would love to take local craft and wander in cultural street markets for shopping while traveling.
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five little doves
I love photo gifts and it is so easy these days to make them! I love an app, we have some great ones but I haven’t heard of Lalalab!
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Roadside Pie King
These are such great ideas! I love it. I really enjoyed reading this piece. Very into the whole DIY thing!
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Chelsea
Love this! Especially street markets, I wish there were more of them in my area. I’m such a sucker for a market, I love looking round at all the delicious treats and gifts. Some great ideas to be found at a market
Sonika
This is a motivating post. I really liked the idea of Food street markets and local handicraft shops. To be honest I will be imitating your pictures soon on my blog.