Last Updated on April 13, 2022
If you’re like me, you probably crammed as much as you can into your suitcase – of course, while having minimalist intentions. This leaves little to no room for souvenirs. Bummer! You can either pay for extra luggage or ship them home, OR why not skip out on the snow globe and try some of my skinny souvenirs instead!
Postcards
This is my number one go-to. With being in the military, we move all the time.
As I write, I swear to you we have some of our belongings in storage in Italy, some in New Mexico, some in Michigan, and are getting ready to store some in Vegas and ship the rest to South Korea.
The last thing I need is my precious souvenirs breaking or getting lost, so I like to try to keep them with me at all times.
That is why postcards are the best thing ever! They’re cheap and they’re skinny.
This is what I love to do. If I’m going to many different places on my trip, I’ll get a postcard from each place and then write on the back the dates I was in that place and then a description of my favorite things I did there.
Sometimes I’ll just write out brief bullet points or sometimes I’ll write a full-on novel on the back with a funny story that happened that I don’t want to forget.
Another option, if you’re wanting to get more detailed into your trip, is get a postcard each day and do a daily journal on the back.
This is much more memorable than just journaling in the same notebook, but will give you something more to look at.
At the end of your trip, you can holepunch a small hole in the corners and use a binder ring to clasp them together into your own little postcard book.
Journals
Do you enjoy writing or journaling? What about just keeping a good to-do list?
Journals are great souvenirs that don’t take up much space that you can use every day and think back to your awesome trip.
Try using the first page or two to write about where you got the journal and even a little bit about your adventure.
Or, simply purchase a journal the first day you arrive and use it as a travel log to write about each day on your trip.
Boxes
I know, not exactly skinny, but so easy to pack when you have space inside the box to fill!
When I went to the French Riviera I found the cutest macaron tins that I couldn’t resist. (Of course, I had to eat all of the macarons first, but it was a price I was willing to pay).
Christmas Ornaments
No, don’t run and get the fancy, fragile bulb ornament. I swear I could break those just by looking at them.
If you’re visiting touristy spots, you’re bound to find a shop with Christmas ornaments. Look for smaller non-fragile ones that won’t break.
I really love to find flatter ornaments that are blank on the back so I can write a little about my trip and where I got the ornament from.
Another option, not as sentimental, but once you get back from your trip, hop online and order a custom ornament that will remind you of that trip. Every Christmas, you get to reminisce on your travels.
Coasters
Unlike some other souvenirs that can’t be on display all the time, coasters are a great way to remember your travels every day.
I even like to write on the back in a Sharpie a little about my trip. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter for guests!
Apparel
I’m personally not a big touristy apparel type of person, but I love to find local shops and purchase something that I would wear on an everyday occasion (i.e. not a grass skirt from Hawaii).
These make great skinny souvenirs that are fairly easy to pack or layer on for your trip home.
Every Thursday in the small town of Italy where I was living, there was a street market that had vendors lining the streets with produce, household goods and clothing.
I have found some of my absolute most favorite clothes at this market and always get compliments on them. It’s really neat to say “oh, I got them in Italy”.
Paintings
Art is such a great souvenir since it can be displayed year-round.
In touristy spots, you’re bound to find a street vendor selling little paintings of the city you’re visiting that is typically pretty cheap and easy to roll up and pack (you can frame when you get home).
When I visited the Amalfi Coast, though, I fell in love with a painting from a shop I walked by.
It wasn’t a cheap souvenir-type of painting but intricate and beautiful. The shop was able to package it up and ship for free back home.
Now, this might not always be the case, but shipping is always an option if you fall in love with something!
Foreign Souvenir Books or Useful Guide Books
This is really fun to do if you have a library in your home.
Either picking up a book from each place you visit – whether it be something in a language you know or not, it creates a great addition to your collection.
Another idea is to get a travel book from each place that you can find in your language (most cases) that will not only be useful for your trip, but you can make little notes in there about where you have gone or where you’d like to go when you return.
The Free Souvenirs
Not wanting to spend much on souvenirs?
Try collecting maps, menus, coasters, flyers, business cards, etc. from the places you visit on your trip.
You can then head to your local craft store and purchase a book box to store them in so you can keep them on display but not take up much space.
A Picture is Worth 1000 Words
Take home the ultimate souvenir.
Nothing! That’s right. Don’t worry about packing a thing that didn’t come with you.
Your phone or camera holds the ultimate souvenirs. Your memories.
Go home and get one (or more) of your favorite photos printed and framed.
Use a photo for your desktop on your computer. Create a photobook on Shutterfly.
Go old-fashioned and put your photos in a photo album.
Having some great photos from your trip is the perfect way to remember your amazing adventure.
