How to Pick Souvenirs for Your Friends

So, you are going on holiday. You are going somewhere far from your house, where most of your friends have never traveled. Before you went off, your friends ask you to buy something for them. And now, it's the end of your holiday! You have to go home, but you forgot to buy something for your friends! Oh no! What should I do! Here are a few tips and tricks on picking the right souvenir, without using your time for all the confusion.

1. Pick the right store.

There are two ways of looking at the problem, it is either:

a. You don't have any time.

b. You don't have any money left.

Solution:

a. If you do not have any time: Go to the nearest tourist spot. There will be plenty of stores there, just go in to one that seems good enough.

b. If you don't have any money: Ask the locals. Ask the concierge where is the nearest local market, that sells cheap souvenirs. If he doesn't know, walk around the neighborhood of your hotel. Usually, traders and souvenir sellers sell near a hotel so they have more chance of costumers buying their stuff (pretty good logic eh?).

don't:

Buy at the airport, or thinking to buy it at the airport. It is, not only more expensive, but the varieties are much fewer than local sellers.

2. Pick the right souvenir.

There are a lot of ways to pick one, but here is some tips and tricks:

- Pick something in packs. A store usually sells something individually or in packs. The ones in packs are usually much cheaper than if you buy it individually.

- Pick something that looks really traditional. It maybe is made in china, but who would know that?

- Pick something that is not food, or wood (only for international travel!) You do NOT want your items to be confiscated by customs. Not only you lose your money, but you would be forced to buy stuff in airport (which is three times more expensive then normal price!)

- Do NOT pick something with weird shapes. You are maybe asking, why? It would be more interesting! But you have to remember that it have to fit in your luggage. You do not want to have another bag and let the airplane steal your money buy asking you to pay additional price!

-Pick something that can be useful, or, Art. If it is useful, the person that will get it will use it and always remember who gave it and will always be thankful to you. If it's art, then the person will either hate you for another piece of junk from somewhere half way around the world, or be thankful for the beautiful art from somewhere they probably will never visit.

3. Bargain with the seller.

A seller usually gives a price twice the normal to a foreign tourist. You have to have the guts to ask for twice the less he ask. He probably won't give it, but then you can raise it a little from what you ask for, and then meet at the middle with what he is asking for. If he won't budge, say you are going to look around first. Usually, they will then give you a price that you can afford, but don't buy it! Say you are not quite sure about the price. Then he will give you a price you like, and buy it. Do not, go to another place because it will be another bargaining, another seller, and you wouldn't have time for that. And, it is not respectful to the seller, and he could be mad (and chase you. <-only in some parts of the world)

4. Buy a wrapper (optional!)

Most of the time, if you buy it in a cheap place, it will look cheap. That is why, you should buy a wrapper that looks good so your co-workers and friends will think it is expensive and thinks you are very generous to buy it for them!

Now you have happy friends thanking you for the amazing gifts! And now.. they owe you to buy something if they go on a holiday!

cheers!