Souvenir Packing Tips

Souvenirs provide small tokens of an enjoyable trip that help to keep the vacation memorable. Nothing upsets a recent traveler more than unpacking a piece of luggage only to find the treasure purchased as a souvenir broken to bits. Bringing home souvenirs lets friends and family that weren't on the trip get a glimpse of the region. Many people choose to buy souvenirs as gifts for loved ones as a way of expressing how much they were missed, so a broken item bought for someone else can really put a damper on the gesture. Souvenir gifts also offer a way to show appreciation for someone that took care of things like mail or pets while the traveler was away. Packing souvenirs the right way ensures a safe delivery.

Instead of packing souvenirs in a separate bag, wrap each item in an article of clothing before packing them into the luggage. A mug wrapped in a shirt or a picture frame folded into the leg of a pair of pants is well protected when placed into a packed piece of luggage. Small items stay secure in the pocket of a piece of clothing. This technique for packing souvenirs works best if the clothing inside the luggage fits snugly. Be sure to pack the souvenirs in between layers of clothing - if they are too close to the exterior of the luggage without any cushioning they can still break upon impact.

If you feel unsafe about placing souvenirs into a piece of luggage in the cargo hold, use the clothing to cushion them in a carry-on bag. A carry-on allows you to keep your eye on the souvenirs during the flight and makes it easier to feel secure about any expensive souvenirs that were purchased. Clothing in the bag guarantees that the souvenirs stay protected when being placed into the overhead or during turbulence.

Alternately, instead of packing souvenirs in luggage and taking them with you, box them up and ship them home using the postal service. Clothing can be used as a filler in the box as an eco-friendly packing material and it also helps to lighten the pieces of luggage that you do take on the plane. Irregularly shaped or oversized souvenirs are best packed using the shipping method in order to avoid any hassles at the airport.