Travel

Souvenirs To Skip While On Vacation

Marc Gordon
Oct 18, 2019

If you are a well-seasoned traveler, you are probably already aware of the fact that many souvenir shops are simply tourist traps. In other words, not worth your money. You’re better off spending your money at a high-quality local craft shop or marketplace. However, there are some souvenirs that just shouldn’t be bought under any circumstances – and for good reason. Here are a couple of those souvenirs which you should probably avoid at all costs.

Agricultural Products

woman picking vegetables

Getty Images/Betsie Van der Meer/DigitalVision

There are many countries that are known for their high-quality and delicious produce. However, taking agriculture products home as a souvenir could be a serious problem. In many cases, it’s illegal to bring home fruits and vegetables from another country, and you’ll likely be stopped at the airport. One of the reasons for this is that these products may carry pests and foreign diseases that will be harmful to your local soil, as well as to humans and animals.

Animal Products

starfish

Getty Images/Vezio De Marzi / EyeEm

If you find a dried up starfish at the beach while on vacation, you might be tempted to take it home. However, this could likely be a big mistake, seeing as many of the same travel restrictions that apply to agriculture products apply to animal products as well. The bottom line is that it’s probably best to simply leave things where they are.

Cheap T-Shirts

t-shirts at market

Getty Images/Tove, Jan

One of the classic souvenirs you’re bound to find while browsing through a souvenir shop is the cheap t-shirt. You know the kind we’re talking about. Generally, they have the name of the country on them, along with an image of the local city skyline. While it might be tempting to buy one of these t-shirts in every color to take back to your family and friends, you might want to think twice. There’s a reason why they’re so cheap.