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Holidays, what do you bring home from yours.

(118 Posts)
Sago Wed 13-Sept-23 11:19:26

For the first time this year we drove to Spain, in the past it has always been France and Italy.

We usually buy loads of mustard, wine, Parmesan and lovely French pharmacy brands etc.

We managed lots of wine and some specialty olive oil and I got a pair of beautiful leather sandals.

The Spanish supermarket somehow didn’t have the appeal of the French equivalent.

What do you bring home from your travels?

SynchroSwimmer Fri 15-Sept-23 16:17:36

From Turkiye - Rose, violet and many other oils from the pharmacy, emergency supply of antibiotic for the first-aid kit (risk of chest infections in remote places), and shock horror - Testosterone Gel. Turkish cotton sauna towels in every possible colour and more…

In Spain, shower gel and some supermarket branded cosmetics.

Croatia, a particular brand of mint tea, the best I have tasted anywhere, plus dandelion and burdock flavoured lager - to drink on the balcony.

barbaraellen Fri 15-Sept-23 15:54:41

We have brought back woven tablecloths from Malta 50 years ago. Sadly these are no longer made but mine are still going strong.
Various quality kitchen ware from Italy. An embroidered tablecloth from Sorrento. Frequently used and pristine.
From France wine and cheese and randomly pegs!
Don't understand why French makeup is dearer them at home.
Love searching in hypermarkets for useful and different items
.

Purpledaffodil Fri 15-Sept-23 15:18:45

We used to buy tablecloths. Lovely ones from Portugal and an unexpected treat when a lovely embroidered one from Italy was found to come with 12 matching napkins. In recent years illness has meant little travelling for us but will admit to fridge magnets from UK and other people’s foreign holidays 😁

Gundy Fri 15-Sept-23 14:30:43

When I have traveled internationally I always bring something home - but no bric brac, rocks or tschotschkes.

Instead, an article of clothing - shirts/tops, sweaters, scarves, shoes, or jewelry, etc. With these unique items in your wardrobe you won’t see yourself walking down the street. You’ll have a more interesting, colorful and beautiful silhouette.
Handbags are good too!
USA Gundy

TheMaggiejane1 Fri 15-Sept-23 14:25:42

Sometimes a tea towel but other than that, as I can’t stand clutter, nothing else. We used to bring things back for the grandchildren but as there’s 12 of them now we’ve had to stop as there’s not enough room in the cases.

Grannybadger Fri 15-Sept-23 13:57:57

I have been to Italy with my 26th at old daughter this year who is both gluten and lactose free. So between us we brought back lots of tasty GF & LF cakes and biscuits we can’t find here, some also for my GD who is also GF. My dd also bought a very nice leather handbag from the market in Florence.

singingnutty Fri 15-Sept-23 13:53:38

Many years ago when we visited Venice I bought an outfit for our son's wedding, on Burano. It was silk and a beautiful shade of blue. I say 'was' but it should be 'is', because it is still hanging in my wardrobe - I can't bear to send it to a charity shop and although I tried to sell it once through a dress agency, no-one bought it. I never go to any posh dos which might allow me to wear it again.

biglouis Fri 15-Sept-23 13:50:30

What a nice thread!

biglouis Fri 15-Sept-23 13:49:26

I bring a Christmas Decoration- lots of memories to be brought out every year

There is a shop in Saltzburg that sells christmas and tree decorations the year round and its always busy. Im not talking about plastic tat but hand made decorations and traditional blown glass baubles. Wonderful things!

I dont "do" christmas but I brought back some of the blown glass decorations for a relative who collects them. Also some beautiful hand made gold and silver tissue flowers whith pearl beads. I use them for background decorations for photos in my online stores.

essjay Fri 15-Sept-23 13:30:41

key rings and local honey and family have now started to bring me fridge magnets

Cambsnan Fri 15-Sept-23 13:25:26

Depends where you go. From poor countries, things to help the economy and made locally. Anywhere else, food or drink including herbs and spices.

Treacletoffee Fri 15-Sept-23 12:43:59

I bring a Christmas Decoration- lots of memories to be brought out every year

TwiceAsNice Fri 15-Sept-23 12:33:03

And the tea towels from Madeira!

TwiceAsNice Fri 15-Sept-23 12:31:41

Lovely pottery and raffia bags from Turkey. Foodstuffs and shawls from France. Amber jewellery and coloured glass from Prague. Cheese and China birds from Holland. Jade jewellery from Singapore. Boomerangs from Australia. New York Monopoly from USA.

Never been back to Portugal since the maid sold us a lovely lace tablecloth halfway through our holiday and then stole it back the last day and we couldn’t do anything as we were flying home. Small son also came home with stitches after falling so it was probably the worst holiday we’ve ever had ( accommodation issues as well so stressful time )

Eloethan Fri 15-Sept-23 12:11:34

I find there is a better variety of blouses and dresses in several countries abroad. In the UK, it is hard to find items of clothing that are different from everywhere else. I have also bought sandals. Most touristy items, though, are pretty run of the mill and not good quality, although we have bought a couple of attractive and unusual items from Menorca and Kefalonia.

We usually bring biscuits or sweets for our neighbours.

We opened our case after a long holiday in Mauritius many years ago, and a large cockroach crawled out - ugh!

Awesomegranny Fri 15-Sept-23 12:06:34

Apart from a fridge magnet nothing but photos. On a tour to a winery recently in Croatia the tour guide told us not to buy the wine as it doesn’t travel well and it would end up being poured down the sink.

bridie54 Thu 14-Sept-23 22:32:08

I'm another who brings back Christmas tree ornaments (small and easily transported.) I used to take a tupperware container to keep them safe. And I also request them from friends/relatives who would bring me holiday gifts. It's lovely to decorate the tree and remember where they all come from or who gave them to me. I've never had them named and dated though.
My first ornament came from a trip to Bath when I visited my daughter at uni in Bristol and we had a day out in Bath. The decoration came from Bath Abbey shop and was a beautifully embroidered and beaded star.

11unicorn Thu 14-Sept-23 20:53:54

@jackyD
There will be souvenir tea towels in Germany
Lots of souvenir shops in the big towns - I know Munich was just full of them, the smaller town may have a souvenir shop in or near the townhall where you should find everything your heart desires.

MerylStreep Thu 14-Sept-23 19:40:45

Nannylovesshopping

Lemons and oranges from Portugal

You’ve reminded me of when we wild camp in Portugal.
Every morning a young lad would cycle to us with large bags of oranges. We would buy a bag and have freshly squeezed oranges with breakfast.

jocork Thu 14-Sept-23 19:29:53

I've often bought local art or crafts from holidays. Having nice pictures that remind me of a particular holiday is good. I haven't bought any for a while as I no-longer have room to display more pictures but when I downsize I may have a rethink and treat myself to something new. Pictures may have to be hung closer together!

Nannylovesshopping Thu 14-Sept-23 19:14:55

Lemons and oranges from Portugal

Treetops05 Thu 14-Sept-23 18:52:57

We once stupidly bought Pont L'Eveque cheese and a string of smoked garlic...our car told the story in smells for several months!

Jaxjacky Thu 14-Sept-23 18:47:19

One year, after our several months in France, a plait of smoked garlic, fortunately in MrJ’s car, not mine. Nearly three days before we got home, I was not popular.

HJ1963 Thu 14-Sept-23 18:38:06

I tend to bring home quite a bit of contraband such as teabags, coffee, sugar, sauce(s) sachets for the homeless, this is mainly when we cruise, if we do hotel based hols then I don't bring as much, am I wrong to do this? I personally think giving homeless shelters sachets etc etc especially in times like this.

Foxygloves Thu 14-Sept-23 18:27:16

Usually a few extra kilos. blushblush
But I also like to buy locally made things- scarves, shawls, ponchos, place mats, craft items (not tourist tat) and have often done a load of Christmas shopping on an Autumn city break holiday.