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What do you bring back from abroad now?

(100 Posts)
foxie48 Wed 20-Aug-25 19:21:12

If we have the car and return on the ferry I'll bring back wine. If I'm flying I rarely bring anything home with me apart from dirty laundry and a desire to see my dog. If we holiday in the UK OH often buys me something that I admire in a shop window, last year it was a lovely pair of silver ear rings.

escaped Wed 20-Aug-25 19:12:59

It depends, if we have the dogs with us in the car, then space is limited. Next month they're staying at home so we will have a boot of:
baby outfits
biscuits and macarons
wine, local cider pastis
floor cleaning liquid and soaps
salt, salad dressing and mayonnaise
maybe some nice tableware
stationery
clothes for various ages
flavoured syrups
chocolate
Etc.

Some weird things I know, but a throw back to our days living abroad.

Casdon Wed 20-Aug-25 18:45:40

Mt61

Booze & perfume is cheaper here than the duty free. So I would bring nothing back.

? They aren’t.
www.which.co.uk/news/article/why-shopping-at-uk-airports-can-save-you-money-aHxui1g4pvX5#:~:text=Some%20products%2C%20such%20as%20bottles,than%20on%20the%20high%20street.

Grantanow Wed 20-Aug-25 18:34:13

Cigars: they are overtaxed in the UK

Mt61 Wed 20-Aug-25 17:34:05

Booze & perfume is cheaper here than the duty free. So I would bring nothing back.

ginny Wed 20-Aug-25 16:44:50

Don’t always but sometimes local hand made soaps which live in a basket all together until we use them. Occasionally something that really takes my eye but I don’t enjoy shopping at home or away .

butterandjam Wed 20-Aug-25 16:36:03

I bring back a wooden spoon made from a native tree in that country.

I've got a big jar of them in my kitchen and they all get used; and each one reminds me of their homeland.

Also, very light and easy to pack....takes up no room in a suitcase or backpack.

PamelaJ1 Wed 20-Aug-25 16:29:05

Ausralian Ugg boots.

Aldom Wed 20-Aug-25 16:23:42

On one of my visits to Australia I brought koala bears for all the grandchildren. The bears were in a large carrier bag in the overhead locker. Several minutes after leaving the plane I realised the bears were still in the locker. I retraced my steps and reached the plane just as the pilot and co pilot were about to climb down from the plane. They looked puzzled when they saw me. Once I explained about the missing bears they were amused, asked for my seat number and one of them went to get the bears for me. smile

Aveline Wed 20-Aug-25 14:37:43

Fridge magnets and Christmas tree ornaments. It's nice to look at the Christmas tree and remember all the places we'd been over the years.
Also, lovely french soap from the markets

Visgir1 Wed 20-Aug-25 14:12:53

Nothing. Perhaps a bottle of something? Not worth it.

Astitchintime Wed 20-Aug-25 14:09:39

It used to be a fridge magnet, a tea towel, picture postcards, pin badges……….but we now have a house full of foreign tat all of which was probably made in China but purchased all over the world. Now we just bring back the dirty laundry 💁‍♀️

JackyB Wed 20-Aug-25 14:04:37

Like Kate1949 I just bring a tea towel.

Although having said that I did get 9 or 10 teatowels on my holiday in the North of England last year, as many of his were worn out and faded. And I spent over £30 in the souvenir shop at the Beatles place in Liverpool. (Pens, tote bags, teatowels)

In Germany weirdly, souvenir tea towels are just not a thing, so I have started collecting those tiny saucers for tea bags. Also take up no space in my bag.

Casdon Wed 20-Aug-25 13:48:20

A bottle of brandy and some perfume from the duty free.

Georgesgran Wed 20-Aug-25 13:47:01

The British Airways Long-haul Lurgy!
Still coughing two weeks on.

CountessFosco Wed 20-Aug-25 13:30:09

Giant vol-au-vents

Mamardoit Wed 20-Aug-25 13:29:16

We usually bring our allowance of local drink. Spirits nowadays because we have such a good choice of wines here now.

I like to bring back little pottery items. Useful things like dishes and mugs. DH likes to buy sweets and nice chocolate.

ViceVersa Wed 20-Aug-25 13:27:42

A fridge magnet!

whywhywhy Wed 20-Aug-25 13:19:47

If I am on a beach then it will be a shell or a small stone.
Forest - then an acorn or pine cone.
City - special beer mat or bookmark.
Countryside - cheese or something from a farm shop.
Last year I bought everyone some lovely soap from a little farm shop and they were fabulous.

Kate1949 Wed 20-Aug-25 13:15:21

I usually buy a tea towel! This year I brought a little mask for a friend's granddaughter back from Venice, also a little ornament for my sister for watering our plants. We went to Looe in July and brought back a flagon of Cornish cider.

SueDonim Wed 20-Aug-25 13:10:03

Covid. hmm

nanna8 Wed 20-Aug-25 13:08:50

Australia is very,very strict about foodstuffs so nothing like that. Just souvenirs for gifts mostly. Even then you have to declare anything wooden though they usually let those things through. I tend to buy local jewellery,coasters etc.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 20-Aug-25 13:08:41

Hopefully whoever I am travelling with 🤞

tanith Wed 20-Aug-25 13:06:58

A small pebble if I’ve been near a beach and pictures and memories.

Mollygo Wed 20-Aug-25 13:02:40

No Bordeaux Chesnel Rillettes, no meat, no cheese, including fromage blanc.😢
So this year, apart from wine and cider I brought back biscottes, K2R, Savon de Marseille stuff, KitKat balls and my favourite Kitchen roll where you can just use 1/2 a sheet. 9€ for 12 rolls. You can get it in the UK, but it’s much more expensive.
What do you bring back?