Fridge magnets.. My guilty pleasure!

If there is one thing I never miss to buy & bring back from my travels, are magnets. Over the years, I’ve managed to collect an eclectic set that makes up the proud display on my magnet board.

When you travel to a new place, do you ever collect souvenirs?

Souvenir-shopping is as old as travel. It’s a great way to memorize the experiences & the places you’ve been to. There are people who collect shot glasses, key chains, postcards, maps, small decorative plates, match boxes and many many more souvenirs. Actually, I found it’s a cool way to take home a piece of the culture. 

Collecting different items from the places you’ve traveled to is not only for show-and-tell but also for remembering your adventures. Standing in front of my board I can mentally map past years of my life instantly.

My personal style: I only collect magnets that remind me of the things that I have seen and done during my visit or work at those countries countries.

I travel quite frequently and always with just a carry-on and magnets are the perfect souvenir!

• Easy to find
• Relatively cheap
• Not too fragile

And most importantly, they don’t take too much space in my luggage.

Over the past few years I’ve collected a LOT of magnets displayed on my fridge but lately i have ran out of space. I came up with a new way to display them, not just because I think they should be visible but also because I wanted to occasionally look at them and be reminded of the places I’ve places I’ve been and he people I’ve met.

Here are my five handy tips for souvenir shopping:

1.Always pick an item you’d feel happy looking at: This is a great reminder of the things you have seen. Pick an item you would enjoy seeing.

2. Buy them from non-touristy places: You can find magnets either in museums gift shops or local kiosks. The museum gift shops sell souvenirs at higher prices. In supermarkets or general stores you can find magnets at the best price. Airports are my last option when I forget to pick one up in the city or didn’t get the time to go shopping.

3. Build a collection, by buy something you can easily get at most places: Magnets are the best collection you can find in every country you visit. The other option is postcards.

4. Try to build a variety: I always try to look out for magnets that are different from the ones I already own. A selection of unique designs is always attractive to have in place.

5. Get items that are easy to carry: My first rule of travel is to pack as light as possible. The best thing about magnets they are not heavy at all.

Do you love collecting souvenirs from your travels?