Everyone has their favorite thing to bring home from a trip.
I know people who collect a snow globe from every city they visit. My sister-in-law collects Christmas ornaments. Some people want T-shirts, magnets, coffee mugs, or whatever weird little treasure catches their eye while they’re wandering.
I get it. We’ve brought home our share of random souvenirs, too. There’s a wooden ship sitting on my son’s shelves, a bamboo carving proudly hanging on our wall, and an art print that has been sitting in its plastic sleeve for… let’s just say a while.
Every time I see those things, I smile.
But when you’re traveling internationally with a family of five, and you’re traveling with backpacks, souvenir shopping comes with a few rules.
First, Will it fit in my bag?
And perhaps more importantly: Do I really want to carry this thing around for the next three weeks?
My Favorite Travel Souvenir Is Simple and Cheap
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to start collecting something from every city we visit.
It wasn’t a groundbreaking idea. People have been doing this forever. But it was perfect for the way we travel: Postcards.
They’re tiny. They’re lightweight. They’re inexpensive. And unlike a random souvenir sitting on a shelf, I can turn them into something much more meaningful.
Because I’ve discovered that I’m not really collecting postcards. I’m collecting memories because I usually even remember the experience of buying the postcard. I know, weird.
The 10-Cent Postcard in New York City
I still remember finding a cute postcard in New York City for 10 cents. Ten cents! Nothing in New York City is 10 cents!
And then there’s the postcard I bought in Jiufen, Taiwan. We had wandered away from the main tourist path and found ourselves in a quiet little alley. We were window-shopping when we noticed a tiny gallery with no customers inside.
So, naturally, we went in.
The elderly artist and owner was there, and he was very excited to show us his masterpieces.
Luckily for me, he had made postcard prints of his artwork. I chose some of my favorites and brought home a little stack. Now when I look at those postcards, I don’t just see pictures of Jiufen.
I remember that random little alley, the tiny gallery, and the enthusiastic artist who was so happy to show us his work. And that’s exactly what I want from a souvenir.
My Three Rules for Buying Travel Postcards
Of course, I don’t just buy any postcard I see. I have rules.
1. I Buy One From Every New City
It doesn’t matter if we’re visiting a tiny town in Missouri or a giant city like Paris or London. If it’s a new city for us, I’m looking for a postcard.
2. It Has to Be Pretty (To Me)
Life is just too short for ugly souvenirs. If I’m going to keep something for years, I want to actually like looking at it.
3. It Has to Be Cheap
Generally, I think $2 or $3 is plenty to spend on a postcard.
I’ll make an exception if it’s handmade or has something particularly unique about it, but I’m not spending $12. At that point, it’s not a postcard; It’s a financial decision.
What I Do With Them
Now that I’ve collected all these postcards, you might be wondering what I actually do with them. I’m so glad you asked.
Usually on the plane ride to our next destination—or on the flight home—I pull out the postcards and write on the back.
Not just the date. Everything. Where we stayed. What we did. Where we ate. Funny memories. Things we loved. Things we didn’t love. Anything I think I might want to remember someday.
My goal is for someone to hand me one of these postcards 20 years from now and for me to be able to read it and remember the trip.
And honestly, I don’t reread them very often, but every once in a while someone will ask: “Where did you guys stay when you went to City X?”
Or: “What was that restaurant you loved in City Y?”
And I can pull out the postcard, skim the back, and suddenly I have all the details.
My kids like looking through them, too, which inevitably turns into reminiscing about our trips. “Oh my gosh, remember when we did THAT?”
Those conversations might actually be my favorite part.
The Perfect Home for My Travel Souvenirs
I found the most perfect little box at an antique mall to hold my postcard collection. It’s not actually an antique. In fact, I’m pretty sure it came from Ross.
But that’s beside the point.
It is perfect.
It sits proudly on our living room coffee table, and every time I see it, I know that inside are years of trips, adventures, ridiculous family moments, good meals, bad meals, beautiful places, and memories I don’t want to forget.
And that’s a pretty good souvenir.
Looking for a display box for your home? This one looks like a good option! Same with this one. And here’s one more.
The Best Souvenir Isn’t Really the Postcard
I love the random souvenirs we’ve brought home over the years: the wooden ship, the bamboo carving, the art print that’s still waiting for me to figure out where to hang it.
But the postcards are different.
They’re cheap enough that I never have to think twice about buying one. They’re small enough that they don’t take up precious space in our backpacks. And they give me a place to record the little details that might otherwise disappear from my memory.
So if you’re looking for the best travel souvenir, especially if you’re traveling on a budget or trying to pack light, give them a try.
Because really, you’re not collecting postcards. You’re collecting memories.
And that’s a souvenir I will happily make room for.
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