Last month, after spending three days scoping out the spices, carpets and the funky glass bubble-shaped lanterns in Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar, we were poised to shop up a storm.
The plan was to return with wallets in hands after three days in Cappadocia while transiting back through the city en route to Greece. Unfortunately, some bad meat got in the way and we missed out on some quality souvenir shopping that last night in Turkey.
Buyer's remorse is a sad way to end a trip, but it happens to the best of us.
Apart from trying to avoid food poisoning, here are a few quick tips and tricks on being a savvy souvenir shopper.
- Prepare a budget before you leave on your trip. Stick to it.
- Have something specific in mind….do you need a new rug? Is there a piece of art you require? Do the kids expect a t-shirt? List who you are buying for.
- Think about collections, it focuses you. I always buy a Christmas tree decoration and I used to do plates for my plate rail. Unfortunately we moved into a new house last November and now we have 20 decorative plates in a box in the basement.
- Compare. When you arrive at a destination, do not jump to buying the first thing you see. Never buy on day one. On the other hand if you see something you really adore, grab it. You never know what may happen. Food poisoning being a case in point.
- Make your souvenir shopping part of the cultural experience; barter with sellers at a local market, chat with a local antique dealer or check out an art shop.
- If you know you are a big shopper bring an extra suitcase.
The legal implications of what you can or cannot bring home are a whole other story.
Make sure you declare everything. Otherwise you risk getting fined, having your item confiscated or possibly even facing persecution. The biggest issues tend to be food and plant related and because pest and disease situations are constantly changing you need to check the requirements for up-dates before you travel. www.beaware.gc.ca
Some of the surprises you may find include:
- You are not allowed to import sand! So if you want to bring home a fistful of your favourite beach think again.
- There are tight restrictions on fruit and vegetables, even dried.
- Certain antiquities or cultural objects considered to have historical significance to their country of origin cannot be brought into Canada without the appropriate export permits. Before you import such items, you should contact the
Make sure you check out the website for your traveller's guide, including a full list of what items you can bring back into Canada and your personal exemption limits.
