I’m a material girl through and through – especially when I travel. I like to leave a little extra room in my suitcase so I can fill it to the brim with souvenirs. But I’ve realized that the real joy in shopping in a new place doesn’t come from the actual items in my cart.
It’s the thrill of hunting them down and the places you find them. Digging up a vintage Italian scarf in a bargain bin in Venice. Scanning rows of gorgeous one-of-a-kind pottery in Copenhagen while the potters are happily at work in the background. Flipping between albums at the funkiest record store in Bozeman.
At Lonely Planet, we can’t get enough of unique souvenirs. We even have a franchise about the top five local shops in a destination, from charming boutiques in Paris to traditional souk stalls in Marrakesh. So when you feel the shopping syndrome coming on, shop local and get creative with our experts’ recs.
Xoxo, me and my credit card.
- Ann Douglas Lott, Associate Editor