For me the fun of travel begins with research and the library is a great place to find travel books as well as history books about cities and countries. I also like using apps to listen and practice words and phrases in the language I’m learning. I know I’ve made progress when I can read signs and billboards while on my travels. But then I’ll hear children speaking to their parents and realize that they already know more words than I ever will in their language.
I also like to leave extra room in my suitcase for the souvenirs I want to bring home, although I’m trying to limit my souvenir buying. This is especially true since I have brought back some purchases that I haven’t used and have no place to keep them.
Luckily there are things you can’t take with you (like gelato), so you have to eat them right away!
So now I have more than one drawer stuffed with travel souvenirs like key chains, postcards, ticket stubs and refrigerator magnets. Are they valuable memories or just clutter? I did find a use for some of my key chains by displaying them on an earring holder:
Sometime soon I will look at these souvenirs and decide whether or not to keep them. At least in the future I can focus on enjoying the experience of travel through photos and memories and let them replace the clutter. I will really try to do this!
Meg Travels 
It always pains me to have to part with travel souvenirs.
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I agree – each souvenir is unique and they have special memories!
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I don’t collect souvenirs anymore when traveling. What I do keep though are local maps, they are helpful when planning future trips. They remind me of nearby towns that I would like to go back to explore.
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That is a great reason to save maps – they give you some really useful information!
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I’ve not collected souvenirs for many years but I still can’t resist the odd postcard – in case the photos aren’t good 🤣💕
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I like postcards too – they can be a good supplement to photos!
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I like the idea of the key chain holder! I gave up buying souvenirs in favor of taking lots of pictures.
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Thanks Sue – I’m so glad to have found a way to display key chains! I probably don’t need any more though… :)
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Fellow souvenir fiend here! Now owner of an ongoing collection of postcards, tickets, tshirts too – how do you decide on what to keep?? Every time I try to declutter it results in me getting super sentimental and reliving trips through old pictures and journals 😅
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I keep most everything and very rarely discard something – they all have such nice memories…!
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I am of exactly the same mindset! The sentimental value is just priceless, I’m sure I will end up with a few more boxes of bits and bobs, but it can’t be helped!
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I agree – they should be kept! :)
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Love the keyring display, thats a really good idea! 🤗
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Thanks – it reminds me of the places I’ve visited!
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