What do you stock up on during your travels that you can't get at home?
Sep 24, 2019, 9:47 am
#256
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Truffle salt and unusual mustards from France.
Unusual or not-widely-distributed single malt Scotch from the UK.
Those Manner wafer cookies from Austria.
Sausages from Croatia (although not for long-haul journeys).
A sweater or two from Ireland.
Jewelry from India.
Unusual or not-widely-distributed single malt Scotch from the UK.
Those Manner wafer cookies from Austria.
Sausages from Croatia (although not for long-haul journeys).
A sweater or two from Ireland.
Jewelry from India.
Sep 25, 2019, 12:53 pm
#257
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX | BUR
Posts: 34
I just spent a good amount of time reading this whole post. What a trip down memory lane! Gotta love those 2003 posts talking about blank CD's!
Like many of you, I follow the tradition of exploring grocery and specialty stores for chocolate, snacks, candies, wine, coffee, and anything that could be interesting and yummy to take home for myself or friends/fam. I also love popping into drugstores and cosmetics shops for skincare and make up. I often pick up religious trinkets at catholic churches for my grandma and my inlaws.
Here are some more memorable ones:
ARGENTINA
-Dulce de Leche anything. But mostly Havana Havanets and alfajores. Can get them in L.A. but they are pricey.
-Leather
-Havainas flip flops (last trip they weren't much of deal. Inflation is killing me. But in the pas they have been insanely cheap)
-Mate (tea bags and lose leaf)
-hand made stuff from San Telmo
-Wine
-lots of chocolates and candy
PERU
-sweaters
-blankets
-Mayo (not usually a fan but it's good out there)
NEW ZEALAND
-Manuka Honey skin and lip care
-Rotorua Mud masks
ITALY
-Sant’ Eustachio/Tazza d'oro coffee
-Venchi Chocolate
SPAIN
-Turron around the holidays
BELGIUM
-more chocolate. Cheap ones. Expensive ones. All the chocolate
NETHERLANDS
-Stroopwaffles
-Cheese
FRANCE
-bandaids (got a cut when I was there and I bought some cheapie ones and they were amazing)
When I go to Argentina, I usually get requests of:
-Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body works lotions and body spray
-makeup
-electronics
-alcohol (Jack Daniels. But even things that are not as readily available like tequila or even absolut vodka are well received)
Like many of you, I follow the tradition of exploring grocery and specialty stores for chocolate, snacks, candies, wine, coffee, and anything that could be interesting and yummy to take home for myself or friends/fam. I also love popping into drugstores and cosmetics shops for skincare and make up. I often pick up religious trinkets at catholic churches for my grandma and my inlaws.
Here are some more memorable ones:
ARGENTINA
-Dulce de Leche anything. But mostly Havana Havanets and alfajores. Can get them in L.A. but they are pricey.
-Leather
-Havainas flip flops (last trip they weren't much of deal. Inflation is killing me. But in the pas they have been insanely cheap)
-Mate (tea bags and lose leaf)
-hand made stuff from San Telmo
-Wine
-lots of chocolates and candy
PERU
-sweaters
-blankets
-Mayo (not usually a fan but it's good out there)
NEW ZEALAND
-Manuka Honey skin and lip care
-Rotorua Mud masks
ITALY
-Sant’ Eustachio/Tazza d'oro coffee
-Venchi Chocolate
SPAIN
-Turron around the holidays
BELGIUM
-more chocolate. Cheap ones. Expensive ones. All the chocolate
NETHERLANDS
-Stroopwaffles
-Cheese
FRANCE
-bandaids (got a cut when I was there and I bought some cheapie ones and they were amazing)
When I go to Argentina, I usually get requests of:
-Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body works lotions and body spray
-makeup
-electronics
-alcohol (Jack Daniels. But even things that are not as readily available like tequila or even absolut vodka are well received)
Sep 25, 2019, 2:16 pm
#258
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
The cheapie bandaids in Japanese drugstores are also great -- very good and only Y150 (about US$1.40) for a hundred. The also sell way more expensive ones that aren't nearly as good.
Sep 26, 2019, 6:26 pm
#261
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Traditional 25 year old DOP certified. Aceto Balsamico. Difficult to find in U.S. and when you do, it is double the price. I buy my Balsamic at Drogheria Mascari.
Oct 4, 2019, 5:23 pm
#263
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Olde Dominion
Programs: DL Silver - uh huh!
Posts: 948
Wherever I go, I try to visit grocery and/or “department” stores (a la Walmart, Carrefour, Lulu, et al) to check out their selections of tea, candy, cookies, cereal/granola/muesli, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and soap (liquid and bar). I’ll look to see what else interesting they have in the food and “health and beauty” aisles as well.
I don’t look for specific brands as much as for good value compared to what I would pay back home for similar type items.
When I am traveling with others, they almost always are amused by my “souvenirs”.
I don’t look for specific brands as much as for good value compared to what I would pay back home for similar type items.
When I am traveling with others, they almost always are amused by my “souvenirs”.