On Tour
❖ marty sarbey de souto, ctc
Shopping Shouldn’t Be a nuisance on tour All too often we may hear from
that are soft, unbreakable and will
faint-hearted – watch out for the
well-meaning folks that shopping on
pack well. Remind folks that if your
altitude).
tour is a waste of time – that the men
trip is international, each person is
don’t like standing around waiting
allowed to bring back up to $800
U.S. Southwest, consider all things
while the women dilly dally in the
worth of purchases without having to
with Indian heritage, fringed leather
shops, that shopping is superficial,
pay U.S. Customs duty. In addition to
jackets, tooled “cowboy” boots,
that folks can shop at home – no need
that, you can mail gifts up to $100
snap-button shirts, suede squaw
to come on tour to shop, and so forth. I
per recipient per day! Direct them to
boots, and authentic turquoise and
beg to differ. Most folks love to shop
the U.S. Customs website, specifically
silver jewelry (not the tin-and-dyed-
while on tour, within reason, of course.
the “Know Before You Go” section.
stone knock-offs). If you’re headed
Why do they enjoy shopping?
Here are some of the favorite things
Closer to home, for tours of the
to New Orleans, gift boxes of praline
First of all, they enjoy bringing things
I’ve brought back. From Guatemala:
patty candies (made of creamy brown
home for themselves – things that
tablecloths, placemats and napkins. I
sugar and pecans) make wonderful
remind them of the trip or the specific
saw three beautiful “yarn paintings”
gifts. And no one visiting San Francisco
place where they bought it. Second,
hanging on a clothesline in a private
should return home without one sour-
they like to shop for others – for friends and family for future birthdays, holidays, wedding presents, showers and the like. Third, they know that
Advise your tour members to consider handcrafted, one-of-a-kind things
bringing something home to others shows thoughtfulness, friendship and affection. Fourth, the things you
yard, went in and bought them from
dough baguette (must eat within 24
bring home from other places are
the housewife for $5 each (and then
hours; they don’t keep). Visits to
often something you could never get
brought them home and paid $60
Florida offer anything and everything
at home, whether at the mall, your
each to have them framed). My river
made of sea shells – also candies
favorite big box store or your home-
cruise in Russia stopped in a small
of orange peel or coconut. And while
town elegant gift shop.
town and I hurriedly picked up a bril-
you’re in the tropics, you must try
liant multi-colored table centerpiece
some of the exotic fruit ice creams
folks may wish to buy? It all depends
applique from a young woman who
with names you’ve probably never
on where you’re going on tour, of
had made it herself from scraps of
heard of. Unfortunately, ice cream
course. I like to advise my tour mem-
fabric.
does not travel well!
So what are some of the things that
bers before leaving home in one of
In the Italian hill town of Orvieto,
For more ideas on what to buy
my pre-trip information bulletins as to
while everyone else was gorging
where, be sure to contact the visitors
what the “good buys” are in the place
themselves on pasta, I snuck out and
bureau of the city concerned. They’re
where we’re going. I always suggest
found a ceramics shop that hadn’t yet
usually up-to-date on what the local
they bring along a list of sizes, meas-
closed down for the long lunch hour
specialties are. Happy shopping!
urements, favorite colors etc. of family
and was able to buy several salt/pep-
and friends for whom they may be
per sets that made for great gifts. And
buying. Hint: suggest they consider
in Peru I went especially to the Sunday
local arts and crafts, handmade
market in the Andean city of Pisac to
things, one-of-a-kind things – things
buy fluffy alpaca rugs (not for the
6 February 2012
Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who designs and leads tours. Her travel industry consulting and educational firm is Sarbey Associates (sarbeyassociates.com).
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