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What Everybody's Buying in Fiji: Masi Tapa Cloth

Where: Fiji
May 22, 2013 at 10:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

After a few days, or even a week, on any of the islands of Fiji tourists leave with stellar suntans and big smiles on their faces from saying "bula!" all over the island. But the souvenir that your friends and family really want is the traditional masi, or tapa cloth seen all around Fiji.

You may remember our original feature on the masi, from when we headed to the islands for the unveiling of Fiji Airways and their new airplane livery—it's a traditional pattern painted all around the airline's new Airbus A330.

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What Everyone's Buying in Singapore: the Sarong Kebaya

Where: Singapore
May 17, 2013 at 11:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

Fun fact: the iconic "Singapore Girl" of Singapore Airlines is so iconic that, in 1994, she became the first commercial, non-celeb figure to enter Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London.

The clothing itself is simple—a traditional tailored kebaya top with sarong skirt. It's also quite timeless; this has been the uniform of Singapore Airlines' female flight attendants since 1972 and part of what makes the look of the Singapore Girl such a long-lasting favorite is the lovely batik print.

No matter what airline you're flying to Singapore, at some point you'll be faced with the culture of Singapore Airlines and this florals-on-a-field-of-blue design. From billboards to glossy magazine ads, to the Girls themselves walking through Changi Airport, the SIA sarong kebaya appears over and over and eventually you may find yourself wanting a piece of the action.

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What Everyone's Buying in Istanbul: Türk Kahvesi Cup Set

May 16, 2013 at 1:35 PM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

Yes, Istanbul has Starbucks. Inside those Starbucks, as in every other cafe in the city, you'll be able to order the thick, deep umber of Türk kahvesi, or Turkish coffee. Starbucks won't offer it in anything more than a plan white espresso mug, but elsewhere you'll likely lift exquisitely styled cups decorated in copper or even more precious metals, each with its own lid.

The bazaars of Istanbul offer sets of these mugs, often with a matching sugar bowl or carrying tray. They're beautiful and make excellent hostess gifts, but resist the urge to keep them away in a curio cabinet; they're best appreciated in use!

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What Everyone's Buying in Rome: A Pin-Up Calendar of Priests

Where: Rome, Italy
May 15, 2013 at 1:07 PM | by | Comment (1)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

How could a simple black & white calendar, with the simple name "Calendario Romano" cause such a titter among tourists? Simple—by borrowing the pin-up concept and applying it to handsome Roman Catholic priests.

Spend enough time in Rome and you'll begin to notice they're everywhere—the fathers in their conservative black vestments—having un caffe e cornetto next to you in the morning, or petting a cat on a windowsill. The calendar selects 12 (having a chiseled jawline is more qualification than being actually ordained) and photographs them in innocent occupation, though their eyes betray less than innocent thoughts. Preview all 12 months on the back of each calendar.

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What Everyone's Buying in Cusco: Alpaca Fiber and Textiles

Where: Cusco, Peru
May 14, 2013 at 11:53 AM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

3000 BCE. That's how far back historians have been able to date preserved pieces of traditional Peruvian textiles. The vibrant colors, intricate weavings and completely unique designs (for each one!) make the fabrics of Peru popular the world over, and doesn't be surprised if planeloads of tourists at Cusco's airport are toting patterned bags or donning new ponchos made from the materials.

What you'll want to look for are garments made of alpaca fiber, ever rarer than cashmere and available in over 20 natural shades. Even Peruvian pima cotton is highly prized, and many fine linen shops in the tourist district will be happy to help part you from your money.

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What Everyone's Buying in Bali: Kopi Luwak Coffee Packets

Where: Bali, Indonesia
May 13, 2013 at 12:26 PM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

Kopi Luwak. In the movie "The Bucket List," it's the favorite drink of Jack Nicholson's character; he calls it "the rarest beverage in the world." We wouldn't exactly say that, but it is pretty rare and not to mention expensive, with a reputation as being only for connoisseurs.

Of course all this makes it a terribly in-demand souvenir purchase for tourists to Bali, though purchasers may not always realize how it's made: an Indonesian civet (like a possum) eats a certain type of coffee berry. Its digestive system digests the meat of the berry, adds enzymes to the bean inside, and then poops out the bean. These beans are then collected, cleaned and sterilized, roasted and ground into coffee powder.

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The Best Thing I Ever Bought at an Airport...Travel Pillow Edition

May 9, 2013 at 5:06 PM | by | Comments (0)

With airports these days resembling malls filled with clothing stores, gadget shops and restaurants-fine, casual and fast, it was inevitable that we would do a little shopping while we wait to board our flight. In our newest series, we take a look at some of the airport swag Jaunted contributors have found and loved, even years later. Today, Jaunted's Editor Cynthia shares her cherished purchase.

I'm actually quite embarrassed to admit that my "best thing bought in an airport" was done purely with the thought of saving my own butt. Before I had ever flown to Asia, and indeed before I'd flown anything longer than the 7 or 8-hour hop to Europe, I purchased a Cocoon Travel Pillow stuffed with goose down feathers.

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National Geographic Seeks a Few Good Photos to Print on T-Shirts

May 1, 2013 at 10:04 AM | by | Comments (0)

Have some pretty nice snaps in your Instagram account, hm? Think any are possibly National Geographic-worthy? If you're thinking yes, or even maybe, then head on over to "like" Japanese clothing store Uniqlo on Facebook and enter their newest collaboration contest with Nat Geo. If your photo of "depicting a scenic vista or other nature scene" is as good as you think, then it'll be printed onto T-shirts and you'll be a Nat Geo-published photographer.

Although there's no free tickets or actual travel included in the prize, you will get 10 of the T-shirts featuring your photograph for free and all the bragging rights that comes with being chosen by a panel of Nat Geo judges.

How to enter (3 ways!):

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Turning a Trip Itinerary Into Jewelry is the Best Gift Idea Ever

April 30, 2013 at 11:07 AM | by | Comments (0)


If your travels included stops in NYC, Miami, LA, Sao Paulo, London, Cairo, Moscow, Bangkok, Sydney and Seoul, your piece would look like the above.

Ever try to buy a gift for a frequent traveler? It's difficult! For someone who's been around the world, or even just around the country, a soap and lotion set or scented candle is just blah. This is why we're loving Meshu, a company that interprets travel routes into geometric jewelry.

Meshu promises to "turn your places into beautiful objects," and what they mean is using your (or someone else's) plotted travel routes to generate a design that's then manufactured to become a necklace pendant, earrings or cufflinks.

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What Everyone's Buying in St. Croix: Hook Bracelets

April 29, 2013 at 5:24 PM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

If you've recently spent time on St. Croix, chances are you left the island a "hooker."

Where to buy: Most locals will say you can't visit STX without picking up Hook Bracelets, which can only be found at Sonya Ltd in Christiansted. The bracelets have been made by hand for more than 40 years so each one is completely unique. There are several imitators throughout the Caribbean but any Crucian will tell you Sonya's is the only place to get the real thing.

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Four Souvenirs of Bermuda That Aren't Bermuda Shorts

Where: Bermuda
April 24, 2013 at 12:35 PM | by | Comments (0)


Bermuda's Clocktower Mall

The island of Bermuda may be a British protectorate, but trust that it has a culture all its own. You could be obvious and come back from your trip to the island with a pair of Bermuda shorts and a massive rum cake, but you’re better off investing in one of these goodies:

Gosling's Rum
Bermuda’s most famous non-shorts export is Gosling's Rum, which has been on the island – and in the family – for eight generations. If you take a tour of the brand’s distillery/store in downtown Hamilton, you can taste some of the different blends. Our favorite is the Bermuda Gold Liqueur, made from a local fruit called loquats that have a plummy taste. They also sell pre-mixed rum swizzles, the drink of choice for Bermudians. Choose wisely, though: the duty-free limit is one bottle of booze per person. Many Gosling's products are not sold off-island, so be sure to ask if you're having trouble deciding.

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How Air France is (Literally) Selling Their Ads to Travelers

Where: France
March 5, 2013 at 11:18 AM | by | Comments (0)

More and more we are seeing environmentally responsible decisions coming from airlines in the form of fuel conservation, on-board recycling programs and carbon off-setting. Air France has taken "thinking green" to the next level and we're not just talking about recycling bins for newspapers; although, they do that too.

Partnering with environmentally friendly bag maker, Bilum Paris, AF has created a line of travel bags and wallets made from the giant billboards plastered up on the side of highways. Not only are they made from the super tough plastic material, but they are actual Air France billboard posters.

The first poster has created 9 cabin bags, 23 laptop bags and 30 travel cases. For as little as 69 Euros, you can have your own little one-of-a-kind slice of Air France. To browse the range, head to their e-shop.

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