What's the best unexpected gift you have received while travelling?

[kiwitripper64]

The best upgrade thread is lots of fun. Travel can be bad and gets TV shows made about he horrible stuff, but it can be wonderful and unexpected.
We were at the Dead Sea in Jordan and talked to the life gauds at the beach. I think it would be impossible to sink enough to drown, their main job is to have lots of bottled water for when you get salt in your eyes. With not much happening we were having a great chat about Jordan and New Zealand, when one of them disappeared and came back with a kilo of Dead Sea Mud, carefully wrapped for us to take home.
We thankfully took it with us to the next hotel in Petra. We found one of the staff who understood that we couldn't take mud through Europe for another 3 weeks and certainly couldn't bring it back to New Zealand. He assured us his wife would be very happy.
We also had a few days in Aman. The taxi driver who got us from the airport seemed agreeable, so we asked if he could take us on a few day trips. When he took us back to the airport he have us local Omani Power Authority windscreen shades and coffee cups. We could carry those home.
These weren't huge gifts, but stick in our minds as the fun side of travel.

 

[marki]

Better windscreen shades and coffee cups than a huge dump left in a hotel room. We, however, did get a reasonable room upgrade in exchange for that. The top floor of the Hotel who's chain name will leave out.

 

[Seat0B]

Took a tour of the area around Amman Jordan by private car in 2016, accompanied by our son (then aged 24), who speaks fluent Arabic. He's very fair skinned and lightish hair, and so always attracts attention when he whips out his local language skills. This driver was astonished. We had a wonderful talk about family life in Jordan and how he went about the process of arranging marriages for his 4 daughters. He then proceeded to take us, unasked, to all his favourite local market stalls for flat breads, dips, fruit, pastries, and involved our son in all the transactions. Many cups of mint tea with the merchants ensued, and for me a look behind the curtains for a drink and pastry with the womenfolk. At the end of the day, he gave us all the day's purchases and would not take money. So we booked him for our airport transfer and left a big tip. This was an amazing gift - to see and hear about the real life of local people, as well as eat some delicious local produce.

Similarly in the medina markets in Amman - buying fresh figs from a stall keeper who was so astonished at our son's language skills that he took our money for the 6 figs we asked for, and then gave us 2kg for free. Amazing generosity in a very poor part of the world.

Actually, this kind of hospitality was very common everywhere we went in Jordan. A place I hope to visit again sometime in the not too distant future.

 

[Seat0B]

The little black bag I'm holding in the photo has the original 6 figs in it. We all suffered a bit after eating 2kg of figs before they fermented in the very hot September weather

 

[flyingfan]

On a day tour of the Korean DMZ I got a little box, inside which were nail clippers. Bit of an odd thing to throw into a package, I'm sure it was included in the cost so not really a gift.

Doing a status run on QF domestic, once the crew figured out what I was up to they gave me a bottle of wine. It was the first leg so that bottle followed me criss-crossing the country. For two days.

Seem to recall some other small surprises (other than from airlines) but can't remember the rest.

 

[p--and--t]

The best "gifts" have been the freely given kindness & consideration of total strangers. Just some that come readily to mind, there are many others.

The fellow in Seattle seeing us with a big load of dirty clothes outside a laundry that had closed (google out of date) and told us to jump in his car and drove us 5km away to a self serve laundry that was open that he recommended then before leaving provided us specific directions on how to go a few blocks down the street and turn right and there would be a bus stop, & look for a specific bus number that would take us straight back to our hotel front door.

After coming down from the Grouse Mountain lookout late afternoon and the sun going down, we found the bus station empty, all taxis gone and most visitors gone. The last bus of the day came along and after asking about returning to downtown Vancouver, he said I don't go there and I'm the last bus until morning but jump in and I'll get you there. After driving around through outer suburbs for a 1/2 hour or so he pulled up at a stop and announced to all the occupants, I'm stopping here for a couple minutes, please be patient. Then a few minutes later he came up to us and said jump out now, there is a bus pulling up behind us, get on board and he will take you back to your hotel. We were not charged any fares.

At the Victoria and Albert Pier in Capetown, late at night after dinner we were looking for a taxi for some time and came across a bus station near the hotel on the pier and noticed a signpost with the name of the suburb where our hotel was located. We approached the the driver a very large and formidable black man who, after asking what hotel we were staying at, virtually commanded us to get aboard and sit in the seat behind him in a loud and booming voice. We took off and wandered through a few streets then along the beach front when he suddenly stopped half way between bus stops that were very far apart. He called out you Australians can get off now, as we exited he explained if we stayed on board he would reach the other end of the street where our hotel is located in about another 45 minutes. "Get off now, cross the road and walk up the hill 300-400 metres and your hotel is on the right, won't take you 5 minutes". We were not charged a fare.

 

[VPS]

I agree with @p--and--t that simple gestures often create wonderful memories.

It reminds me of a time when I was in Lisbon and I had got lost and was trying to get back to our campground. I tentatively asked someone and the next minute I had 10 people all discussing me and I was put on a bus with clear instructions to the driver and a few passengers and soon I got where I needed to be with everyone making sure I was OK.

 

[Actos]

For me not so much an item, but a stranger's kindness really meant everything to me in rural Turkey.

I think it was somewhere just out of Denizli, and I was wandering around the neighbourhood early in the morning. Before I could react, a dog came bounding out of nowhere and bit my leg. Thankfully I dodged an ultra deep bite... but one of my friends was a Doctor and we ended up going to a hospital for a check-up. It ended up not being serious, but it did delay our travel plans back to Istanbul. I remember one gentleman in the hospital who really went out of his way to make sure I was ok. I think he must've been an assistant, but he was very lovely, patient, and we communicated through Google translate! It's never a super pleasant experience being in hospital (much less internationally when you're freaking out about rabies), but he and many of the healthcare staff made all the difference.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Actually, this kind of hospitality was very common everywhere we went in Jordan. A place I hope to visit again sometime in the not too distant future.

Jordan rates as one of our favourite countries to have visited.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Free use of car.

My wife, infant daughter and I were enjoying a week long bareboat yacht charter D'Entrecasteaux Channel in Tasmania and we needed a few groceries.

I stayed on board to mind our daughter and my wife rowed ashore to find some provisions. At the yacht club she asked for some directions on how to walk to the nearest store and was advised where to go, but since it was a longish walk the guy gave her his car keys, and said for her to just drop the car back when she had finished. Being a fellow yachtie no doubt helped, but a very nice gift none the less.

 

[mrsterryn]

We were in Prague having arrived very tired and so so much snow. Caught a tram which ended up having to stop well before our destination. The driver directed us across to the rail station. We were at the top of these so so many stairs . I was crying and this very tall young gentleman picked up my case and gestured with his hands for me to follow and my husband to wait at the top. He took all our cases down these stairs . We had no language in common but I did say thank you numerous times. He has no idea how much we appreciated his assistance that night

 

[Cossie]

Backpacking in Japan in the early eighties, we were mostly staying at youth hostels, asked in one town about a hostel that we thought was close, no Japanese on our side, no English on theirs, our backpacks were put in the back of a car and we were driven to the hostel which was about 15 km away, saving us a long walk.

 

[John in Melbourne]

1977, backpacking through Spain, doing the "travel cheaply" thing, money and travellers cheques running low. We were sick of eating canned sardines and salad in our pensione room, so we thought we'd treat ourselves at a local restaurant. As we stood outside, discussing the enticing English-language menu on the window and wondering whether we could afford it, a British voice said, "We've eaten here a few times now and it's always good." Behind us, an English couple smiled encouragingly. They went in to their reserved table and we took the only one left, by the kitchen door (oh, the scents of food cooking, we were drooling). We took their advice and lashed out on a 3-course meal, which was fantastic. When it was time to go, we signalled the waiter, who told us that the English couple had already paid...and left a tip. We walked up and down the street outside looking for them but they were gone.

 

[Port Power]

On QF in J from LAX to SYD in February, I was chatting to the CSM. Definitely not complaining, but I noted that the FAs were rather flat, not even coming to introduce themselves by name as usually happens when WP. The CSM explained that there had been quite some trouble in F when a passenger had refused to turn off her phone. Lots of rudeness as she walked to the airbridge still talking. In the end she was disembarked, which also meant a delay. The FAs were quite upset by all this. The CSM said nevertheless it should not impact their service to other passengers; perhaps they weren’t even aware and he would have a quiet word. After that the crew really perked up, as if a cloud had lifted. Later on the CSM gave me a bottle in a sock. Once home I was surprised and delighted to discover it was one of the F champagnes (see my icon). I am drinking it on Sunday for my birthday. But I agree that it usually the kindness of people you meet that more often makes a pleasurable memory.

 

[kiwitripper64]

We were in Glasgow with young kids years ago. This was when the city was just tidying up and we had had lots of warnings about how dangerous the city could be. When we finally after rental car breakdown, found your apartment that we had booked for the week. 8pm, climbing the stairs with luggage and kids, no idea whats happening etc and a man walked past said hi and helped with a suitcase. It turned out he was our new neighbor. We met his wife and young daughter and he offered to drive us o the supermarket and once there explained the 1pound deposit required for the trolleys. We were so thankful and this set us up for a great Glasgow trip.
The next day we were walking around the city and got to the bus stop to go back to the convention centre stop close to where we were staying. A bus turned up, but stopped and doors didn't open. After a few minutes I knocked on the door and the driver said this bus had finished for the day and was out of service. This was in the days of mobile phones without internet and high roaming rates ( if you had one) and certainly no Uber. We asked his advice on the best way to get back to the convention centre and he looked around and said jump in. He then drove us to our stop on his way back to the depot.
Great memories of Glasgow. Sun, happy people, architecture, history , beer and deep fried mars bars

 

[AngieP]

On our first trip to Europe as young travellers with backpacks we tended to just turn up places and find a bed - not so much now! We arrived at Lake Constance on the Swiss German border, it was raining and late in the day at dusk. We had our Let’s Go Europe bible with us but having no luck with finding a bed for the night. An elderly gentleman walking his dog came along, assessed the situation quickly and motioned to us to follow him. After about 10 minutes we arrived at Peterhof a traditional inn - he left with a wave of his hand And our thanks. We had the most amazing stay for the next 3 nights - attic room with huge Crisp white doonas, a very deep bath - so blissful - and the restaurant is still one of our highlights! Thank you for the kindness of strangers. We follow this - if we meet young travellers in our home town we often invite them for a meal - we know others do that for our kids too As they travel around the world.

 

[Pushka]

It was our first time in PE and our first trip in a higher cabin. Returning from Paris. I had been trying to speak French as much as possible. One of our crew members, who sat opposite us during take off etc, was French and we had a fab trip. We were arriving into Singapore for a transit, and he presented me with a bottle of French champagne. I could have cried. I couldnt take it as we would have to surrender it in Singapore before flying on to Adelaide.

 

[VPS]

I actually have a number of these but this is the one that had the most significant effect on my life.

On the train from somewhere in England to Ireland in 1982. Started chatting to an older English lady who after establishing I wasn't English was very chatty. She was very concerned that I was going to be arriving in Dublin at night with nowhere planned to stay even though I explained I'd find the youth hostel or a cheap B&B. She wanted me to contact the police to make sure I was going to be OK!!

She was adamant I come and visit her when I got back to England and you meet a lot of people travelling who say that and you never see them again. For some reason I did go back and visit her and she introduced me to her daughter. I got on well with her daughter who introduced me to a friend who London who had her Australian nephew staying with her. I got back to London and called this lady who invited me around for dinner and we have been great friends ever since. She has provided me a base whenever I go to London and introduced me to some others who have become lifelong friends. I have also introduced her to many of my friends. Sadly the lady died a couple of years later but I'm still great friends with her daughter.

 

[Pushka]

I actually have a number of these but this is the one that had the most significant effect on my life.

On the train from somewhere in England to Ireland in 1982. Started chatting to an older English lady who after establishing I wasn't English was very chatty. She was very concerned that I was going to be arriving in Dublin at night with nowhere planned to stay even though I explained I'd find the youth hostel or a cheap B&B. She wanted me to contact the police to make sure I was going to be OK!!

She was adamant I come and visit her when I got back to England and you meet a lot of people travelling who say that and you never see them again. For some reason I did go back and visit her and she introduced me to her daughter. I got on well with her daughter who introduced me to a friend who London who had her Australian nephew staying with her. I got back to London and called this lady who invited me around for dinner and we have been great friends ever since. She has provided me a base whenever I go to London and introduced me to some others who have become lifelong friends. I have also introduced her to many of my friends. Sadly the lady died a couple of years later but I'm still great friends with her daughter.

This reminded me of an incident in Melbourne. I was there on my own just touring. I was walking down Collins street being a tourist and went into one of the cafes and had a coffee. Got chatting to this lovely older lady who was beautifully dressed. She invited me to afternoon tea, I think it was a dining room in Rialto Tower and then provided me with the best spread I had ever seen. Then she left (obviously I never saw the bill) and I always wondered her story.

 

[StevoQFtraveller]

Many years (when I was young at heart and in body!) ago I was hitch-hiking through the Sahara Desert in Algeria. Fantastic experience, which I am sure cannot be done these days.

I was on a road in the middle of the Sahara with my thumb out when a huge sand blizzard whipped up. With all the sand blowing around I lay on the ground and put a sheet over me. Stayed there for what seemed like hours. When the winds died down I lifted the sheet from me and all I could see was sand - the road had disappeared somewhere under the sand.

Didn't really know what to do, as I had no idea on which direction I should be going. Remembering the "desert rules" from outback WA, I decided best to sit and wait. But what for I wasn't sure. Anyway, several hours later a Bedouin tribe came by with their camels and goats and allowed me to stay with and travel with them. We walked heaps through the desert and spent the night under the skies surrounded by their livestock. The next day we got back to (some sort of) civilization. The bedouins were so excited for me and wanted to wish me well in my future travels.

And what did they give me as a gift? A GOAT! Lovely though it was, I politely declined the offer....