Even if you’re not a collector (yet!), it is fun to hunt for charms and amulets (good luck charms) in other countries. 
They are great souvenirs for yourself and make fabulous gifts for those back home. Pick up a bunch and put them on a bracelet to give at a holiday or special occasion. You can make these really personal too. For example, if the recipient loves to read, look for charms depicting books, pens, famous libraries, etc. Another advantage of charms is that they are lightweight and take up virtually no space in your suitcase.
Even if you don’t speak the local language, it is helpful to know what charms are called in other languages, both when shopping in other countries and browsing the internet. Sometimes, going to the Google page of a particular country and doing a search for an item in the local language can yield great results, and you may discover treasures that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
This is what charms, amulets and talismans are called in a few other languages (where there are only two words, the word for amulet and talisman is the same):
Afrikaans: Sjarme, Amulet
Albanian: Bukuri, Amulet, Hajmali
Bulgarian: Char, Amulet, Talisman
Chinese: Mèilì, Hùshenfú
Croatian: Šarm, Amulet, Amajlija
Czech: Kouzlo, Amulet, Talisman
Danish: Charme, Amulet, Talisman
Dutch: Charme, Amulet, Talisman
Estonian: Võlu, Amulett, Talisman
Filipino: Halinahin, Anting-Anting
Finnish: Viehätys, Amuletti, Talismaani
French: Charme, Breloque, Porte-Bonheur, Amulette
German: Charme, Glucksbringer, Amulette, Talisman
Greek: GoiTeía, Fylaktó, Fylachtó
Hindi: Akarsana, Tabiza, Taviza
Hungarian: Báj, Amulett, Talizmán
Icelandic: Þokki, Verndargripir, Talisman
Indonesian: Pesona, Jimat
Italian: Incanto, Porta-Fortuna, Talismano, Amuleto
Japanese: Miryoku, Omamori
Korean: Maelyeog, Bujeog
Latvian: Burviba, Amulets, Talismans
Lithuanian: Žavesio, Amuletas, Talismanas
Macedonian: Šarm, Amulet, Talisman
Malay: Pesona, Jimat
Norweigan: Sjarm, Amuletten, Talisman
Polish: Urok, Amulet, Talizman
Portugese: Encanto, Amuleto, Talismã
Romanian: Farmec, Amuleta, Talisman
Russian: Ocharovanie, Amulet, Talisman
Serbian: Šarm, Amajlija
Slovak: Kúzlo, Amulet, Talizman
Slovenian: Car, Amulet, Talisman
Spanish: Encanto, Dije, Amuleto, Talismán
Swedish: Berlock, Amulett, Talisman
Thai: SEnh, KheruXngrang, KHxngkHlang
Turkish: Çekicilik, Muska, Tilsim
Ukranian: Charivnist’, Amulet, Talisman
Vietnamese: Say Mê, BuA, BuA Phu Hô
Welsh: Swyn, Amulet, Talisman
More on amulets and talismans:
Amulets – Good Luck Charms
Travel Protection Charms, Pendants and Bracelets
St. Christopher Necklace Pendants, Charms and Bracelets