Despite the fact that it looks like something that should definitely be wearing pants, this coconut is actually incredibly valuable. The rare nut only grows on two islands in the world, both in the Seychelles, where it’s a protected species. (It even graces the country’s coat of arms). And since it’s a fertility symbol in many Asian countries, the nut has been subject to recent poaching that’s made it even more rare — selling for more than $450 per nut. So, while you would never dare try to take one yourself — they're enormous, and heavy ... who has room in a suitcase for that? — you probably also shouldn't buy one of the necklaces sold with the symbol at jewelry shops and in the airport. Your new accessory could become "the butt" of everyone’s jokes. Our advice? Go for the local Takamaka Bay Rum, distilled on Mahe, instead.

It’s not exactly illegal to take one of these natural elements from Hawaii, but tradition says that you could anger the Hawaiian goddess of fire and incur Pele’s Curse. The modern explains says that if you remove a rock from the Hawaiian Islands, you’ll have bad luck until it has been returned (yes, this was the premise of a very special "Brady Bunch" episode). Don't laugh it off — hundreds of tourists return rocks to Hawaii through the mail every year.

This hairdo is all the rage in the Caribbean on islands such as Jamaica and St. Maarten, where you’ll probably see more than a few tourists lined up to get their hair twisted and beaded in a way they’d never try at home. But answer us this: After your trip ends, are you really going to feel comfortable sporting those corn rows back at the office, or sending your kids to school with them?

We get the appeal —They’re beautiful! You can hear the ocean! They make great book ends! But beware: The U.S. currently bans importing the pink shells from Caribbean countries — including Antigua, Haiti, and Trindad and Tobago — due to declining populations of the endangered species. Note that some Caribbean regions, including Aruba, the Bahamas, and Belize, do allow you to collect shells to take home.

The Sunshine State is famous for its oranges, but you have to comply with USDA regulations if you want to bring some back on the plane. That goes for both plants and whole fruit. The entire state is currently under a quarantine to protect its citrus groves from being wiped out by diseases, which means that in order to transport citrus you have to make sure it’s properly cleaned and packaged.

Ivory may be beautiful, but it comes from the tusks of endangered African and Asian elephants, whose populations are declining rapidly. Though the trade of ivory has been banned since 1989, illegal poaching is still a major concern. Be sure that the cute white figurine you're eyeing is just a harmless lookalike and not actually made of ivory. And don't believe the seller if he says an ivory figure is "antique" — it’s still illegal to transport.