live2travel

We will be visiting distant cousins in Sweden this summer. Some have visited us in the U.S.. We will be trvaveling for a couple of weeks before we arrive and want to bring appropriate gifts for those who will be our hosts. What gifts will be appropriate and/or appreciated and please consider that we will not have that much room to carry extras? Also, might it be apropriate to send a package to the home of the initial host ahead of time?

TamaraEden

I don't have a definitive answer,but I think your questions is a good one. Last weekend when I was at Target, I decided to pic up some brightly colored Thank You notes. I figure I'm going to be staying at 5 hotels, one is a tiny 3 room B&B, another is a 6 room hotel, etc. I think I'll leave thank yous and a trinket from home. I also am going to bring very lightweight things to leave when I am given good service. Maybe pens or pencils that say, "Hollywood", conveninent living in a tourist spot I read that where I'm traveling, most tips are included and not expected, so a unique thank you would be special.

OY, sorry, I was rambling. As far as a gift for hosts. How about a sweatshirt of your city or local college? Easy to pack and a large is a pretty standard size.

laclaire

To Sweden I took: La colombe coffee, a cookbook, cup and spoon measures, and a Texas photo book.

Those things are heavy, so if you are traveling for a few weeks before, I recommend taking something small and lightweight. . . how many people are you dealing with? Genders? Ages?

live2travel

Many thanks for the ideas. Over a period of about 10 days we will be visiting about 5 or 6 families where the hostess will be between 50 and 80 and, yes, there will be younger generations down to new borns! Are there certain smaller items that are difficult to obtain in Sweden such as certain types of nuts, maple syrup, etc. All ideas will be appreciated.

Eloise

You will presumably not be staying with 5 or 6 families. To the families you will only visit in the afternoon or for a meal, you can always bring flowers or a bottle of wine that you can buy there.

For the families with whom you will be staying, it would be nice to bring something from the U.S. Maple syrup weighs a ton, and nuts are not very exciting. What about handicrafts from your area? These could be woven articles, things made from wood, etc. If it's for the whole family, then it should be something for the house that everyone can enjoy equally.

suze

Flowers are always good and you don't have to pack them!

I like the idea of maple syrup or maple candies or nuts (particularly if these are a specialty to your home area) but take the very tiniest size tins or boxes to go along with a bouquet of flowers purchased locally.

Scarves for the ladies is another extremely packable idea.

NGail

We'll also be visiting a whole slew of relatives this spring in Israel after 3 weeks of travel elsewhere - ranging in age from 85 to 10 months!-
So far my gifts of choice are CDs - light and compact. I've thought of New Orleans jazz and Aaron Copeland.
Anyone have suggestions for CDs for kids and young adults. (it's tricky guessing other peoples tastes)
Any other ideas for gifts?
By the way, there are catalogs - U.S.Toys is one- that sell quantities of items such as decorative pens, key-chains, etc. and also gift bags - very handy since you can't wrap things before hand (airport security).

guaranteed

I can always find something at the Duty Free. Preferrably something from the 50% bargain bin in the back...

Besides, it helps kill time when you have to check in an hour and a half, or two, before international flights.

StLgrrl

I am staying with friends while in Germany. For one sister I have bought plenty of Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret lotions. But, I know she likes this kind of stuff. We are also going to buy her a dvd of "Family Guy" because while she was here she loved that show, and they don't have that in Germany.

For the parents we found a book that has past and present pictures of areas around St. Louis, my hometown (obviously). It is unique, and doesn't have a ton of words in the captions. We will probably also purchase t-shirts from the college the one sister was at while here.

The other sister is a bit difficult. She is not girly like her sister. All I know is that she likes golf and is a dentist. She used to like soccer and tennis as well, but I think golf is it now. Any suggestions for golf type gifts from the US?

escargot

If the families we are visiting celebrate Christmas, we often bring an ornament (flat type, in small box, easy to pack in suitcase) reminiscent of our town - something they remember us by each year when they decorate the tree.

guaranteed

Funny- I am a dentist who likes to golf.

It's best to just ask her. Because I can guarantee you that there will be something she wants, that she can't buy at a reasonable price in Europe- maybe a King Cobra hat, or a box of Nike balls... there will be something. I remember dropping into a golf retailer in Italy and I was stunned to see a 12 pack of Nike balls going for 75 euros (vs $20 back home).

But ask her, because golfers are very particular.

Cherie

If someone were to visit you from Sweden, what would you be excited to get as a gift? I'd bet it wouldn't be a sweatshirt (especially if you're over 50) or a key chain. Would they actually use it? I vote for some regional handmade items -- wood handicrafts, a picture frame, hand-beaded jewelry, maybe a knit scarf or gloves (one size fits all), even a small watercolor or a flower vase.

crckwc

We haven't visited relatives in Europe, but for our B&B hostesses, we took refrigerator magnets from our state and aprons decorated with our city's logo (rose). Both pack light and flat. I like the suggestion of Christmas ornaments. Might do that next time.

laurie_ann

I'm from Chicago and when in this situation have taken CD's of local music, the Chicago symphony, local jazz or blues artists, etc. Even if it is not exactly their taste it is a nice thought from your hometown. Another small idea is bookmarks (who doesn't read books no matter their age?) with a local theme or from a local craft fair or something (I have even made my own sometimes from colorful stamps or local currency or fabric by having them laminated at Kinkos and then cut by one of those large paper cutters with the pull down handle there costs about $2 for a whole sheet which can make a number of bookmarks)

enzian

I live in the Northwest, and have found that Europeans visiting here often like to buy the "dry-style" smoked salmon---it is very different from the gravalax )(or lox) made in Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. It comes in vacuum-packed flat packages that need no refrigeration. I have taken some to Japan and to Germany as gifts and it was much appreciated. For any food item, however, you would need to check n regulations for Sweden to see if it is allowed in.

NGail

I'd love to find some hand-crafted gifts in NY that are made in the States and don't cost a fortune.