I will be renting a Gite in France this year and was wondering if bringing the owners a gift was an appropriate thing to do? Also any suggestions as to what might be a good gift for someone in France that can fit in a small suitcase (I'm from California). Thanks for any ideas.

Are these friends or is this a commecial entrprise? Unless they are friends I would no more take them a gift than I would the staff of a hotel

I agree totally w/ nytraveler. You are a paying customer. Would you send a gift to the owner of a resort, cabin or condo you rented in the States? Most likely not -

(Getting/dispensing with all sorts of gifts from the many folks who rent from them each year would be a bother)

Hi Joe,

Until you have rented the same place for a few years and have developed a friendship with the owner, a gift is not appropriate.

Hi Joe,

I'm in another camp from the first two posters. I see no reason not to bring a little something. I don't believe you are suggesting an expensive gift so how can it hurt?

I'm renting an apartment in Italy for 3 weeks. Being from the Monterey Bay/SF area myself, I thought I?d take a can of Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate for the owner and possibly the rental agency who have been very helpful to me.

It's a kind gesture, and I feel renting an apartment is far more personal than staying at a hotel.

I buy something for the owners or managers of the places I rent after I am there (to see if they deserve it, ha). I just buy some chocolates at a local store and give it to them when I leave. It is just a nice gesture, but not expected.

Many times when I have traveled I have brought small tokens of appreciation to give out. I am from Hawaii, and we have the local custom of omiyage - bringing back small gifts from our travels. I guess this is omiyage in reverse.

On a recent trip to New Zealand, I made all my hotel bookings through the hotel/motel websites. For several of these places, numerous emails went back and forth, a couple of times changing the reservations, as my sister could not decide if she was going to join us or not. I brought inexpensive boxes of macadamia nut chocolates, as well as small packages of macadamia nuts for the owner of a B&B and the employee of a hotel that had been especially helpful - and patient - in dealing with all my questions. They certainly appreciated the gesture.

I also take along a few extras - for the employees that have been especially helpful and friendly - I have found that while I expect nothing in return, it has made them go even more out of their way to answer questions and be helpful.

Of course, we do not view these tokens as replacing appropriate tipping when needed - it's just a gesture of "thanks for being so helpful" on our part.