I'm not European, but I would happily take that Navajo beaded wine cooler. It would go on my counter next to the cookie jar from the 1920s in the shape of a clown that was brought to me by a friend who played in my chamber group, whose daughter found it in the basement of the house she bought from the old man who had sold her the house and the contents he had accumulated over a lifetime. My friend said, "Here, this is the ugliest thing I have ever seen," and I have displayed it proudly ever since.

Padraig, you can give me all those unwanted flowers and ornaments.

I buy people things that I would like myself and that I think my friends would like. This usually is some sort of local craft or pottery. If they end up storing it forever or giving it away, I won't be offended.

Nikki wrote: "Padraig, you can give me all those unwanted flowers and ornaments."

Sure thing, Nikki. And you can give me all your money (overdrafts excepted).

I'll have to dig in the compost heap to get the flowers. They smell better now than when they were freshly-cut.

My wife and I live in Nantucket, a summer resort, and we have a constant stream of visitors from Memorial Day to Labor Day and beyond, both from the US and abroad.

We have had to ask people not to bring us anything that is not consumable. We just don't have the space for any more stuff, however beautiful!

Alcohol is always welcome, and although duty free shops aren't what they used to be, someone is going to drink whatever you bring before the summer is over.

Taking us out for lunch or ordering lunch in is always nice. Dinner is less enjoyable because of having to get a reservation in some place that is going to have astronomical prices (yes, the local pizza joint).

There are certain things we cannot get in the US and BEG friends to bring from the UK, most notably and oddly, MacLean's Fresh Mint toothpaste. A few tubes of this is as good as a bottle of Laphroig or Talisker, which is widely available. We used to ask for Splenda tablets for traveling, but they are now available here. If it is Londoners, I like Number 89 shaving soap from Floris, and we both like Roger Gallet soaps, widely available in the duty free.

All luxuries or unobtainable, all consumable. But really all we want is your company.

Compost from Ireland! Now that's a unique gift that would be greatly appreciated. On the same theme, one year a visitor brought us something called a poo pet, which was a gargoyle or something made out of dried manure. It spent a season or two decomposing into the soil along our front walk.

The problem with assuming you can take people out to dinner is that some people don't go out to dinner. Our family is in the tourist business and the best treat for them is to sit down to a delicious dinner at home.

Also, with food, you have to know the health of the people you are bringing the food to. Some people are diabetics and can't eat cookies, candy, etc.

As mentioned above - it makes a huge difference WHO you are giving these gifts. Friends/relatives -- lots of good (and not so good) ideas have been suggested.

Someone you just have a professional relationshop w/ - like the owner of a gite or B&B -- that is a WHOLE different situation.

Let us know more.

Ann1 wrote: "The problem with assuming you can take people out to dinner is that some people don't go out to dinner."

Been there! Herself and I stayed a few days with foodie friends, and I made the offer. The reply was that they did not like any of the local restaurants, and the solution was that we bought the ingredients for them to cook us another great dinner.

Another foodie friend, also a great cook, doesn't bother going out to eat in his local town except when I bring him and his wife. He depends on me for restaurant recommendations in his home town!

In terms of receiving, I'm always happiest with consumables too... so food/candy/drinks/spices/sauces from your local area or state works well.

Personally, I'm not really into souvenirs with state / sports team logos on them, though when I've been given these as hostess gifts, I have, of course, always politely given thanks. They generally go to charity stores soon after!

Consumables definitely get my vote!

(Except chocolate, INCLUDING ghirardelli).

(said in a cheesy, generic 'european' accent - somewhat of a cross between french and austrian)

"we don't want your dirty trinket americaine. we only like objet european. the few objet foreign that we like are already imported here. we do not have the capacity to comprehend your syrup mapile nectaire as it is too foreign for our taste simple. please do not darken our door with this dark nectaire putride. please i beg you tell me that you are not giving such objet dirty americaine to our innkeepers. they will spit at you and your dirty trinket. you stupid fools. and don't even think about giving pencils and your worthless nickels to our children european. you will be sorry. once a resident stupide americaine at my inn tried to give me cheese texas melted dipping as some kind of gesture au brotherhood. he check in but he don't check out."

LOL

Certainly in the UK (or in London, where I live) maple syrup is known, and readily available in supermarkets, which suggests to me there is a demand for it. I'd imagine a high grade syrup would be a great gift for a foodie host (who'd know about the different grades).

Well, maple syrup is rare here in the Netherlands, very expensive and low grade normally. I love it, so that would be a great gift for me.
Indeed when we drove Route 66 we bought maple syrup at Funks Grove and took it to our hosts in California (and brought some back with us), and they were really pleased with it too.

But honestly I am happy just to receive my friends in my home. That is their gift to me - spending their precious holiday time with us.

more on maple syrup and chocolate...

my Swiss neighbor discovered maple syrup through his American wife and he often says the best part of pancakes is that great syrup stuff... Also, he just loves when we bring back Duncan Hines chocolate cake mix and make him a cake...yes, even that gross ready made icing...his eyes really light up when we mention syrup or chocolate cake.

Nestle is a Swiss company.... and Lindt too, which can both be found in mass quantity in any Stop and Shop so what really is "American" chocolate? Hershey? I have heard lots of complaints about things American (including the president) but no one mentions the chocolate. Still, bringing chocolate to Europe is a bit like bringing gold to Fort Knox...

As a hostess, I think 4 things are appropriate and somewhat safe:

1. Offer to take them out for a meal.

2. Pick up some good bread or croissants at their favorite bakery

3. wine (even if they don't drink they can re-gift it or serve it)

4. flowers - unless they really don't like them which is sort of rare and who wants to visit someone who doesn't like flowers anyway? (just kidding Padraig - I would break all the etiquette rules and give you cold cash;)

Mostly I was asking in general since we travel a lot. I love the ideas and stories....continue on...

Again, be careful about how well you know the recipient. Sugar, peanuts,milk products, etc may be out of their diet.

&quot;<i>Mostly I was asking in general since we travel a lot.</i>&quot;

That seems to indicate you are asking about gifts to give to hotel/B&amp;B owners/staff and not friends. They don't want gifts - honest. They want you to be good guests, not trash the place, pay a gratuity when appropriate and check out on time. They don't want nor have space for tschoskes from their customers.

This is a little belated, but we are traveling from Texas to Central Europe (Budapest, Vienna, Prague) and I am thinking about bringing some Texas BBQ rubs, maybe some "queso" (aka nacho cheese, yuck I know but it's TexMex), or some local batch bourbon. I saw somewhere that local jams would be good, I think that sounds lovely. Maybe two sets, one with TX BBQ and "Queso" and one with Jams and a couple Jelly Belly candy bags?

Of the things you mention, only the bourbon sounds to me like a good choice. Central Europe has wonderful jams, and all of Europe has much better cheese than "nacho" cheese. The candies don't sound like the kind of thing you would give someone as a gift. It would be as if someone brought you some M&Ms as hostess gift.

Unless you're visiting family, or are on some kind of exchange program, there's no need to bring any gifts at all. If you're visiting family, a nice gift is to take them out to dinner when you're there, or bring them a bunch of flowers. Basically, you want to bring the sort of thing you'd bring as a hostess gift at home.

If you're on an exchange program, you might want to bring a calendar with local scenes, or a photo book of the area where you live. These are also not bad choices for family members.

FWIW, I think the rubs sound nice and would be easy to pack. I'd eliminate the queso because it's heavy and would be a disaster if it broke and spilled. Ditto the jams. Ditto the bourbon, although that sounds great and would be worth the effort if you know the recipient would appreciate it. The Jelly Bellies are kind of meh, imo, but cool for kids.

This is all SO personal and hard to judge. I hate getting flowers, myself, and disagree that you should bring the same stuff you'd bring at home--the point is that you're traveling from somewhere else.

I don't know anyone who would want a calendar or photo book--these are kind of old fashioned, imo.

But that's all it is, my opinion. If you feel good about the jam and queso and bourbon and are willing to haul it, go for it!

On my last trip (from Aus not US) I took a couple of bone china mugs with our native birds on them. In particular birds that I actually get in my garden. I think they were appreciated, except one hostess did have a cupboard full of similar mugs. But she seemed to like mine as well! (She posts on this board so maybe she can comment!) tee hee.

Can I have the Jelly Bellies then? :-)
Especially if you can get some "special edition" which is not available here?

And since it's just been 9 years since I commented on this post first time, I'd repeat that I still don't think it's cool to travel with stuff that can leak, spill and soil the rest of your stuff.

It is a bit unimaginative, but why not check out your local souvenir shop? Stuff like tea towels or pot holders are not the hallmark of creative gifting, but travel easily.
And, honestly, when we think Texas, the very last thing that comes to our mind is JAM.
The BBQ rub is cool, though.