Hi, ladies! I have training for work in a couple of weeks in a city that is about a 5 hour drive from my home. A friend/co-worker, who lives about 30 minutes from the training site, has offered to let me stay at her house so that I don't have to pay for a hotel. I have known her for about 4 years, and she's really great, but we're not really, really close due to the 4.5 hr driving distance between our homes...Our friendship is mostly 'online' with exception of F2F work gatherings about 3 times a year.
So, I have decided to take her up on her offer of staying, and we are going to have a girl's evening out after training (yay!). Here's my question. Should I bring her a gift for her generosity in allowing me to stay at her house (1 night)? What gift should I bring? I would offer to pay for supper, but our company will pick up supper for that evening since it is a training event.
I already know that wine is not something she's into, so that's out. She and her husband have two small children (close in age to my children)...do I bring something for the boys? As I mentioned before, I will be driving for about 4.5 hours before I reach her house, so it would be nice to have something that travels well.
What should I bring? Thanks so much! :)
Thanks for all of the awesome ideas! I've definitely got a better idea of what I might do now.
Just to clarify, her house is on the way to training (not out of the way at all). The closest hotel to our training site is about 20 minutes beyond the training site, and there happens to be a huge event going on that same weekend, which has taken up most hotel rooms in the area (and the available rooms are running close to $200 a night). AND as a side note, I really want to mention that I think it is bogus that hotels can charge $80 a room most nights and then up their prices to $200 because it is a busy weekend.... I know, I know...it's business/life...people have to make their money, too. I'll get over it. =)
My friend is really excited to have me stay and when she offered, she did mention that they do have a separate guest bedroom, so I won't be disturbed by anyone. :) I normally bring my family along with me to the training (and we always get a hotel room when we do that), but my family will be staying home for this short trip due to appointments at home. It'll be just me. :) With Baby #3 due in Nov, it will be nice to save a little money, even if I do spend some of that money on a gift.
Thanks again for all of the wonderful advice!
How about a family-style gift?
A gift card for a movie rental, and a big box of assorted munchies.
I'd stay at w hotel n still do a girls night but I know id love to be able to be alone n watch whatever stay up n do whatever without worrying about being a guest in someone's home
A.,
You might think about waiting until after you spend the night. I have written nice thank you notes and included a restaurant gift card in the thank you note. You could speak to her husband while there and see if she has a favorite place to have a manicure. If you want to bring something while you are there maybe a gift card to the movies or a bookstore. You could do a spa basket with bath salts and lotion maybe a nice candle. If she likes coffee you could do a variety of coffees with biscotti.
You are very thoughtful. I'm sure whatever you come up with she'll love.
Blessings!
L.
When we visit my sister, I always bring her something. I NEVER stay with her, but sometimes my kids do, and the fact that she opens her home to us is so generous.
I often wait until we are there and see a need for something. Last Easter was the first time we visited just for fun. They have a gorgeous in-ground pool, so we bought them a container (tub) for drinks. They have used it for drinks, water balloons, to carry items to the pool from the house, etc...they love it!
This last time we brought them baby stuff - since they are expecting their first.
I think just something nice goes a long way. Do you know a restaurant their family enjoys? Maybe a $25 gift card there?
That is so nice of her to offer her home!
If you take gifts for the boys, give those when you meet them..
Super hero capes, outdoor water toy.. Books.. Puzzles, set of cars.. Pop up tent or two..
I love the idea of a Gift Card to either a Date Night type of restaurant or a family friendly restaurant.. I usually give it to people the last night I am staying with them..
I do sometimes take specialty food items that are associated with Austin.. There is a Candy Company, a few BBQ sauce companies, Hot sauce, Queso.. Bakeries. I put it together in a basket or a gift bag..
Or I offer to make a meal while I am there. I purchase or take the ingredients.. I cook and then clean up.. Since I can cook Mexican food or I can BBQ.. when I visit friends far away, they get a kick out of authentic cooking from our area.
I do the same thing Laurie does an bring a little something from my part of the world. If you are from KS, maybe a few Kansas BBQ items? I spent two nights with my cousin while I went to a conference and I brought her a couple of items from her alma mater for her kids. I usually bring my parents and friends on the East Coast a basket of things like salsa, spice mixes, prickly pear candy, etc. Stuff they can't get easily, not super expensive, but thoughtful. If you don't want to do that, just send a small bouquet of flowers or a plant the day after you leave, you can't go wrong there!
bring gifts for the kids.
Maybe you can order for an edible arrangements bouquet to be delivered to her house, along with a thank-you card, after you leave. Or pick one up and give it to her yourself before you go. It is fairly healthy, and something her entire family can enjoy. I bet the kids would get a kick out if it too. :)
i'm with rosecity, by the time you drive there, buy her a gift and then drive the other half hour to your training site, you'll probably have spent what you would on a hotel where you could just do your own thing.
maybe that's my inner hermit talking.
i recently had a hostess gift that tickled me, a couple of nice towels with our T embroidered on 'em. cheese and cracker baskets are always nice. you can rarely go wrong with flowers. fruit dipped in chocolate. or a card afterwards with a gift card would be fine.
khairete
S.
I know you have got alot of great ideas so far but i think an Edible arrangement would be wonderful!!
Do you really want to stay with her? Because it sounds like after buying her a gift and paying for the gas to drive 30 minutes to/from her house to your training it will be a wash, financially speaking.
If it were me traveling on business, I would just spring for the hotel. I always liked to spread out, relax, use up all the towels, eat whenever I wanted to, and watch TV when I traveled. Are you going to want to be in someone's house with two small children nipping at your heels? Do they have a guest room and separate bathroom for you? If you really want to see her, you can always visit her and the family, even if you do stay in a hotel.
As far as gift ideas, I think it would be nice to bring gifts for her kids and maybe just a fruit basket for her. Good luck! I hope you have a great time!
I usually wait until I'm back home, and then send something as a thank-you. For a family with kids, I'd probably send a Cookies-by-design basket (you can google them, it's an edible arrangement made with cookies). Of course, while you are there you can keep an eye out for their favorite things and send something that you know they'll like other than the cookies.
I don't think you need to bring a separate gift for the boys if you bring one thing that can be enjoyed by all. Edible Arrangements, cookies/brownies....
Another option is to bring breakfast foods for the family (since supper is covered by your company). Basket of muffins, good coffee to brew, etc. You can all enjoy that together in the morning.
Or, bring her a bunch of flowers (or have them delivered) and bring a little gift for the boys.
Get gift cards for movies for family. Some include popcorn and a drink. I have done that in the past and it seems to be a big hit.
I'd wait until I see her house. She might collect something, I know people who collect cookie jars, cows, chickens, sunflowers, etc...that way it could be more personal.
There are many things you can give her. A lovely thank you letter, a gift card to a massage or a day spa or a beauty shop, just see what kinds of things she's in to and that way you can make it extra special.
I sooooo appreciate when people revert to things of yesteryear. Her invitation is so very nice and a throwback of the ways of the past. You may not have a free moment to shop, so take the gift card with you. Research what restaurants are in their area. Buy a $50 restaurant gift card to it. If they need to add to it, fine. Leave it on the kitchen table or somewhere as you are leaving. It will be awkward to hand it to her. Call her when you are on the road and let her know that you left it.
