Gift for host

We just had an overnight stop with friends, I took a plant, 2 loaves of homemade bread and a bottle of Cremant de Loire.

Flowers?
Chocolates and/ or wine for one or two days and send flowers afterwards.
Longer stay? Take them out for a meal (or outing) at your expense. Do bits of shopping if needed, or buy a gift like local honey if visiting a gift shop whilst there.

I like to give a luxury item such as bath products - something that is just for the hostess, and won't be absorbed into the food and drink during the stay. For that, I would bring something to drink and if there is a delicacy local to you I'd get some of that to take. If not, a nice box of chocolates to share.

If I were the host, I'd be grateful for anything I could consume, like good local cheeses or fruit in season. But be careful in case someone is diabetic, gluten- or dairy-free, teetotal or a born-again vegan. At least they can't eat a bunch of flowers.

I tend to take my friend out for lunch or evening meal whilst there and pay for some grocery items that are a bit more luxurious.
I would never give anything 'perfumed' as it's such an individual thing, unless I knew of something she/he really liked.

All the above, and if they are collecting anything special, maybe a piece of china.

Our dog takes biscuits for his mates if we are staying with people who also have dogs!

Usually I would take a jar or two of home-made jam. Even my jam-making friends are happy to have a change.

While staying I take the hosts out for a meal - either to a restaurant I have researched or one of their suggestion.

Always send a thankyou card once I am back home, with an offer to return the favour if they would like.

Favourite gift I have received from a guest is a wooden cheese board that they made themselves. I use it nearly every day.

Thank you for all the suggestions

We generally buy flowers on the day before we leave, and will pay for a meal out.

If staying with family, I will either give some cash for groceries, or buy the groceries.

A meal out together is always a good idea, but suggest it well in advance. I know if I'm expecting guests for a few days. I have all meals worked out and shopping and preparation done as far as possible.

I take my friend homemade jam, bottle of red wine and a loaf of homemade bread. Usually only stay one or two nights.

Yes we too take the hosts out for a meal, making the suggestion beforehand so they can choose and book.
It depends who it is as to other gifts and take something appropriate be it wine, flowers, a plant for the garden, a local delicacy.
I don't make jam or bread so that would not be something I would take. I am not sure if it would be well received either unless I was expecting it. I am usually pretty stocked up when people are coming.

Flowers, gin and/or Cremant, homemade preserves and/or cake, depending on length of stay and which friends.

I take a selection of nice biscuits, crackers, chocolates, nuts, preserves and wine (if they drink) - in fact, anything that will keep if not used.

I'll take them out for a meal while I'm there and pick up things when out, like strawberries, olives, hummus for snacks. I'll offer to help, too, with anything they might find difficult.

annodomini, being vegan and (very) allergic - I couldn't have your flowers (or Doodledog's bath products) in the house. You'd have to leave them outside.

I'm wary of 'homemade' anything too, so wouldn't consume it (just not worth the hospital stay).

M&S do excellent artisan jars of honey and you can add a glass/ceramic pot and maybe an & olive wood honey spoon. If you live in London a jar of Fortnum & Mason Stilton £10.50 or £14.95 and if you buy on click and collect (free) the packing is amazing - in a box with ice cold gel pouches and thick wadding and they will give you a fresh bag to present it in. If not you can arrange delivery direct. If you have a branch of Home Sense or TK Maxx near you they have a great selection of luxury food items at fabulous prices and they are now starting to fill up with goodies for Christmas - eg luxury Panettone

Going abroad to visit relatives I can’t take food or flowers. We take them out for a meal or take them to a garden centre to choose something for their garden. We ask them if there’s anything they’d like from the Uk, and in the past fingerless gloves from Turtledoves have been asked for!

I recently took a CD and an etching I'd made.. very well received..

For all their trouble (hah!) of putting you up and hosting you - I like to take the host(s) out for a lunch or dinner somewhere they like. That way you get out of the house too! That is ALWAYS very much appreciated.
USA Gundy

I am never a guest but have a lot of guests. I like being given cut flowers. Not potted plants or plants for the garden which can be the wrong thing and burdensome. Tokens can be good but I have some I have not got round to spending for over a year as it takes effort even on line. Someone gave me some cash which might be thought rude but was actually very useful and easy to spend and saved me going to the bank. Food and drink can be tricky. You need to know the person well. I was given a bottle of whisky this week but my husband and I don't drink but he says it will be useful for other visitors. I can't eat chocolate but have sometimes been given it which is torture as I would love to eat it. Having said that, I got a wonderful food present the week before last. A visiting family member bought all the ingredients and cooked six different curries for my freezer. He has worked as a chef. So kind. People used to pay for meals out together but I am not too well now and it can be too much effort for me to eat out. It is nice to be given something though and feel one's own kindness is appreciated. I would say ask the person what they would like. Flowers are my choice. But some people might have allergies.

I sometimes take a couple of bottles of wine from our local vineyard, and will generally take my hosts out to lunch while there.

Prosecco.

I take my friend out to lunch each day on a weekend stay over. If I'm there longer I pay for some shopping when we go to the supermarket as well

My cousin gave me a lovely doormat this year,everytime I see it I smile and think of him,unusual gift but I love it