What is a good gift to give someone who has invited you to join them on vacation?

My best friend from college invited me on an all-expense paid vacation with her family to Palm Beach, FL. I want to get them a gift and/or make them a gift basket. Any good ideas?

What is a good gift to give someone who has invited you to join them on vacation?
maybe one night, maybe the first night there, treat everyone to dinner.


or, because you said it was all paid for already, sunblock helps.





but really. if she has a little brother, maybe he wants a boogie board. a sister might want a snorkel. the parents might want some tropical looking glasses for some iced tea by the pool. all these things you can get like, at a wal mart.





by personalizing the gifts, you add a little extra care and thought.
Reply:I've stayed with friends while on vacation. When I arrive, I say pick a night and I'll take everyone to dinner.I know my hosts always enjoyed that.I know you said it was all paid for, but your offering to buy them a meal would be a nice thank you.





P.S. McDonald's or Burger King doesn't count. LOL
Reply:I think an ideal gift (especially if there is going to be any driving involved) would be some sort of roadside emergency kit and/or a first-aid kit. As for the gift basket, take into account the number of people in the family, whether or not anyone has food allergies, and make up a basket with the appropriate amount of non-messy%26amp;easy to eat snack assortment you think they would like. Include also some wet-wipes and napkins!
Reply:Gift basket is good. Give it after the trip.
Reply:Gosh, how nice of them! I'm sure anything would be appreciated. Something creative you could do would be to let them know you will be taking pictures, saving tickets/brochures/postcards, etc., and scrapbooking the entire vacation for them. Have a great time!
Reply:A wine basket. They sound like fancy people.
Reply:how about a cut sun hat and sun glasses!
Reply:this is a really cool bonding event for you and your friend and her family - maybe it would be a good idea for you to be documentation officer. This is nothing new but Polaroid cams would come in handy: when you get to your vacation spot, a lot space for a small bulletin board that will also serve as your scrapbook. make memories, all through out the vacation especially snapshots of your arrival at your vacation spot, your first breakfast/dinner/supper/party/dip in the water, etc. it's up to you if you want to show them all the pictures at one go or give them a more elaborate collection at the end of your trip.





Bring the dvdcam so you can make a dvd out of your experience. Have you and your best friend make a little diddy in the end thanking her family for the experience.





Maybe you can provide the special spf.


You might also want to make each of your hosts gift beach bags, complete with ready-to-use towels (hopefully you have time to launder them and but all these little gifts in individual bags), beach footwear, little bottles of sun-protect lotion, maybe a bottle of water for rehydration, sunglasses, lip-balm with sun-protect, the whole she-bang.


I don't know if this will fly with your hosts or with you personally, but those portable karaoke machines, you might enjoy them. I personally don't like karaoke but ask your best friend about it.





Also, get your best friend something special.


Have a rockin' good time and remember to slather on spf.
Reply:the scrapbook idea is good, I would go with that but you could also get them a gift basket to give them before hand, this would be fairly cheap but useful, just pack it full of those things that often get forgotten: tyonal/asprin, sunblock, wet ones, disposable camara, chapsticks with sunblock, aloe gel, if the family isnt to big you could also put in things like flip-flops, beach towels (these can both be bought at walmart or the dollar store for cheap) if you plan on spending alot of time at the beach maybe a couple good books or a battery operated radio, a deck of cards, if there are little kids how about coloring books and crayons, water toys (squirt guns, squshiy balls, sand toys) sun glasses. if you need more ideas feel free to email me, Just give me an idea of what type of basket you want to do or what you are going to be doing most of the time, are u driving or flying? how many ppl and if there are kids or not and the age ranges and I can give you a list of things to put in the basket and where you can get them for cheap. hope this helps
Reply:I really like the scrapbooking idea and small gifts too. One other thing you may want to think about is taking your own camera and catch some great shots of the family together. Get a great frame or photo album, decorate it accordingly with things from the vacation like shells, sand, drink umbrellas, knick knacks, etc. When you give it to them, along with a thank you card, they will love it! I know I would!