Gifts from Home

Utah Truffle Bars

Christmas ornaments made of salt from The Great Salt Lake

Gifts for who , family or friends ?

Random gift giving isn't really the norm in Europe , certainly not for strangers or staff at hotels , unless you have been acquainted with them from before .

I have brought my family and friends our local smoked salmon , packed in beautiful cedar boxes( decorated with First Nations art ) and vacuum sealed .Do you have a local delicacy ?

Are you getting gifts for friends? I would ask them what they would like. Other than that, you don't need to get gifts for your B&B owner, or anyone else. That just takes up room in your bag and not needed at all. If you liked a place you stayed or a restaurant or a tour or a store, write them a review on Trip Advisor. That is what they would really prefer to have rather than a key chain, pin, or magnet.

I assume you want to bring something for private hosts or friends maybe?

Local specialties are great, and you know best what they are. Food (well sealed) is always great because it's something to use up and won't oblige your hosts to keep your three ft diameter oil painting or your beautiful Utah cuckoo clock up on the attic ready to rehang at your next visit.

If you can manage to find something that is hard or impossible to get overseas, so much the better. If you were to bring me a gift, I'd suggest my favorite cookies which are near impossible to get in Germany. Not meaning to do any advertising here, and I am certainly not getting paid for saying this, but Pepperidge Farm cookies are only available in a few standard flavors here. My personal favorite (Mint Milano) is practically impossible to find, even in specialized or very well stocked stores.

A space-in-the-suitcase-saving idea for private hosts would be to have them recommend their favorite restaurant and ask them out for dinner on one night of your stay.

US-made, packaged treats & snacks from Trader Joe's and Costco have been well received by foreign friends.

Salt from the eponymous Lake?

A good bourbon always shines. You'll have to check it rather than carry it on the plane.

I really appreciate your suggestions! You are awesome to share!!!!

I have packed along pretty bookmarks and refrigerator magnets from our state which take up no space and are just a little remembrance for the people we give them to, often the children of a B&B or apartment owner.

Or, you could just take them out to a nice dinner, which would really be appreciated.
Do some research on the best restaurant you can afford, and reserve a date.

Unfortunately, most non-edible gifts just are "re-gifted" to somebody else or thrown away.
Food items like smoked salmon are readily available in England, German, France and Italy in supermarkets. I don't know about Croatia, though.

most non-edible gifts just are "re-gifted" to somebody else

I wouldn't be so sure about the edible gifts either. :-)

In our family, there is the rumor of a box of chocolates that was re-gifted so many times that eventually it returned to the original giver. Which she discovered upon actually opening it and seeing her own handwriting on the enclosed card (which nobody had ever noticed since nobody had ever opened the gift wrapping). :-)

The non-edible gifts usually end up on some flea market (or in the garbage, after having been stuffed in the attic for a couple of decades).

Unless you are visiting family, don't bother as giving gifts here is not the norm. Check what you can and can't take into Europe before you buy, as there are restrictions on some foods.

Europeans tend not to like American chocolate.

Depending on what airlines you are using in Europe, there maybe luggage weight limits, so whatever you bring should be light.

Croatia in March?! Not the best time to visit and few airlines fly there compared to the summer months.

If someone gifted me bourbon, I would be sad as it would just be given away to someone else.

Some people can't drink, some can't eat choc. etc. etc. so unless you know the person well who you are giving the gift to, stay away from edible or drinkable gifts.

Gloria, you still haven't said who you are buying the gifts for. That information helps us, help you.

I have taken some very lovely photos from our Pacific N W area scenery, which I get printed in 4x6" size. Then I attach them to blank cardstock. A collection of these makes a lovely set of notecards with a local flair. As opposed to refrigerator magnets, etc. these are something very usable for your hosts.

I have refrained from contributing until now, but as we still don't know for whom you are taking gifts, let me say this, Gloria. If you plan to distribute presents here and there to people who have done you a service, be careful not to be perceived as an American Lady Bountiful, spreading largesse here and there. Most of the people you will interact with are not poverty stricken and may be offended by your good heartedness.