I am traveling to Ireland/Dublin with a daughter who is moving there to attend school. I have befriended her future landlord, and been invited to there country home. Any suggestions on an appropriate or valued gift from the states as a thank you to her/ family?
Posted by
Manchester
497 posts
Wine and/or chocolate are always appreciated.
One thing I would say is don't focus too hard on bringing something "American" - there are very few things that are unavailable nowadays. These questions crop up fairly frequently on here and get some fairly odd suggestions that might be more appropriate for homesick expats. I'd recommend, as a good sanity check, before you buy anything imagine the landlord isn't in Ireland but lives in another state. If it would be an odd gift for an American acquaintance then chances are it's an odd gift in this situation.
Of course it's the thought that counts here and anyone with any manners will say "Thank you" and gush over whatever you bring.
Posted by
OP
Hartford,CT
2 posts
Thank you, as I thought--over preparing as usual... & a sanity check is a good suggestion, I'll work on that!!
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Buy a bottle of good Champagne in the DutyFree and some expensive chocolates. Well, that's what I'd appreciate, anyway! What would be a really boring present is what a lot of people on this board always recommend, and that is a calendar or picture book from your home state. You KNOW these would go into a bottom drawer never again to see the light of day.
Posted by
Clarksville, TN, USA
959 posts
If I was going to bring a gift, I would bring a bottle of wine from the winery in our town. Wine is always a great gift and it's something from my hometown... If weight restrictions on luggage weren't so tight, I would bring a bottle to some of the B&B owners that we're staying with...
Posted by
Tustin, CA, USA
92 posts
Chocolate and/or wine are good choices. Perhaps find a local chocolate/candy/wine or other non-perishable item that isn't readily available outside of your region. Being from California, I would bring a box of See's Candy, and, echoing Amy's sentiments, if I had room for a bottle of wine, a California wine because I noticed in Ireland that they import a lot of wines from Australia, but I don't remember seeing any CA wines on wine lists. (Not to imply one is better than the other... Both are good, but if your region is famous for something, bring that.)
Posted by
Austin, Texas
11 posts
Booze.
Posted by
Westford, Vermont, USA
33 posts
I am from Vermont, so I usually bring some grade A extra fancy maple syrup!