Staying at in laws holiday home, what would you contribute?

[anotherHappymonday]

We’re staying for 4 nights at the in-laws (DH’s dad and his step-mum) holiday home, we’ve stayed before, but only for a night.

We’ve brought all our own consumables (food, toiletries, etc.) so won’t use any of their things and we’re out all day so using very little electricity, I’ll also give it a good clean before we leave. Not to drip feed, the in-laws are abroad this week so we’re not imposing on their time at the holiday home and they don’t rent it out so they’re not losing any rental income.

My DH doesn’t think that we need to contribute to staying at the holiday home, I think that we should - what do others think? Should we leave some cash for them? £50 / £100 / more or do you think it would be nicer to leave some good wine, biscuits (maybe a little hamper)?

I’d leave a bottle of wine or something- a thank you gift rather than cash.

A couple of bottles of nice wine sounds about right.

My parents would be most offended if we tried to pay for any hospitality they gave us. A big heart felt thank you is all that's needed. They'd appreciate an invitation for dinner, but wouldn't expect or need it. What they really like is a postcard and I'd get DC to send then a card.

Wine etc. and ask if they want any contribution to running costs/ for visit

Was going to say, nice bottle and some chocolates/flowers, card, that kind of thing

Send them some flowers when they get home, get DC to make them a nice card to say thank you.

If you leave cash it gets weird, obviously £100 would not be enough to "pay" for your stay but it also seems way too much to give to family without being asked.

I don’t know if you have DC, but a lovely printed picture of their grandchildren outside the holiday home and a bottle of wine would be a nice thank you. Definitely not money!

Thanks all, I’ll go for flowers / wine/ post card off DC etc..

I was on the fence about cash, but I didn’t want step mum or FIL to think that we’re CF.

In our family, we wouldn’t contribute anything. We just make sure it’s left clean and ready for whoever comes next. At most, maybe leave a nice bottle of something, but there would no guarantee it wouldn’t be consumed by whoever stayed there next. By ILs, I assume you mean dh’s parents? If so, it’s his family home. It would be weird to pay to stay in your own home and would definitely make my ILs uncomfortable to offer. I think you follow his lead here.

If I left my parents cash it would be swiftly transferred back to my bank account!

Agree some wine/chocs/flowers/favourite restaurant voucher whichever they would like most.

Couple of bottles of wine and a nice note. Absolutely not not not money!

Haha, same here! There's absolutely no way they'd ever accept money off me for something like this.

We stay at my in-laws’ holiday home a couple times a year and they would be massively offended if we ever paid them for it, even though it’s used as an air bnb as well.

We always give them flowers when we next see them after our stay and will pay for a nice meal too.

I know you said you didn't use much electricity and cleaned before you left, but I'd offer fuel costs and/or to pay for them to get a cleaner in before their next visit

@starfishmummy "I know you said you didn't use much electricity and cleaned before you left, but I'd offer fuel costs and/or to pay for them to get a cleaner in before their next visit"

If my child did this, they'd be really upset.

Oops-I'd be really upset!

Given they can afford a holiday home, I definitely wouldn’t leave cash. A bottle of wine or food gift is plenty