Suggestions for present for generous relatives AIBU

[TheTimeToChange]

I'm staying with some relatives at the moment, who have been absolutely fab and brilliant.

They let me live rent-free with them for several months while I’ve been finding my feet and looking for work and a new place to rent. I’ve now found a job and a new flat, which I’ll be moving into next weekend.

I really want to thank them for everything they’ve done for me over the last few months.

AIBU to ask you all for your ideas about what I could give them to say thank you?

I was thinking along the lines of giving them a hotel or restaurant voucher, but not yet sure about this, so would be grateful if you’ve got any ideas or suggestions.

Bump :)

A hamper of nice little treats?

How old are they? What do they like to do in their free time? Maybe you could give them a voucher for a special activity/a day out

Something memorable as an experience like a spa day voucher or even more adventurous like a hot air balloon ride maybe?
They sound lovely!

Thanks for your replies :) they’re in their early 30s, and both really like eating out, discovering new restaurants and staying in new places.

They got married last year, and I got them a restaurant voucher for part of their wedding present, so I’d like to maybe buy them a voucher for a hotel stay or something similar just to get them something a little bit different this time :) they live in London, so I wonder if a weekend away somewhere might be nice? Maybe even a city break somewhere could be possible?

Does anyone have any recommendations about nice hotels you’ve stayed in please?

My budget is around £250 to £350, but I’m not sure how realistic that is!! Happy to increase it if I need to :)

A subscription voucher for each of them, so they have something they enjoy each month, like flowers, magazines, chocolate etc.

I’m looking at getting a weekend break for them, maybe in a country hotel. I’ve had a look at somewhere called the The Swan in Lavenham in Suffolk - has anyone been? :)

Does anyone know of any nice hotels for weekend breaks around the Berkshire/Buckinghamshire/ Oxfordshire area please (ie. within reasonably easy reach of London)? All recommendations welcome :)

@TheTimeToChange Alexander house spa in east grinstead is lovely and only an hour away!

I know that area of Suffolk v well, lavenham is lovely!

The Old Parsonage in Oxford is lovely, loads to do there too. What a lovely idea.

Weekend at the Gainsborough Spa in Bath! Make sure your booking includes a spa day though—people often just book the hotel and are miffed when they discover they have limited access to the spa.

Thanks everyone! :) I’m also looking at a place called The Vineyard, near Newbury in Berkshire, which looks really nice - does anyone know it?

As a thank you gesture, I think that's an awful lot of money to spend! I've never spent so much money on any kind of gift. That's not to say you shouldn't, but they might feel overwhelmed. You certainly shouldn't feel obliged to spend so much. It's about the gesture of appreciation.

Personally I'd put together a hamper of interesting foods / drinks.

My PIL live very close to Lavenham the swan is beautiful, the area is quiet though so less of an adventure and more of a romantic break. Hintlesham hall is a stately home nearby that does fabulous afternoon tea etc if that's their kind of thing

I think that is too much too, and also that a hotel voucher is a bit risky as a present. How about a subscription to something foodie - friends with monthly cocktail / chocolate / cheese subscription presents have loved them

It's a lovely idea and if that's what you want to give them and can afford, go for it. They'll always remember it. There's nothing special about a hamper full of random stuff you probably don't even like.

I think it’s a lovely gift to give them, especially when you’ve lived rent free with them for so long. I’m sure they will be thrilled.

Forget Xmas' naff hamper idea.

They have been kind and generous and saved you hundreds if not a couple of thousand in rent. You have a generous budget which is proportion of what you have saved.

A young couple, it sounds as if they would thoroughly enjoy what you are planning as they are not expecting such a gift. Not sure of the prices buy have you thought of Le Manoir Quat Seasons - it is around that area and they do a offers of a nights accommodation and an evening meal. May be out of the budget but perhaps worth having a look especially as they are foodies

What about theatre tokens?

I’ve had a look at the Gainsborough Hotel in Bath, which looks beautiful, and seems fairly straightforward for them to get to. I think I’ll go for that one :) thanks so much again for all of your help and suggestions!

The Gainsborough is amazing. I've been to at least 20 different spas, and that is by far the best, hands-down.

What KC said. I've never volunteered the cash but a friend of mine always ate there and we ate their desserts a LOT and they were wonderful. They also do cooking school, I think.

Scratch that. Just checked the prices...

Here's one which has gone down really well in my extended family. Time-consuming rather than expensive.

Ask round among your mutual relatives or friends for some nice photos of your benefactors and their relatives. Ransack their Facebook photos maybe. Print lots of pictures out. Put them in an album or frame them.

Most of us have plenty of digital photos these days which we never get around to printing out, as well as photos in our relatives' possession which we'd love to have copies of.