Friends hosting our weekend away - what to take them?

[ManCubsMama]

We’re visiting some couple friends in a few months, they live in a lovely part of the country and we’re going to be staying with them for 4 days.

If we weren’t staying with them we’d be looking at a significant hotel/Airbnb cost, so I’d like to take them something as a “Thanks for having us” gesture.

Was thinking wine and/or flowers but perhaps something more... This is something I’d bring even if we were just going for 1 night.

Perhaps we should take food and offer to cook one night? But would this be weird trying to navigate another person’s kitchen to prepare a meal for 4?

Maybe we should just take them for lunch/dinner at some point during our stay?

Suggestions welcome. Thanks!

Take em some wine and flowers and offer to take them out for lunch/dinner. I think that's enough, I know the popular mumsnet opinion is that you need to take piles of expensive gifts but so long as it's obvious you're not taking the piss you're good.

If they’re wine drinkers I’d send a case of wine and take them out for a very nice meal.

We did similar last year and I brought some hotel chocolat chocs and a jo Malone candle. It was expensive but nowhere near the cost of a hotel

Wine, flowers and I'd offer to contribute to food and would take them out for a meal one night.

Bring wine and flowers. If you big drinkers bring as much as you would drink not one bottke. Then Just take them out to dinner one night.
We live by the sea and get lots of friends wanting to come in summer. I'm happy with that and a meal out. Also just take yourselves off and do your own thing. I get bored off having to show everyone around everything. I normally do a walk round town with them ,show them the beach and Moors. Then I'm more than happy if they make thier own plans and we meet for lunch or dinner.

I agree that taking them out for dinner would be a decent gesture, along with the standard wine and flowers.

I had friends last weekend and one of them brought a cake with her.

I took a little hamper in a similar situation of foods I knew they'd like.

You could do a little hamper with some 'picky bits' in. Wine, crackers, cheese maybe? Something you could all enjoy on an evening

Agree with all suggestions for wine, flowers and a meal. If you like cooking, what about a lovely homemade cake or pudding? A bit more treaty than a whole meal

Do they have kids? I know when we have guests DH and I really appreciate them babysitting so we can have a night out together

@sofaandchoc That’s a fab idea!

I always take a bottle or two of good wine/champagne, and pay for at least one meal out. Plus I'm proactive about popping down to the shops to pick up groceries.

A fortnum hamper is always a lovely gift

i always take a bottle or two of good wine/champagne

Sorry but 1-2 bottles of booze for staying for 4 days (irrespective of what else you bring) isn’t enough, unless you’re non-drinkers.