Visitors from America

[fingersandthumbs]

Hi all,

I'm hoping that you can helps me with some Christmas present ideas for some very dear relatives visiting from the Sates.

They are going to have to transport gifts back on the plane with them so they can't be too bulky.

One is my niece who is 6 but will be celebrating her 7th birthday on Boxing Day - so she will have two lost of presents.

The others are my brother and his wife. They are notoriously hard to buy for as they tend to buy anything they want over the year. In the past we have just bought for their daughter and the items have been delivered to their home address. This year is the first time in 5 years that they will be over for the Christmas Holidays so we all want to make it special for them and ensure that they have gifts to open on Christmas Day.

We know that they will spoil us, we are luck that they are so generous and we want to give them something back but we seem to be stuck with ideas.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

Jewellery might work, at least for the adults.

Other light weight, non-bulky gifts:
Silk scarf, gloves, socks, book mark, Christmas bauble, pen (all things you can fit to a range of budgets)

For the daughter, a lot of toys are packaged to makes them seem very bulky but there isn’t very much to them. Like a hatchimal for instance. So you get to give a substantial seeming gift that isn’t hard to pack.

6/7 year old:
Hama Beads
Jewellery making kit
Djeco Glitter boards
Sticky Mosaics
Selfie Clothing Co. colour in top
Illuminated Apparel T shirt
Spirograph
Smiggle Pencil Case
Scented stationery (Tinc have a good range)

What about tickets to something special? Harry Potter Studios tour? a London show?

Adding to the previous list, you can also get
Cufflinks
Ties
Belt
Card case
Wallet

Especially from British brands that are hard to get or more expensive in the States.

I agree a family experience or pantomime for Boxing Day - what don't they have in America they they'd like here?

Maybe some English food favourites? Tea bags jam or similar?

Traditional British brands. Go to an outlet - maybe Paul Smith stuff for him, or Burberry, etc. Mulberry for her? Pencil case with London buses, black cabs, union jacks etc on, sorry don't really know what young girls are into these days...yes to the idea of a panto/afternoon tea but you might be doing that anyway?
Visit to Harry Potter Studios. Lots of Harry P stuff - they had loads in Primark last year.

Love this handbag hook, it's quite unusual but something any woman would love if she loves handbags, or buys expensive brands.

Alessi Minou Purse Hook https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003LHG2P6/ref=cmswwrcppapi_ywpVBbH1K60S3

I would get cashmere gloves for the adults and a Pomsy or Polly Pocket for the six year old

what about the Lego london bus for the young girl?

Could you organise tickets to a panto while they are here? It's something uniquely British and they wouldn't have to fit anything in their suitcase?
My mum is visiting from the States next week and I'm sending her home with her gifts (fancy small smellies, a book and a Pandora charm). She, meanwhile, is incredible pleased with the suitcase she bought that fits inside her other one - she is flying over with two and, going home with one!

How about including in the gift the cost of shipping a box to America so they can take their gifts home.

Some really good ideas, thank you. We’re already going to the pantomime as part of my dad’s present to all his grandchildren so it’s good to know others think this is a good present idea.
And I like the idea of some really nice gloves and scarves and the Smiggle idea for our niece.

I really appreciate all of your help.

Thank you

I've just seen some twister animal bracelets advertised - they are magnetic and twist to make animals

Quite cool and I bet they'll be a mush have out of stock thing soon

I agree with PPs that English experiences would be nice, not just "stuff". My American relatives (including kids) went nuts for Hampton court palace - that time of year there should be ice skating on which could be really fun. If you did it before Christmas I'm sure you could find a little memento in the gift shop to wrap under the tree.

For the adults, my relatives loved 'fancy' English soap. Sounds boring but a couple of nice baylis and Harding or similar sets might go down nicely and remind them of you every time they wash their hands :-)

Traditional British Christmas treats, especially homemade ones. My American daughter always makes Peppermint Bark for her UK rellies which they love, so whatever the equivalent would be in the UK.