If I wanted to bring a little thank you gift to a hotel staff member in Tuscany from the US what would be appreciated? Money is always good, yes ... but is there something we could bring (small enough to pack in a carry-on) that would make "her" smile?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Joy, start with this thread.

The best gift you can give to an Italian, male or female, is a nice pair of American jeans. And if they have kids, maybe Baby Gap has the answer

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

Got to say I have struggled with this issue as well and finally came to the conclusion that the universal gift of fresh flowers seems to work best.

Dan,
Athens, Georgia

Flowers are very expensive in Italy, at least they are in Venice. Instead I bought a nice plant for the owner of my very first apartment rental and she has it now in her Venetian garden.

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

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Flowers are very expensive in Italy, at least they are in Venice

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That's surprising, but I don't know Venice so I guess things are different there. When we were in Rome we bought a large and beautiful arrangement in a market, which the fiorista arranged specially for us, wrapped up in hand-ruffled crepe paper and ribbons, tied with a bow all for only 9 Euro! We were shocked. It would have cost us at least $25 for such an arrangement here.

Flowers are nice, of course, but we've also taken friends gifts from home which are locally made or grown. When we took them red-chile coated pistachios from NM they were thrilled and devoured them. It's nice to give the recipient something local (and a feel for the place you come from.)

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Originally posted by valerie:
That's surprising, but I don't know Venice so I guess things are different there.

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Maybe it was because of the season: February. I am a very generous person but I thought it was a waste of money paying $50 for some Mickey Mouse flowers. For friends, I usually bring CDs or some Hollywood movies or TV series on tape. I don't like travelling with any kind of food, except a bag of biscoti if the craving is too strong, and which by the time I arrive home is already gone Never bought a bottle of wine either. I know, I am bad but I just don't like carrying food on the plane.

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

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[This message was edited by Colleen on 27 August 2003 at 04:14 PM.]

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For friends, I usually bring CDs or some Hollywood movies or TV series on tape.

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Excellent idea!

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Originally posted by valerie:
[QUOTE] For friends, I usually bring CDs or some Hollywood movies or TV series on tape.

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Just remember,video tapes have a different format in Italy (i.e., they can't play ours and we can't play theirs).

Kim
Check Out My Italy Planning/Trip Blog

Cd's are great, tapes and DVD's are not on the same standard (betw US & Europe), and can't be played back. Jeans are better designed in Italy (and what size would you bring anyway? and they are bulky), flowers are great, next year's calendars with photos of the beauties of your area?

Since I'm American, whenever possible, I like to bring things that are really typical of the US, and even that might help dispel the ubiquitous poppycock that American food is McDonald's, American music is commercial rock, American art is violent movies, etc.: so all the wonderful clam chowders, crab boil, hush puppies, Tabasco sauce, wild rice, maple syrup (in metal can), pecans, salt-water taffy, butterscotch items -- and see those previous threads for the Southern Comfort and other American booze; Gospel music, 19c folk songs (Bernstein, Copeland, Rorem etc. for any musicati); for a special person, I'd bring a quilt, a Navajo blanket, or a piece of scrimshaw if there are any still out there -- etc.

This is a bit low-brow, but I once brought homemade chocolate chip cookies to my future Italian in-laws' house. My fiance ate most of them (and there were a lot) within 24 hours. A year later and he still talks about them and he has offered his restaurant-owning friend a lesson from me in how to make them...If you didn't want to go the homemade route, there are those "gourmet" cookie shops.

If you wanted to go more high-brow, what about a Tiffany trinket (ie. keychain)?

I'll tell you what i am bringing to our italian buddies in Abruzzo:

Beautiful professional photographs of places we visited together in the U.S, as well as some that are typically american...light houses on craggy Maine shores, a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon, a posing deer buck, a waterfall in Letchworth state park, NY.

Snow Globes of our NYC skyline, which seemed so silly when we bought them prior to theSeptember 11th. When wound, the subway runs underneath while NY, NY plays, bittersweet, now.

Aunt Jemima pancake mix and maple syrup, because they begged!

Calendars for next year...haven't decided which, perhaps Ansel Adams this time.
Think of products that are from your home town. Clothing is tough as the italians wear things tighter than we do, but they do love the sports and team logos.
Pat

Low-brow also, but unknown in Italy: fudge, divinity, brownies, etc. Some of those will be more practical than others to schlep over there.

Also unknown in the sweets department, but usually not a hit: mincemeat; pumpkin pie filling and bake them a pie; root beer.

I don't know if I've ever seen American bacon in Italy. (Pancetta and speck, neither one of which remotely like.)

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Originally posted by Kim:
Just remember,video tapes have a different format in Italy (i.e., they can't play ours and we can't play theirs

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Not anymore. There are free code video and DVD players, here and there and they are not that expensive. VCR and DVD players. And more players. I won't give a friend something that cannot be used. These electronic gadgets have been in the market for quite a while

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

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Originally posted by Bill Thayer:
Since I'm American, whenever possible, I like to bring things that are really typical of the US, and even that might help dispel the ubiquitous poppycock that American food is McDonald's, American music is commercial rock, American art is violent movies, etc.: so all the wonderful clam chowders, crab boil, hush puppies, Tabasco sauce, wild rice, maple syrup (in metal can), pecans, salt-water taffy, butterscotch items -- and see those previous threads for the Southern Comfort and other American booze; Gospel music, 19c folk songs (Bernstein, Copeland, Rorem etc. for any musicati); for a special person, I'd bring a quilt, a Navajo blanket, or a piece of scrimshaw if there are any still out there -- etc.

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You will be surprised of how many American movies are not violent. The same way I like to watch videos/DVDs about Italy, they also like to know about USA. I prefer videos instead of books with pictures. They are more enjoyable. I don't like to give them food because I am afraid they will have an allergic reaction or get poisoned and then, I will be in a big doodoo.

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

But most people here in the US and most people in Europe have players which will only play the local standard, and they are not compatible. This would be a risky gift if you do not know certainly that your recipient has the appropriate dual use player. Am loving the divinity and fudge things, and what a temptation to eat before the giftee is near!

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Originally posted by Carol M:
But most people here in the US and most people in Europe have players which will only play the local standard, and they are not compatible. This would be a risky gift if you do not know certainly that your recipient has the appropriate dual use player.

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How do you know that, Carol? I am smart enough to ask first if they have the dual equipment. We are talking about friends, not strangers. When I buy a piece of clothing, like blue jeans for instance, I have asked first for their size. All the people I know in Italy, Germany and the UK have the usual players, video and DVD and not recently. Trust me.

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

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Originally posted by Carol M:
Jeans are better designed in Italy (and what size would you bring anyway? and they are bulky)...

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Are you kidding? Do you know how much they like the American jeans and how much an American label cost in Europe? Have you ever seen Europeans buying jeans by the dozen at Gap, Levis and the like? I guess not, otherwise you won't be talking about design

"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."

"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."

Let's try to drag the discussion back to the original question...

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Originally posted by joywriter:
If I wanted to bring a little thank you gift to a hotel staff member in Tuscany from the US what would be appreciated? Money is always good, yes ... but is there something we could bring (small enough to pack in a carry-on) that would make "her" smile?

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Amy in MA
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe that the initial question was about a thoughtful gift to bring a hotel staff member, one which would not take up a lot of space in a carry-on. Thanks to all who gave useful and imaginative ideas.

... yes, this is what makes my quest so difficult! I don't know how old she is, what her size is ... I've never met her in person but have spoken with her by phone and email. (I must comment that each hotel we've asked questions of have responded so politely and happily professional.) A calendar of North Carolina's ... Outer Banks lighthouses might be a good idea ... (and then there's always our Clay Aiken) but would something like that be interesting? Fine chocolates in this heat would be a bear to transport and they have wonderful chocolate! What do you all think?

I look at it this way. If it were the other way around and someone was coming here from Italy, especially from an area I hadn't heard much about, I would LOVE to have a calendar of beautiful photographs from that region.

Calendars are flat, fit easily in suitcase or carry-on, won't get thrown out by security, and everyone needs more than one. Sounds like the perfect gift to me.

I'm going out tomorrow to buy a few for my trip. Thanks!

I live in an area that is known for maple syrup and ice wine. They sell these at the shops in the Toronto airport. What is your area known for?
If I was visiting your town, what could I buy that represented your town or state?
This is really thoughtful of you. They will really appreciate it. The Italians we met on our trip over the last couple of weeks were very appreciative of the tips and sincere compliments we gave. June

ItalianMoonShadow Blog

This subject comes up quite often across the internet. I am going to give my opinion as a person living in Italy who knows lots of Italians and has seen some of the gifts they have goten.

Unless they make a special request for specific clothing do not get jeans. I'll never forget a friend's mother asking why they were given jeans by a distant American cousin. She thought that the cousin did not think they had money for clothes

On the mainland of Italy you can find maple syrup, pancake mix, booze, chocolates, etc. etc. etc. We also have all of the latest movies and music so why bring those(unless they have a special request of course) To be honest, many movies and tv shows are released here before there.

Personal gifts, things from your home town, etc. are good gifts. Things with instructions are not good, food products unless something like Ice Wine or special things only from your hometown, again, not good. As an idea for a hotel staffer, me being originally from San Francisco, I would give a Ghirardelli Cable Car container. Costs around $10-$15 and is something personal and fun and not found in Italy. From NY a Empire State building statue or something like that.

Sorry I do not know what specialties there are in North Carolina for Joywriter.

Moving to Italy and Driving in Italy