Alyssa Ponticello // In Good Taste

View Original

7 Beach House Hostess Gift Ideas


Beach house stays are as much a part of summer as bikinis, rosé and cookouts.

While some of us our lucky enough to have our own beach front homes (Hi! Can we be friends?! I promise to bring drinks, food and an epic hostess gift!), many of us simply will rent a spot on the beach, or have friends to stay with (also lucky). With these options it means that, more often than not, you're not only packing up a bikini for your summer getaways but you’re also packing up a present for your beach house host.

And before you go reaching for yet another bottle of wine, slow your roll. You know you can do better! Candles, flowers, potted herbs, they certainly all make great hostess gifts that anyone would love, but sometimes those things can get a little bit "everyone does them", if you know what I mean. With that in mind, I've rounded up a few alternative, appropriately beach housed themed, hostess gift ideas that'll be sure you get invited back again and again.



Pineapples //

For a friend opening up their home to you there could not be a more appropriate gift to give than a pineapple.. Let me tell you why. Pineapples symbolize warmth, welcome, hospitality and friendship (aka "hostess" is written all over them) and let's be real, who doesn't love tropical fruit in the summertime?! For an added bonus, gift the pineapple in a net produce bag, a nice serving bowl and/or add in an assortment of other tropical fruits.

Homemade Granola + a Set of Cute Bowls) //

Giving a host food is great and all, but giving them breakfast means you're not only giving them food, you're also giving them the gift of not having to worry about a meal. Of course, the granola doesn't have to be homemade but that certainly adds an extra special touch. For an extra special touch, you can pair the granola with a set of cute bowls as well as additional topping options such as dark chocolate chunks, toasted coconut flakes, nuts and fresh berries.

Beach Towels //

I don't own a beach house, but I've certainly stayed at my fair share, and I can tell you this- no one can ever have too many beach towels! Roll them up, stick them in a cute beach bag and you're good to gift it!

Gift Card to a Bookstore //

It's a pretty safe bet that anyone who owns a beach house enjoys reading on the beach (or their deck/porch). Instead of grabbing a few books in the hopes that your host doesn't already have them, give a gift card to a local bookstore instead to allow them to choose their next few beach reads.

Candle Making Kit //

My shell collection is out of control and, again, I don't even own a beach property. So imagine the shell collections of those who do. Of course, after a while, the shells start to pile up and it's easy to run out of places to put them or things to do with them. By putting together a few simple things easily found online, or at your local craft store, you can give someone a shell candle making kit. Not only is it a great way to give old shells new life, it's also a fun activity enjoyed by young and old people alike. For the kit, I would suggest including: instructions (I like these or these), wicks (if you want to go the extra mile, you can simply remove the wicks from tea light candles, as they're the perfect size for shells) and wax. Alternatively, you can buy a candle making kit. Just don't forget to print off and add in the instructions specifically for making shell candles.

Picnic Basket //

Whether you gift a picnic basket stocked with non-perishable goodies (like wine, crackers, cookies, serving ware, etc.) or as is, it's definitely a gift that will be well received and frequently used. I mean, let's be real, if you don't need a picnic basket because you aren't picnicking in the summer, than you just aren't living well! A few basket options to consider include this one, this one, this one, this one, this one and this one.

S'Mores Kit //

What beach house doesn't have a fire pit?! And who doesn't love s'mores?! Pack up all the makings for this delicious dessert (graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, sticks, napkins, maybe even this s’mores cookbook) in a cute box or basket and I guarantee everyone at the beach house will be a happy camper. FYI, you can get extra fancy and include homemade graham crackers, homemade marshmallows and artisanal chocolate in different flavors. No time to build your own? Grab this artisanal kit (or this Dulce de Leche one) instead.