My parents just paid for our plane tickets for an expensive trip, as well as part of the lodging and other incidental costs while we were there with them. In the past, I've written a heartfelt thank you note and printed/framed a great photo of them with our kids. I'm looking for a new idea! They really won't take anything of value from us (like a gift card--we've tried), so I'm looking for something outside of the box. I'll also do thank you notes from us and the kids. Anybody have anything brilliant?
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A calendar of pics from your trip?
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Or little stories of your favorite memories of the trip?
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My sister’s family went on a big trip with my parents last year, and for Christmas they gave them a Shutterfly album. One thing that I thought was cool was that they included not only pictures, but a hand written letter from each of their kids describing their favorite memories of the trip. Her kids are older than mine, so I wouldn’t be able to do that, but depending upon their ages you could have them write or draw something from the trip and include it in the album.
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What if you take them out for dinner on your trip or surprise them with a special excursion/dinner/tour just for the two of them?
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I feel like I recommend this all the time, but my parents/inlaws/grandparents are all obsessed with their Nixplay seed frames we got them. I send photos to them regularly and they waking up to new pictures of the grandkids.
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I second a photo album / book idea like Shutterfly! Pictures of the trip!
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@charm55: Ha, I was going to recommend the same thing with the same disclaimer about recommending it all the time!
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@charm55: @erinbaderin: THIS! I swear a digital picture frame is the best gift we have ever given our parents! They all rave about it. And think it is amazing to just have the pictures show up on the frame.
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The digital picture frame idea has been a great one for my parents. They love it!
I made the mistake of giving one to my in laws though...and for a while they'd text me daily, complaining that I hadn't sent new photos often enough. So my cautionary tale is: Know your audience for the photo frame.
After trips we've done with either set of parents, we've put together photo books from the trip as a gift. Our parents have loved them, and our kids have also loved looking through them when we go to visit. I really enjoy the books because as they read through them together, everyone can relive the highlights - and that seems to bring a lot of joy all around.
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@crazydoglady: they get an annual calendar with pictures, but that would have been fun, too!
@gotkimchi: We tried last time, but they wouldn’t go for it
We even made reservations. I suppose we could force it by paying in advance, but they don’t seem to want it. We definitely paid for dinner for all of us a few times, but didn’t feel like enough. @charm55: We’ve done it for both, although I think I need to update them! Good reminder. My dad has his at work.
@jennlin821: @LemonJack: @wrkbrk: I think I probably will do a small photo book. I’ve done a few others for them, but they love them and leave them on their coffee table. Maybe I’ll have the boys draw/write and include those in the book!
@caitcat: Ha! My in-laws just kind of gave up on their frame....
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Maybe some sort of monthly subscription service? A monthly wine box? Or specialty meats? Coffee? Fruit (with or without cheese)? There are so many types of them, and that way it just shows up at their house. Hard for them to turn down
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@Jess1483: a Shutterfly type book of the trip after it's over?
We even made reservations. I suppose we could force it by paying in advance, but they don’t seem to want it. We definitely paid for dinner for all of us a few times, but didn’t feel like enough. 
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