New Orleans-themed gift baskets?

NightAndDay

I'm surprising my H with a trip to New Orleans for his 30th birthday in October. Several of his friends are meeting us there. I know it's an expensive trip, and I am so appreciative of our friends making the effort to celebrate with us. I wanted to send them a little gift package before the trip, but i'm not sure what to include. I'm having T-shirts made, but that's all i can think of. Any suggestions? Thanks!

kjvogelsang

Beads, masks (like mardi gras masks), hot sauce, cajun seasonings, homemade prailines are a few things that come to mind.

Another route you could take would be a couple magazines or Soduku/cross word puzzle books for the plane or car ride there.

NightAndDay

great ideas! thanks

Wine Enthusiast

If possible, I would actually have baskets delivered to their hotel rooms once you arrive there. You can ship a box of stuff to the hotel and assemble them in a gift bag once you get there or bring some stuff in your bag and run to a drug store as soon as you get there and get the rest of the stuff.  Then once you assemble them you can bring them to the front desk and ask them to hand deliver them to the rooms.

I did this for my wedding and my guests were really appreciative of it.  Include a note that says "Welcome to NOLA.  We are so glad you are here to celebrate x's B-day with us.  Thank you for coming to party with us"  or something along those lines. 

I would include waters for the room if the hotel doesn't provide bottled water.  Beer/Bottle of wine if your room has a fridge (a wine opener if you do wine with a cork).  The t-shirts, some beads, a mask, a hangover remedy, room snacks (chips, nuts, candy) and a shot glass.  I would try to just run to a store when you get there for the beads, mask and shot glass.  There are little shops by every hotel.

Then maybe do an invitation to breakfast for coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde one day, your treat (not sure how many are going but that wouldnt be very expensive for even 10 people) or you could even just buy each person a $5 gift cert to there (you can order them ahead of time online even). 

skhk

TinyMrsH

I second the praline idea. If you do decide to send the baskets ahead of time there are some great vendors online, we ordered a bunch for our wedding as a tribute to DH's roots. The company we used was Pecan Jacks, I'm hooked on them! I agree with pp that it might be better to have a basket waiting at the hotel for them. I know our guests still talk about our Welcome Bags, and what a fantastic surprise it was.

krispylove

You are so thoughtful!  I would include water, snacks, small tourist maps, headache remedy, beads and personal size champagne bottles. 

NightAndDay

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies! I think i'm going to have to send baskets ahead of time b/c it would be too hard to fix baskets there without H getting suspicious. we'll be arriving ahead of them, so i don't think i'll be able to get rid of him long enough to get things ready. 

i compiled your suggestions and settled on t-shirts, these cool concert-looking tickets "inviting" them to the celebration, masks, beads, hot sauce, cajun seasoning, prailines, cafe du monde certificates and begniet mix,  and a map of the area. 

randimarie86

Trust me when I say you can't trust our lovely weather down here, so I would recommend throwing in some panchos. They're portable, and convenient. I could not tell you how many times I've been walking through the French Quarter and got into a sprinkle or two of rain. Every time I'm out there I swear I have to stop and buy a pancho. Also, go here and fill one out for each of the people traveling with you, and they will send them an LA tour guide. It's packed with things to do throughout the state, not just NOLA. I live here and I get a new one every year, lol. But request them now, it takes at least a month or two to receive it.