How would you handle this non-rental?

[glw]

Family friends (FF) own a vacation home in New Orleans. G and I go to NO every year and usually rent a house through AirBnB, this year we asked FF if we could rent their house. FF responded just to go and enjoy it, how to get the keys, etc. I really want to compensate them for the time we'll be there, but I'm not sure how to word that in my email. "We couldn't possibly stay without [paying you? thanking you via a big fat check? lol]" I could also just say thank you now and then mail them a thank you card & check later. 

[MyName]

I think I would just thank them and appreciate their generosity...any other time of year. I totally get why you want to compensate them due to the high demand period you'll be there though. Do you know if they normally rent it out? If they don't, they're not technically losing any revenue, but I would note the prices for similar accommodations and keep that in mind when you send your thank you gift/check/etc. As far as the email, I would go with effusive gratitude and a dash of "are you SURE this is okay with you?"

Now for the important question: can I come?? lol

[glw]

Jan 29, 2016 10:23:43 GMT -5 MyName said:

I think I would just thank them and appreciate their generosity...any other time of year. I totally get why you want to compensate them due to the high demand period you'll be there though. Do you know if they normally rent it out? If they don't, they're not technically losing any revenue, but I would note the prices for similar accommodations and keep that in mind when you send your thank you gift/check/etc. As far as the email, I would go with effusive gratitude and a dash of "are you SURE this is okay with you?"

Now for the important question: can I come?? lol

The house is a duplex and FF rent out the other side of it year-round. I thought that they rented out this side to tourists, and I mentioned in my first email that if they could get more people to rent it, rather than just the two of us, that they should do that. FF didn't mention any other rental prospects in the reply email, so I don't think they would be losing revenue. 

And, YES, duh.

[sapphire bou]

I think I would just send a note with a check thanking them for their generosity. Like MN said, I would look up the local rates to determine how much to send them.

[MyName]

I would not send them a check because it's likely they just will not cash it. I would send them a very nice thank you gift like an expensive bottle of [whatever they like] and a gc for dinner or something.

[glw]

Good thought about not cashing a check; I could definitely do a GC somewhere.