We have a high end listing that is about ten miles from the nearest store. Our nearest match in this market is a smaller house in town, and I know she leaves a bottle of wine for guests. Cost $10 USD. She charges less and located right next to a large discount store. I don't know if she gets compliments, but I understand guests do take the wine.
I have found that most guests appreciate a gift. In fact we receive a lot of notes about the gift basket and other amenities that guests appreciated. Maybe that's because the welcome message I leave with the gift basket points out that we have tried to fill the house with items to make them comfortable.
When I am the guest, I am over the moon if the host leaves granola bars or something small, even if I don't want them. I just think that is so thoughtful. I love it when hosts leave personal welcome notes that aren't just more instructions. I feel special when they leave a gift even if it is just something small like a tin of nuts or a bottle of wine. I appreciate when there are a few pantry items like sugar and coffee in the rental, but I hate finding random items in the pantry that have clearly been left by previous guests.
In our rural rental, we have a small snack basket in the kitchen containing packets of granola bars, cheese crackers, animal crackers (sweet biscuits shaped like animals), and instant oatmeal. This is for guests to have a quick snack if they have to rush out the door in the morning or if they get in late with a cranky child. Most guests use at least some of these items.
Because we are on the higher end of the price range we always leave a guest basket with a note. We almost always receive thank you notes and compliments on the basket. It's different every time and scaled to the length of the stay and occasion. For instance, our long term guests and anyone coming in for a holiday receive a very elaborate basket.
We also provide coffee, local teas, sugar, sweetener packets, artificial creamer, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and basic spices in the pantry.
Guests have the option to purchase eggs and honey from our farm. There is also an honor cabinet with extra charger cables, diapers, sanitary napkins, lightweight winter hats and gloves that are simply better than nothing at all, razors, tooth brushes, and full size bars of handmade soap from our farm that they can purchase by scanning a QR code. We also keep extra sample soaps, hairpins, and safety pins that people can take for free. The honor cabinet is rarely used, but occasionally we sell a bar of soap.
I'm sure it would be overly elaborate in other situations, but many of our guests are in town for a couple of days to attend a family event and don't have a lot of time to find the local grocery store.
Farm Diva