I’ve been both guest and host for shabbos. A gift is nice and appropriate – most common would be flowers or a bottle of wine or a chocolate/candy platter. A caveat-although I as a guest usually brought flowers, the last time someone brought us flowers I spent the entire shabbos sneezing (I’ve since developed allergies but didn’t want to insult the guest by throwing them out). My kids (and me) love the candy platters, but that goes against my attempts to cut our sugar/food coloring intake. And we drink grape juice. The ones I appreciated most were small gifts like a book or toy for the kids- but that only works if you know the family, that they have kids and what their ages/interests are.
If you are someone who comes all the time and are considered part of the family, then I don’t think you need to bring a gift each time you come, but it is nice to express your thanks and closeness to the family at other times- like bringing a nice miohsloach manos on Purim, or sending a nice gift before Rosh Hashana or for a family simcha, or bringing the kids birthday presents etc.
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