When friends and family come to stay, you want to be a thoughtful host. This is especially true during the holidays. Here are some ways to make your overnight guests’ stay at your home the most wonderful time of the year.
Think like a hotelier or Airbnb host
Anticipate what your overnight guests may need. Aunt Susie is familiar to you, but your house — and its lightswitches!—may not be entirely familiar to her. Uncle John has developed a seafood allergy since your last visit, and your cousins may arrive and realize they’ve forgotten their toothpaste. You can ensure your overnight guests have a pleasant stay by planning ahead for these and other situations.
- Stash a basket of toiletries in the guest room to help visitors who leave something at home. Toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, razors, deodorant and the like can come in very handy for overnight guests who forget to pack something.
- Be sure to have freshly washed towels in the bathroom and sheets and pillowcases on the bed. In the cooler months, provide an extra comfy blanket or two for guests to use if they’re chilly.
- Use LED plug-in night-lights that activate in the dark so your overnight guests can find the lightswitches as they navigate your home at night.
- Post your Wi-Fi login information in a prominent place such as the refrigerator.
- Add some creative touches to your guest room to make overnight guests feel special. Flowers, scented candles or a bottle of wine with glasses can add a touch of luxury.
- Keep snacks and drinks handy. You might even place bottled water in your overnight guests’ rooms in case they get thirsty at night.
- Stack a few magazines or even books on your guests’ nightstands. You can also give your visitors the information they need to use your Netflix or other streaming video services.
- An extra bathrobe and slippers in the closet is a pampering touch.
- Make sure to let your overnight guests know where you keep essentials such as glasses, silverware, napkins and toilet paper.
- Provide a luggage rack or a small table in your overnight guest’s room so that she has a place for her suitcase.
- Clear your desk as much as possible so that guests may use it if they need to.
- Before overnight guests arrive, inquire about food allergies and sensitivities. Also ask whether your guests prefer coffee or tea in the morning as well as what sorts of snacks and breakfast foods they prefer so you can have on hand what you need.
Related – Should You Buy a Home with Visitors in Mind?
