When you go on vacation and enter your hotel room, you instantly feel like you’re going to have a great visit. The bed is crisply made, the bathroom is spotless and the mint on top of your pillow is a sweet little reminder that everything is taken care of. Why not give your house guests the same luxury? Travelling is stressful and bunking in a new environment can be unnerving. This guide will show you how to become the ultimate host by giving your guests what they really want: a comfy, cozy, stay to remember.

Sweet Dreams are Made of These
Imagine travelling half-way across the country (or the world) and finally arriving at your destination only to be greeted with a beat-up old cot and a ratty comforter that is clearly down and out for the count. How’s that for hospitality? Here are some ways to ensure your guests always have sweet dreams:

• Try to avoid squishing your guests into rooms with relatives or other visitors. A home office or den can easily be transformed into a temporary bedroom, but if you don’t have a room to spare, try to make your guests’ sleeping area as private and functional as possible. Put up a decorative screen and place a lidded wicker basket next to the bed to house their personal belongings.


• Clear the room of any clutter and make room for their clothing in the dresser drawers and closets. Make sure there are plenty of hangers and you might even want to add some cedar blocks or potpourri in the drawers and a vase of fresh flowers. Drapes and blinds are essential for privacy and if the room has a lock make sure they know how to use it and that they are more than free to when needed.


• Provide a bed you’d actually be comfortable sleeping in! Multi-functioning furniture like sofa beds and Murphy beds are a great investment and work well in homes where space is limited. Today you can even find luxury BYOB (Bring Your Own Bed) air mattresses that look almost like traditional beds, but cost a fraction of the price.


• Spruce up a futon or an older bed with a mattress pad and new pillows. High thread-count sheets are a simple extra luxury that will surely be appreciated. Depending on the season a heated blanket might also be nice accessory. Lastly, try to coordinate all the bedding for a stylish and finished look.

Home Away From Home
Far from home, without easy access to the mall or drug store, your guests might find that they’ve forgotten an essential. This is where your careful planning and foresight come into play. Below are a few things you can do to make your guests feel as if they haven’t even left their own homes:

• Since a lot of people aren’t in touch with their inner body clocks, a clock/radio is essential in the guest room. A telephone and calling card are also nice, thoughtful touches.


• Provide your guests with a set of fresh, fluffy towels and their very own robe to make sprints from the bathroom shower to the bedroom a little less nerve wracking. Slippers make walking around the house a comfortable trek. An iron and ironing board make it easy to keep clothes wrinkle-free without feeling like a bother.


• There isn’t anything worst than opening your suitcase or overnight bag and discovering you forgot your toothbrush. Put frazzled guests at ease by picking up a few extra toothbrushes as well as toothpaste, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers and deodorants. If you want, you can even pick up travel-sized toiletries at the drug store so that your guests can take them along when they leave.


• Who doesn’t love a midnight snack—or a midmorning snack for that matter? A stash of yummy, non-perishable treats will make you a much loved host. Halloween is a great time to stock up on mini chocolate bars, candy and nuts. Bottled water, gum and mints are also essentials guests would appreciate having on the nightstand table.

Free to Be
While it’s true your guests most likely came to see you and your family, that doesn’t mean they have to spend every waking moment by your side. Don’t force them to spend hours flipping through photo albums and watching old family movies. Help your houseguests turn their stay into an entertaining vacation from home:

• Put together an assortment of tourist brochures, restaurant guides and maps should your guests feel like exploring your town.


• If you have an extra TV and DVD or VHS player put them in the guest room along with the local TV listings. Place the remotes close to the bed.


• Reading material is always a great idea. Stock the room with the local paper, as well as books and magazines you think your guests might enjoy.


• Having an extra set of keys cut for your guests is a nice way to give them the freedom to come and go as they please.

Being a gracious host is an important aspect of having houseguests over and feeling welcomed and comfortable. And, by taking a few extra steps, you can turn their stay into an enjoyable and stress-free experience.