Have you ever struggled with playing the role of hostess during the holidays? Do you want to provide your overnight guests with a comfortable stay this holiday season, but you’re not sure where to start? Let me help you get your home prepared for overnight holiday guests this year!
I try my best to make my home a comfortable haven for guests that come to stay with us. The best way to provide an enjoyable stay for your guests is to treat them the way you would like to be treated. Think of ways to create an atmosphere filled with Bed and Breakfast charm and your guests won’t want to leave. Not sure of how to make it happen in your home? Here are some quick tips to help you get your home ready for your overnight holiday guests this year.
Prepare for holiday guests prior to their arrival.
Talk to guests ahead of time to ask about any allergies or special dietary needs so that you can be prepared. Do as much as you can before guests arrive so that you will feel free time to enjoy your time spent with guests. This includes all possible shopping, cleaning, home and food preparations. Nobody wants to watch their hostess scramble around to get things done after they arrive to visit.
Prepare a bed fit for a King.
Make the bed with fresh, clean cotton sheets. Provide extra pillows of varied sizes and firmness for guests to choose from. Leave a couple of extra blankets in the room, one lightweight and one heavy, to ensure your guests will have a comfortable night’s sleep.
Give guests some space.
Keep the surfaces in your guest room clutter free to allow space for guests to place items during their stay. Make sure guests have closet and drawer space to store their clothing. Provide a set of hangers for them to use when hanging clothes and have an ironing board and iron nearby for their use.
Stock the bathroom with necessities.
Stock the bathroom with a set of freshly cleaned towels, Be sure to provide bath towels, hand towels and wash clothes for your guests. You can even go the extra mile and provide a soft robe for their comfort or personalized towels for their use if you’d like. Remember we’re thinking Bed and Breakfast, right? Provide space for your guests’ toiletries, but have some items on hand for them to use, too. I like to keep a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash in my guest shower and a tube of toothpaste on the counter for them to use. Also make sure you have extra toilet paper in the bathroom where it can be easily found if guests need it.
Allow guests some downtime.
It’s important not to keep guests on a busy schedule and give them some time to rest and relax. Leave a basket filled with magazines, books, bottled water, fruit and other snacks for your guests to enjoy during their downtime. If guests are from out of town, provide maps and brochures from restaurants and tourist sites they may be interested in visiting during their stay.
Let guests know what to expect.
Holiday guests will rest more comfortably if they know what is expected of them during their stay. Let them know what time you plan to serve breakfast, what meals they’ll have on their own or the time of any other planned events so that they can plan accordingly.
I hope these tips help you make your guests feel at home this holiday season!
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