How do you make overnight guests feel special?

thejoyv2.5

We have several out-of-town visitors coming to stay with my and my husband over the next few months including my grandparents.  Is there anything creative you do to make your guests feel special, more at home? 

What makes your guest room special?

 

Belle101781

We went to visit family in Mexcio a while back and my aunt had bottles of water and chocolates on the night stands for us ever night.

Maybe putting a vase of your gma's favorite flower or baking them some cookies and wrapping them up in a cute box for them when they arrive.

If you have kids, have the kids paint a picture welcoming them to your home.

odear

Maybe I am a terrible host, but other than fostering a "make yourself at home" atmosphere I don't do anything to try and make guests feel "special'.  Our guests tend to be family and close friends, so everyone is comfortable.  I don't expect anyone to make me feel "special" at their homes. 

 

ETA: we do ask what they want to eat so we can grocery shop accordingly and provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair dryer, etc (the 2nd full bath is next to the guest room). 

rayskit10

odear:

Maybe I am a terrible host, but other than fostering a "make yourself at home" atmosphere I don't do anything to try and make guests feel "special'.  Our guests tend to be family and close friends, so everyone is comfortable.  I don't expect anyone to make me feel "special" at their homes. 

 

ETA: we do ask what they want to eat so we can grocery shop accordingly and provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair dryer, etc (the 2nd full bath is next to the guest room). 

Ha! This is us too. We basically make them feel special by evicting our 4 year old from his bed so they have somewhere to sleep.

I do try to have plenty of foods that they'll like available, clean sheets (obviously) and I always set some towels out for them so they don't have to look, even though everyone usually knows where they are. 

michellebelle

In addition to the above, we have a guest book that we ask guests to sign so we can read it years later and look back on their visit.

RaeAnt

Since all of our guests are from out of state, for their first visit we have a little TX basket waiting for them with little things that's you might see them and think TX. We gave packets of Bluebonnet seeds, some of the pralines from Buckee's, a postcard or two of the Houston skyline or other things we can think of that they can take back with them on the airplane or eat here. We also try to have fresh flowers in their room. For my mom I try to have any type of purple ones and for one of my friends, sunflowers since that's her favorite. We also try to take everyone to Taste of TX,a good BBQ joint as well as a Mexican one.

thejoyv2.5

Belle101781:

We went to visit family in Mexcio a while back and my aunt had bottles of water and chocolates on the night stands for us ever night.

Maybe putting a vase of your gma's favorite flower or baking them some cookies and wrapping them up in a cute box for them when they arrive.

If you have kids, have the kids paint a picture welcoming them to your home.

 

Great suggestions! Thanks!

CareBear01

Nothing, really.  The bedroom has a tv with a remote!  lol.  The bathroom is pretty well stocked - with toothbrushes(unopened), lotions, toiletries, hair dryer, tampons, etc. in case they forgot anything, then they don't have to ask for it.

I think the cute basket with pralines, Houston postcards, etc. that pp said is a cute idea for OOT guests!

ayersfam20

Cute ideas!  Someone mentioned on here once that they print out a list of the cable channels to keep next to the remote so they don't have to search through channels for what they want to watch.  I like that idea and will use it when we have an extra guest room with a tv.

When my Dad came for a while I knew he was going to be driving around without us some so I gave him a road map and a few printed directions to our downtown area, some places I knew he'd like, and how to get back to our house.

04JaxBride

all of our out of town guests generally get taken to hooters for a few pitchers of beer.  but that's probably what we'd do if they lived in town, too ; )

 

we have to clear a kid out of their room in order to accommodate an OOT guest... so we don't have them very often unless it's close family or friends.  we usually loan them a car and take them out.  i don't do chocolates or anything because we have a very smart dog. i just kind of say an extra prayer that the cat doesn't pee on their dirty clothes and leave it at that.

almostjones

Nothing special, per se...

I just make sure the sheets are clean, an extra blanket is on the bed and they know where to find extra blankets if needed, towels are clean and easy to find, there's plenty of extra toilet paper in the guest bath, trash can in the guest bath is emptied, and there's shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving gel...

In the drawer, I have several different lotions, a couple different handmade soaps I've been given, q-tips, cotton balls, new razors, extra toothpaste and when we have an extra new toothbrush lying around I'll throw one in there.  I let them know to help themselves to whatever we have in there and if they need anything else to just let us know.

I try to remember to buy a new shower poof and leave it in there with the tag still on so they know it hasn't been used.

If I have extra recent magazines lying around that I think would interest them, I'll put them in the guest room but that doesn't happen often.

I don't go out and buy anything except a poof.  We try to foster a make yourself at home vibe as well.

04JaxBride

oh hey!  i did buy a pak n play for my SIL/BIL when they came to visit with a newborn and a 14 month old.  i wasn't sure where/how those two would sleep in any other circumstance.

TexasHarmony

rayskit10:

odear:

Maybe I am a terrible host, but other than fostering a "make yourself at home" atmosphere I don't do anything to try and make guests feel "special'.  Our guests tend to be family and close friends, so everyone is comfortable.  I don't expect anyone to make me feel "special" at their homes. 

 

ETA: we do ask what they want to eat so we can grocery shop accordingly and provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair dryer, etc (the 2nd full bath is next to the guest room). 

Ha! This is us too. We basically make them feel special by evicting our 4 year old from his bed so they have somewhere to sleep.

I do try to have plenty of foods that they'll like available, clean sheets (obviously) and I always set some towels out for them so they don't have to look, even though everyone usually knows where they are. 

This...except they are now evicting Joseph because his bed is bigger. 

mom2ll

we make sure that the house, sheets, and towels are clean.....  I try to have a variety of beverages in the fridge....  Most of our visitors are family, so they just need to make themselves at home.

MrsFaz

I actually had some family come in from IA a few years ago and did a post about it on my blog.  I LOVE getting ready for guests!

part1

part2

BettyJoe

First thing that popped into my head was pay for a hotel room!

My house is tiny, so the only house guests I have had were my parents after Hurricane Ike. I made sure there was dinner made every night and coffee for my dad.

My guest room/office always has clean towels/toiletries just in case someone decides to stay with me.

thejoyv2.5

I think these were all very good suggestions and we should make a list and submit as a new post!

HumpyPuppy

I set the cork screw out in the open as opposed to leaving it in the bar drawer.