Five Ways to Make Your Guests More Comfortable (and Reduce Your Own Stress)
Hosting holiday guests is hard work, and even with the best intentions of making sure your guests are as comfortable as possible, it can be a stressful job . A helpful mindset for minimizing this stress and maximizing your guests’ experience is to include amenities that you value (or are willing to provide in a vacation rental) that will also allow your guests to feel comfortable and self-sufficient during their stay.
Provide options for temperature control
You probably don’t want guests with different room temperature preferences adjusting the thermostat or suffering in silence because your home is too hot or too cold for them, especially at night. Provide bedrooms with fans and/or heaters in advance, as well as extra blankets to keep guests comfortable while they sleep. While you’re at it, make sure you have enough pads to go around without spraying too much.
Standard bathrooms, like in a luxury hotel
While some guests may travel with all the toiletries they can possibly use, others will appreciate having on hand a few items they might find in a nice hotel: shampoo, conditioner, soap/body wash, lotion and wipes – the obvious one choice. But you can take it a step further and include toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, and first aid supplies (bandages, painkillers, lip balm, etc.). Other extras like a hair dryer, cotton swabs, cotton buds, makeup towels, and menstrual hygiene products are also a nice touch.
Finally, stock plenty of toilet paper and clean towels in bathrooms ahead of time so guests don’t have to ask or grab these items later, and make sure guest bedrooms have extra hooks on the backs of doors so everyone has a place to hang. . damp towel to dry.
Place extra chargers around the house
Again, some guests will be fully equipped with cords and chargers for all of their devices, but it’s nice to have extra devices plugged in where they’re needed most, like under bedside tables or in high-traffic common areas. Obviously, you may not have all types of cables, but USB-C is a good choice. It is also useful to have Lightning and Micro USB on hand. You should also consider clearing outlets of unnecessary cords to make room for guest chargers.
Add night lights
Chances are you can sneak through your own house in the dark like a ninja; so unless you have small children, you may not realize how valuable a pair of night lights can be for guests who aren’t used to navigating your hallways at night. Add night lighting, especially in hallways and bathrooms, so no one has to feel like they’re in the dark. You could even install one in each guest bedroom so guests can choose the location that is most comfortable for them. You can purchase connected light packages with motion sensors on Amazon for as little as $5 per light .
Collect requests for snacks and breakfasts in advance
A smart way to prepare for hosting guests is to have a few items they like on hand when they arrive so they can snack freely and not feel guilty about raiding the refrigerator or pantry. Also plan a couple of cereals, oatmeal or other breakfast foods that they like to eat so they can have a quick and easy breakfast when they are up and ready to start the day.