14 Ways to Make Your Guests Feel Welcome

Having company stay in your home is always a pleasure to do, but how would one make sure it’s equally as pleasuring for your guests as it is for you? Here are 14 ways to ensure your guests have a wonderful stay, making them think of your hospitality the next time they visit town.

• 1.Obtain the mindset of thinking of the guest room as a hotel. This first item on our list is vital because it sets the mood for the guest and their stay.
• 2.Plan ahead. When your guests feel immediately welcome because you prepared for their arrival, it makes them feel comfortable. Check and wash the sheets; be sure there are enough towels, blankets, and food. Have plenty of plush pillows and comforters. It’s also a great idea to leave closet space and empty hooks and to de-clutter the guest room.
• 3.Prepare some “house notes.” Provide your guests with a list of information regarding things like how to turn on the shower and where the thermostat is. Include the Wi-Fi password and the alarm code for when you are out for the day and unable to answer any questions. Give them a set of spare keys as well so they can come and go as they please.
• 4.Think of the small details. Being a helpful and nice host is about those small details that most overlook when thinking of staying with friends or relatives. For example, DVR shows you think they would enjoy, a robe and slippers are a great addition, check all light bulbs in the guest room, provide a clock, and provide a list of local activities and places as well as food and drinks for their travel back home. Include a colorful candle to match the atmosphere of the room. These small details will stand out and they will remember them the next time they are traveling.
• 5.An air of luxury will enhance the experience of their stay. Provide bath salts, bubble bath, and other bath products such as toothpaste and a razor. A luggage rack is not a bad idea to have as it makes unpacking and repacking an easier task. A guest book for them to write in at the end of their stay is a good idea as well as it is nice to read after your guests have left.
• 6.Provide any necessities. Anticipate your guests to have overlooked anything they may have forgotten to unpack. Stock up on travel size shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothbrush, etc.
• 7.Consider the morning after. Offer access to your washer and dryer so they can go home with clean clothes. It’s a nice gesture to go out in the morning and pick up something nice for breakfast such as fresh pastries, fruit, and coffee. Ask your guests before they are set to arrive on how they prefer their coffee or eggs.    
• 8.Be sure to include them. When preparing any meals, your guests will most likely ask how they can help; but if not, make them feel like they are contributing to the household by asking them to wash lettuce or chop veggies. Helping each other also gives room for conversation and an enjoyable time preparing meals.
• 9.Plan ahead for meals and any food. Of course you must shop ahead for your guests. Be sure to ask if any of them have allergies or aversions to certain foods that way you can cater to their needs. In addition, inquire as to how many in their family are coffee or tea drinkers. Leave out a basket of fruit and snacks that way your guests have easy access to snacks without feeling as though they are imposing.
• 10.Remember any kids your guests bring along. Be sure to accommodate any children your guests bring along. Provide games or an easy craft, snacks and juice, as well as any babysitters in the area they may need if the adults feel the need to take a night out.
• 11.Keep tidy. Thoroughly clean the house before your guests arrive. This can include de-cluttering, small repairs, and adding  hand soap or a wax warmer to the bathrooms to create a relaxing environment.
• 12.Stockpile on small things such as toiletries, blankets, and towels. Setting out towels for each person and a small pile of toiletries prevents your guests from having to ask for them. Setting out the hair dryer or telling them where it is so they don’t have to ask; as well as having plenty of toilet paper on hand are simple things that are very much appreciated. If you keep your house on the cooler side, having extra blankets will keep them happy.
• 13.Bedside tables should hold books, magazines, flowers, candles, etc. A travel candle in a pretty tin can allow your guest to enjoy it during their stay and take it with them safely when they depart your home. Your guests will be very grateful to find books or magazines they may enjoy, on their bedside table. Have a glass of water or bottled water nearby the guest bed. This nice gesture won’t go unnoticed. In addition to the water and reading materials, a vase of flowers vastly improves the quality of the room and shows that you really care. Providing candles for baths or throughout the room improves the quality of their stay. But don’t stop there! As a parting gift, give them a couple Root Travel Tins. These portable candles enhance any trip and come in a variety of scents.
• Improve the bed. Last but not least, if their stay is over a few days, be sure to keep up with improving the bed. Sheets on beds can start to smell stale, so it’s not a bad idea to wash and launder them before and during their stay. Again, provide plenty of extra blankets, comforters, and pillows.