12 Tips to Make Your Home Guest-Ready

Whether it’s the holiday season or a summer vacation, make your guests feel comfortably at home with these 12 Tips to Make Your Home Guest-Ready

This year has afforded me some opportunities to travel. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every trip that I have taken, whether it was to visit friends & family or for work.

I have traveled by both air and car. While air travel is quicker, it is also limiting in how much “stuff” you can reasonably carry with you. Travel by car means that you can take more “stuff” with you, provided you have the space to do so.  Our four children and I traveled to upstate New York this past summer in a rental car to celebrate my folks’ 50th wedding anniversary.

Obviously, this option was more affordable than purchasing airline tickets for 5. However, the car was a small one so our luggage space was rather limited.

Traveling by air was wonderful for my trip from Tennessee to Washington state. That road trip would have been a huge undertaking and not one that I would have wanted to have taken alone. Again, though, I was limited in what I could take with me due to luggage restrictions.

I wanted to travel with only my carry-on and purse. By not checking luggage, I could check-in via the kiosk rather than waiting in line for check-in (followed up by waiting in line for security check!)

My carryon suitcase was filled with clothing and extra shoes. Add in the restrictions that the airlines have for liquids such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc, and what you can expect to take with you on a trip is limited.

Thankfully, all of those who hosted me and my children this year were well-prepared for our arrival and made us feel right at home.

With the holidays quickly coming, I’d like to share with you the tips that made our visits very welcoming so that you can incorporate some of them for your guests!

1. Leave a basket of small treats such as granola bars, energy bars, and fruit in the room.

Traveling interrupts your normal eating schedule and a treat may just hit the spot!

2. Bottled water left in the room is a huge help!

Dehydration, especially when flying, is so prevalent.

3. Extra towels and washcloths in the bathroom.

Welcome your guest to take a shower any time of day without having to ask for supplies.

4. Stock the bathroom with soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and hair spray.

This way, your guests won’t have to bring their own tiny bottles. 

One thing that I forgot was the eyeglass cleaner on my last trip. This is such a thoughtful thing to provide your guests who wear glasses. You could also provide contact lens solution should your guests be contacts-wearers.

5. Leave a hairdryer and new comb on the counter.

This is a large appliance that takes up a lot of room in a suitcase!

6. Stock up on toilet paper.

Trust me on this one, having a fully-stocked bathroom is so important.

7. Leave maps of the area for your guests, along with pamphlets of local attractions, restaurants, and points of interest.

8. Post your wifi password in an obvious place.

Here’s a cute printable that you can display in a frame in the bedroom! (scroll to the bottom to get your free printable!)

9. Instead of hand towels, leave paper towels in the bathroom.  

Paper towels are easy to toss and not feel like you are adding to the laundry burden of your host.

10. Provide toothbrushes and toothpaste in the bathroom.

Such a simple thing, but makes a big difference, should you forget yours at home! Who wants to ask to borrow a pair of tweezers or manicure scissors? Nail file? Deodorant? Feminine products?

Think of the little things you use and provide one for your guests. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it! Personal items such as lip balm, hair clips, bobby pins, etc are sure a welcome sight when you need them and realize you’ve forgotten them!

11. A notebook and a pen.

Write a note to your guests on the first page welcoming them to your home and city. They can keep notes about their visit. It will also come in handy should they need to write a shopping list, directions, or anything else that comes to mind.

12. Most of all, allow your guests to just be with you.

They came to visit you, not your home, not your town- YOU. Be present with them by setting aside your computer, phone, tv, etc. Cherish the time you have to spend with them!

Traveling is fun and exciting for both the traveler and the host. Make your guests feel even more welcome with these simple tips!

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Need some more guest preparation suggestions? Here you go!

15 Must-Have Items Before Your Holiday Guests Arrive

Thank you to Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser for partnering with me to share these 12 tips! As always, all opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateClean #CollectiveBias