What makes you an excellent host?

[surreybound]

When we have guests to stay, I obviously ensure that the house is immaculate and they have freshly laundered towels and bed linen. But I also like to go above and beyond with some nice little touches. For example, I'll pop a chocolate on each guest's pillow ahead of their arrival, and ensure that there's a water jug and glasses, a selection of current newspapers and magazines, a box of tissues, make-up pads, ear buds, spare toothbrushes and a scented candle in the spare room.

I also have printed, laminated instructions on how to use the television in case they want to watch a programme or DVD when I'm not around (our television is rather complicated!)

I'll be sure to fill a couple of vases with fresh flowers and dot them around the house, and if I have time, bake a cake.

Do you consider yourself to be a good host and if so, how do you go above and beyond to make sure your guests are comfortable?

Do you have a job and children as well?

Yes, both!

In winter, a nice warm house.
King size bed, with pure cotton sheets, good bedside reading lights, radio and TV. Electric blanket. Windows that open easily if wanted.
Clean dressing gowns hanging in guest room.

Loads of books to borrow if you want to.
Get up whenever you like.
Chilled atmosphere, please feel free to put your feet up on the sofa.
Help yourselves to tea and coffee.
Guest bathroom with good shower, and plenty of really big towels.
Plenty of good food and booze.

And no need to take shoes off (unless wet or muddy obvs.) - our carpets are not more important than our guests.

I tend to go for the clean sheets and towels and full fridge approach but I also always make sure the room and the house are aired out properly (no fake candle or dog smells here) and that the temperature is ok (I hate being to hot / cold).
My family always have selected reading in the bedrooms for us and fresh flowers.it’s nice but totally not Neccasary at all and the very minor benefit is in no way proportional to the effort.

Fresh sheets and towels are a must, obviously. Some fresh flowers, a scented candle, and a spritz of lavender oil on the pillows. I also leave a little menu with a pencil so they can tick what they'd like for breakfast and hang it on the doorknob outside. And of course, like any thoughtful hostess, I make sure to leave a basket of vibrators, cockrings and a big tube of lube on the bedside table too. Oh, and a laminated copy of the Karma Sutra.

I run a home not a B&B. Most of our overnight guests are quite well known to us. I make sure we’ve ice in the freezer and the red has been left to breathe.
Then they do what they want and help themselves to anything they choose. Expectations you sort your own breakfast and make your own coffee. There’s always plenty of toiletries and warm towels in the bathrooms. Hot water bottles or Wellingtons on request.

I’d always have flowers in the house. Beds would always be clean. There’s always reading material and most people can use a remote these days.

The tv instructions are bothering me... why would you not be about if you’ve got people staying?

The tv instructions are bothering me... why would you not be about if you’ve got people staying?

@tabulahrasa I live in an area popular with tourists. Sometimes friends or relatives will come to stay for a long weekend and do their own thing on the Thursday and/or Friday whilst DH and I are at work. We’re perfectly happy with that arrangement as we love having people to stay!

Simple: be generous and be relaxed

Windows that open easily if wanted.

Very true - I hate being too hot and finding the window is locked!

We live abroad, so when family or friends visit it’s usually 1-2 week stay, not just overnight.

We also have laminated tv instructions! it’s in two languages so easier to leave easy instructions incase they choose to way h when we aren’t around.

Also plug adapters incase they forget.

Buy in extra food and snacks. Dh and I don’t snack much usually, so it’s something we might not have in day to day.

Spare keys. So they have freedom to come and go as they like.

Dressing gown and slippers. Again they are bulky to fly with, and guest room isn’t en-suite so it’s just nicer they can shower and get changed back in bedroom where more space. We have wooden floors.

We are pretty relaxed. Guests always have a mixture of doing stuff with us, and own free time as longer trips so basically anything that makes that easier and more a home from home

Our parents both also have a large plastic box each in loft full of basics they leave here so they can just turn up with a handbag. Or a suitcase full of gifts for grandchild! So there are some empty drawers and baskets they can decant into so it’s a bit nicer

Also, guests at ours now get a free baby to join them in bed at 7am and cause chaos, maybe leave some biscuit crumbs.