What things make you feel really comfortable when staying over at someone’s house?

[SteaknSalad]

We recently moved into a new house and now have a spare bedroom, so we can have guests to stay over. Our old flat was far too small to ever contemplate this! Our very first guests will be my PILs over this Easter weekend, and I want them to feel really relaxed, welcomed and at home.

What things, big or small, help you to feel comfortable and relaxed when staying as a guest at someone’s home?

I’m rubbish at remembering everything, we have good wifi, I’ll happily provide a dressing gown if the guest is my size. They would have exclusive use of our main bathroom as we have an en suite and I also have a basket of toiletries if they forget something like toothpaste, ear plugs etc (these items are what we’ve saved from flight amenity kits over the years)

Me, whose guests either have the option of a (good!) airbed on DH's office floor or the comfier but less private sofa, reading this: 😬

Clean bedding
Clean room and floor
Comfy bed and bedding
Bedside lamp
Somewhere to put clothes, like a chair
Bottle of water beside bed

I am astounded at what house guests are provided with and/or expect. Do you not have a travel washbag with: eye make-up remover, moisturiser, travel: shampoo/conditioner, anti-perspirant, small perfume, toothbrush and paste, mini hairspray, etc. I keep it in a weekend bag, together with a pair of soft and light totes slippers, a cotton nightie and dressing gown, pants, bra, socks, tights - ready to go if needed.

Have grown out of having dc at uni into elderly parents and the phone could ring at any time.

Don’t try to make it “hotel-y” by putting approximately six thousand decorative cushions on the bed - your guests then have to find somewhere to pile them up if they actually want to lie down on the bed. Especially if the spare room isn’t really that big. (I enjoy visiting my parents but this drives me mad.)

A towel to use.
A carafe of water and a glass
A bin
Tissues

These threads always make me laugh, you’re not checking into a hotel! You’re crashing at a mate’s house 😂
I would request clean bedding, a lamp and a spare plug socket.
dressing gown and slippers?! Bring your own surely, and if you don’t have packing space you just go without for a night. Baskets of toiletries? I’d just bring my own or ask what I could use in the bathroom.
Snacks and drinks? Can’t you just manage with what’s in the kitchen? I just don’t quite understand that you’re close enough to stay the night in their house but not to ask if you can pour a glass of water to take up to bed with you.

1. a comfortable bed with a decent mattress and two pillows
2. a comfortable temperature - not too hot/cold, adjustable thermostat on radiator and option to open window if it's stuffy, extra blanket in case it's cold
3. an uncluttered room so you feel it's "yours" and have somewhere to put your stuff

They are the only two essentials tbh but other things that make me feel comfortable and welcome are:

• blackout blind or curtains
• a bedside table and lamp
• plug socket for charging phone
• a box of tissues
• access to a bin (in the bathroom or bedroom)
• on arrival being offered a drink but also being shown where glasses, mugs, drinks etc are kept and told (sincerely) to help myself
• wifi code

Clutter, a not perfect house, bit of disarray & not perfectly clean. I can't reciprocate with an immaculate household so... I don't like staying in perfectly clean houses.

Electric blanket.
Books and magazines in the bedroom.
Lots of pillows and quilts.
Basket of toiletries with toothbrush
Bottle of wine and biscuits in the bedroom
Being told the morning routine and asked if I'd like to do my own breakfast and made aware of any expectations.
Good bedside lamp.
Not cold.
Mirror and hair dryer in bedroom.
Feminine hygiene products discreetly tucked away in case needed.

I always put a carafe of fresh water on bedside table and a glass for my guests. Plus a few 'dip into' books and a bowl of Celebrations or similar xx

The onky thing for me is that,the hosts are warm and make me feel at home in a way that allows me to do things like make my own cup of tea, or ask if I need anything (truly rather rhan be told I can, but feel like I cant).. or not feel like I'm a "guest" that needs to be taken care of. The nack is not in what you have, but who you are and how you help make people feel.comfortable in your home even if it doesn't have the.things thye rhink they need..IMHO.

Dressing gown and slippers? I'd find that really odd actually.

My own loo is all I'd want. And an idea of what time people get up, so as not to be up too early or late.

I once stayed in a guest room with a kettle and milk jug etc. You could virtually live there and forget everything without having to ask for things. An introvert's dream. Obviously I didn't live in there but as an introvert one likes to feel one could.

Bin phone charger and black out blinds are excellent ideas

You'd think that wouldn't you.

But no it's nice to have lots of options.

I have a lot of visitors from overseas , for various reasons. Many of them come from cultures where you don't wear outdoor foot wear in the house . They feel much more comfortable with the cheapie slider slippers I've acquired over the years for free from various places.
Also some close relatives fly in with hand luggage only so a dressing gown doesn't make the cut but makes a visit to the loo or cup of tea whilst waiting for bathroom a more comfortable experience.

For me, along with all the stuff listed above by 93 separate people it's being able to change into comfy clothes/pyjams and take my bra off and then go to bed early if I want to. Travelling makes us all tired so it's great to feel that you aren't required to sit up talking if you're desperate to get some shuteye.

On a very basic level, in the guest bathroom:
A bin (used sanpro etc)
Loo brush (I know that's against the law for some MNers but nothing more mortifying than skiddies in someone else's house)
A decent flush
I realise I sound like I have a loo obsession. I really don't but these are the things that stress me out when staying at a friend's house!

I’ve stayed in many, many 5 star hotels. Plenty of them have had pillow menus, but I’ve never been offered a choice of window dressing.

Some of the things on this thread are ridiculous.

I'm not sure what world people live in where guests have their own bathrooms.

Some CF out tonight!

Enough toilet roll so I don’t panic.

An electric blanket in cooler months, I have Raynauds and my feet are always freezing.

The bed having been aired

Bedside lamp
Handy socket
Big glass of water or jug offered
Bin with liner in whichever bathroom I’ll use
Lock in toilet doors
Curtains or blinds that aren’t paper thin.
Clean bedding, ideally cotton or high cotton mix