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?

@herlightmaterials which is precisely why on the fourth day guests, like fish, begin to stink.

There are good guests as well as good hosts. Good guests: bring flowers, muck in, don't put their luggage on the bed, don't leave skids, strip the beds, and don't outstay their welcome.

For me the only thing...can I open a window, even just a tiny bit? Many nights spent away unable to sleep with no 'air' even in midst of winter; suffocation results.

Also being aware of quickest and quietist route to bathroom if not given an ensuite...and 'flushing' policy in the middle of the night; often a concern in a guests home

Some of these are ridiculous! Black out curtains?!

Surely clean bedding, a comfortable bed, an accessible plug socket (ideally near the bed) to plug your phone in to charge and a warm welcome are all someone really needs?

Ideally also the wifi password if signal isn't great in the area, big enough bath towels that actually cover you walking back from the bathroom, and be very clear that guests can help themselves to tea etc anytime and to point out where all relevant items are kept if it's the first time they've stayed.

I like to know the morning routine. If I wake can I go downstairs? Have a shower? If I want to sleep in, can I? Can I get out of the house if I wake early?

I don't think it's about things, it's about feels. If someone's in my home, I want them to feel like they can treat it as their own.

Also loo stuff - the dreaded MN loo brush, If I'm in your home I want to be able to leave the room as I found it. Make sure all the kits there!

Blackout curtains/ blind (I'm currently staying in a spare room with flimsy voiles which look lovely but the sun has been streaming through since silly o clock waking me up)
Pure cotton or linen bedding - I can't stand poly cotton
Proper double bed pref king size for a couple - DP and I aren't small people and can barely fit in a small double together
Extra blanket on bed in winter
Extension lead for all of their chargers etc
Towels on bed
Show them tea/ coffee etc for the morning tell them to help themselves if they're up early

Oh yes and a pedal bin in bathroom or bedroom for sanitary products

I think you’d prefer a hotel.

Comfortable bed, clean bedding, large towel, plug socket near bed, bedside light, allowed to get up at my own pace, no extraneous noise in the night.....

And definitely no husband barging in in the early morning as the room doubles as his office and he has left sonething in there!!!! It happened more than once and I was so shocked and embarrassed I couldn't bring myself to tell my friend (wife) about it. Put me off staying over.

Also no being told that we can get up when we want to be faced with friends incredibly irritated we hadn't got up earlier.

This won't go well. It will start out with 'a bedside lamp' and 'a bottle of water and an accessible plug socket to charge my phone' and before you know it you are are a dreadful host unless you offer an entire bathroom solely for the use of guests, homemade shortbread in a handwoven basket, fresh out of the packet bed linen and four towels per day per person and a personal fucking piper. Oh and a menu for breakfast.

Quite. And the PP who demanded 'nibbles and or chocolates in the room'. Who the fuck stays at a friends and bemoans the fact they can't scoff a packet of preprovided Wotsits once in bed.

This thread is funny! I think the bottle of wine in the room and a suitcase rack have made me laugh most.

Nothing fancy, but a little area where I can do my hair and makeup in the mornings! Ideally by a window (for natural light) with a big mirror and a nearby plug socket for my hair straighteners.

Someone at some point will propose a welcoming fruit platter with ‘Welcome’ piped in chocolate icing among the strawberries, and sneaking in to do evening turn-downs and leave a chocolate on the pillow. Perhaps one of those sinister towel-swans on the bed.

Nothing. I hate staying at other people's houses. I hate other people staying at mine. My friend just had the worst 9 day stay from an American ex colleague. I won't even have people over for coffee.

@Ponderingwindow ·
bedside lamp

power access next to the bed so I can change devices and have them close

a trash can in the bathroom, preferably one that has a bin liner so hygiene products are less concerning . It’s amazing how many households don’t have a bin at all.

Yes. It is amazing how many times I have been told there is no bedside light or it is the other side of the room and when turned on makes no difference! Also rubbish bin. Sometimes there isn't one in the bathroom either!

Now that is the true Mn note.

Well for those with small houses, it's a question of a blow up mattress in the living room. Take it or leave it - I'm not running a hotel.

I just need clean sheets and a comfy place to sleep that preferably isn't too hot. I slept on my MILs sofa a few years back and was very happy to do so.

We are lucky to have a spare bedroom in our house with an ensuite. There's a king size bed, dressing gowns, slippers (we are a no shoe house, so I buy cheap slippers so each guest has their own pair), TV, bedside lights and sockets, an extra blanket if needed, a pedal bin in the bathroom, a basket of toiletries and necessities like toothbrush, tampons etc., bottles of water, a big mirror, a hairdryer and a good blind that isn't quite blackout but does a decent job. The first thing I do is tell people they can help themselves to anything from the fridge or cupboard, and show them the tea & coffee makers. It's hard to get rid of house guests, now that I think about it!