Where do guests sleep if you have no spare room?

[SparePartz]

Asking people who only have enough rooms for your family members, not those with extra rooms and guest rooms!

We are considering inviting an older family member, who has recently lost her husband, to stay. I don't think they'd want to come if it meant staying alone in a hotel in the closest town a bus ride away. DS(14) has his own room, as does DD(12), DH and I in the third bedroom. Not sure I can ask DS&DD to share whilst she would be here. Sofa is not a sofa bed type, and could only sleep one anyway. Living area is one room and effectively the corridor between all bedrooms and the bathroom. The only thing I can think of is relative in DD's room, with DD on a mattress on the floor. Seems a bit rude though to not give guest their own space.

How do you house guests if you've not much space?

Does she want to stay? Especially for that length of time? It all sounds very cramped and not exactly relaxing.

Presuming your bed isn't pushed up against a wall, I don't see how there can't be space for your DD to sleep in the area you'd walk down to get to that side of the bed. Single thermorest type roll mats are very narrow. Or she and her brother share one of their rooms. I always shared with my brother on holiday. You can't ask your guest to share with one of the children.

We would put an elderly relative in one of the children’s rooms (after a tidy up!) and then have that child in with the other one, or on an air bed in our room or sofa bed in the living room. If it is a younger person staying then they would just go in the living room on the sofa bed.

Occasionally we have given up our bed for elderly relatives (a couple) and we have slept in the living room, but each morning we tidy up and restore the space back to living room use. All bedding and air bed are put away.

In your case I would give the visiting relative the room of the youngest child . Would give the DC the option of sharing or alternating a night in the oldest DC's
bedroom with a night on the sofa.

This wasn't really an issue for us as both sets of parents local and if there were visiting relatives they would normally stay at parents. On the one occasion I think we gave my brother and partner DS's room which had a bed and spare mattress and DS slept on sofa .

Does she want to stay? Especially for that length of time? It all sounds very cramped and not exactly relaxing

This also occurred to me. OP seems to be assuming that relative wants to visit rather than be left on her own for holidays

I don't think they'd want to come if it meant staying alone in a hotel in the closest town a bus ride away

Have you asked her what she wants to do, OP?

Do some people on this thread not understand that not all people live near family or can afford a hotel every visit? There are people that want to spend time with others. We aren't talking about permanent sleeping arrangements.

Children share or one child sleeps on blow up in your room

Honestly, I've no idea, it's the kind of distance where it's not worth the travel for only a couple of days. I'm just trying to figure out what we can offer before offering if that makes sense. We can't afford to offer to pay for a hotel for her.

Yes thanks, absolutely nothing wrong with my English comprehension. OP has said that We are considering inviting an older family member, who has recently lost her husband, to stay. I don't think they'd want to come if it meant staying alone in a hotel in the closest town a bus ride away

We have no idea how relative will respond to the invitation or the sleeping arrangements; she's also recently bereaved, the last time when you want to be 'on' all the time, even with relatives. So until the invitation is actually issued and replied to, it's all moot anyway.

In this situation I'd put the boys (DH and DS) in one room and the girls (you and DD) in another room.

Given this I'd probably put those sharing in the 2 biggest rooms and the single visitor in the smallest room.

We've shared like this during holidays/times of ill health.

Unfortunately both DH and I snore so I wear nose stickers and provided special head bands and ear plugs for the DC.

They understand its for guests and short term.

I think we could manage a maximum of 3 nights like this.

Both kids in together. Or one of them on them on a sofa or airbed in lounge

It's difficult. We moved a year ago to a "5 bed house" but realistically three of the rooms are too small for a bed. The children share a room as a result.

No-one has come to stay.

I spent my childhood giving up rooms for my older relatives to stay over. It’s really not a big deal and was kind of fun. Plus I think it’s a mark of respect.

I would do this.

It would be fun for a week. Two might be pushing it.

Can you really not fit a blow up single mattress in your room at the end of your bed? Honestly if the rooms are that small. Then I think you simply cannot invite her.

Do invite them to stay. It's a lovely idea.

@RomeoOscarXrayXray has a good idea. That might work?

In the days when everyone was at home and we had no room, we used to just turf DC or DSC out of their rooms (or give up our own room). No-one really minded.

When my friend and her kids stay they have my bed and I sleep on an airbed in the living room.

Leaving the third bedroom empty? What's the point of that?

Actually that’s not a bad shout. Husband and son in one room. Mother and daughter in another, guest gets third room.

What's the etiquette about buses / taxis if she were to stay in a hotel or B&B?
Would you expect her to get the bus back alone in the evening? Or accompany (given that there is one an hour in the evenings and it's a 35 min walk back)? Or pay for a taxi for her every evening? Or would you expect her to pay for a taxi if she doesn't want to use the bus? They've always stayed in a hotel when they visited before, but they drove to us so could drive themselves back in the evening.

As you can maybe tell, we don't often have guests!

Have you actually invited her yet?

lol no! I have to figure it out in my head first. That's why I was asking what other people do.

Edit: although yes vaguely in a sometime when you feel up to it kind of way. That's how I know she wouldn't want to drive here.

Can she not drive any more? Or can you drive her back? My parents pay for taxis if they’re in a local hotel but it’s only 5 mins away and they can afford it fine.

I think the thing to do would invite her, lay out for how long, possible sleeping arrangements and see what she wants to do about that and transport, then. After all, she might decline.

I'd only suggest a hotel if it was walking distance or I could run them there and back every day.

I don't think they're going to take you up on your offer anyway. Most people don't want to stay in someone's home for more than a couple of days (if at all), and if I was going to pay for a hotel for a fortnight it would be for a holiday destination of my choice rather than an extended family visit. It's a nice thought, but don't put too much thought into it.

Yes, that's why I'm trying to figure out sleeping arrangement possibilities. We don't have a car.