I have 10 guests coming for over a week...

[Helpfullnelly]

These absolutely wonderful people are giving up a week of annual leave and coming to help me and DH to do some work on our house abroad.
We are paying for flights, transfers etc and all food.
Im planning on doing all food either buffet style or bbq depending.
I want to take care of their every need however small or different to ours they are.
Ive got each person, a face flannel, and a towel. Toiletries, shampoo, etc
What else do I need?
Tell me what you personally would need, its going to be a hard graft week.
The job that needs doing is around €35000 which we don't have, every one doing the work with us is cutting costs including travel and food to around €15000.
So I have more gratitude than I can ever expeess and I want them to go home glad they came to help, rather than tiny hiccups (wrong food/not enough food etc) to send them home annoyed they even bothered.
I will consider all, what good do you want?
Tv in rooms or no? Tell me everything....Go

Love this!

if I were coming and sharing a room with people I would want ear plugs and eye masks. I’d probably bring my own, but an easy and thoughtful thing to supply?

loo roll and period products well stocked in the loo. Along with sanitary bags.

And then my thing is I LOVE a glass of milk before sleep. Always have. It would make my stay much better if I knew I could have that. Not suggesting you provide exactly that, as I don’t think it’s a common request among fully grown adults! But can you ask your guests individually what would make their stay comfortable? Everyone may have their own version of a glass of milk.

If they are doing manual labor the sun have you given them a list of things they will need to bring?

Suncream - people wear different factors and have different brand preferences. You should have some factor 50 spare but they should really bring their own.

Hats/caps - again they should bring their own but have a few spare just incase

heavy duty gloves - people’s hands will get sore

Hand cream - people will get blisters etc

Good first aid kit

Sounds Like you are well covered for food - but do check dietary requirements and preferences.

Small towel for hair washing days, as well as the bath towel.

I feel like I can’t offer any more suggestions that haven’t already been made, but just wanted to say how lucky you are to have such fab friends, and how lucky they are to be hosted by you. This sounds like such a perfect set up, win win for everyone. Have a lovely time and I hope all the work goes well!

I'd get a load of hats/ caps, and shirts. You could even get caps/t-shirts printed or embroidered, for team-feelz. The shirts could be 2nd hand, just as cover ups should people need.

Agree you need to over-cater. Having a selection of cold drinks on hand, and snacks that people can help themselves to without feeling greedy or awkward. And good coffee and tea in the morning. Have a plan to make that in bulk too. And ice! Have you got an icemaker?

Ooh and bulk new clean dry socks. Are people bring steel capped boots?

This is a good point.

On the eye mask front, I found AliExpress to be a great source of inexpensive, moulded eye masks. You could probably buy 10 for £12.50

I’d send them all a list of things to bring, heavy duty gloves, proper boots, mask/snood for dust and then stick £50 in each of their accounts to cover the cost of that with the stipulation that I don’t expect them to use the money to buy new if they always have those things…but that it’s to help towards or to use on airport food and drink etc x

Please start a TikTok channel and take us with you for this. It sounds like a dream - like a modern, DIY version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. I can imagine lots of laughter amidst the graft!

I wouldn't want a tv, a robe or sanitary products.

For me I'd want plentiful food - cooked meals in the evening, lots of wine. Good coffee. Lots of ibuprofen. And actually a bedroom to myself. (I'm assuming that your friends are happy to share bedrooms).

I think you're eating into the money you're saving by paying for a cleaner 4 hours a day - is that really necessary?

The fact they are doing this means you must be lovely people. That’s such a great thing for them to do.

Compeed blister packs !

If they are not use to wearing heavy duty work boots , there feet might revolte !

Sounds an amazing idea and I will be looking forward to your updates .

Deal, I will. Ive got one of those tracking camera things

Ahh this sounds fab!

All I'd add is make sure they know they can go and get drinks out the fridge/ make a cuppa even if you say help yourselves. People have said that to my DH/ me at different jobs before but I never feel comfortable doing it still until I see someone else go first haha.
I assume you can get to shops still but I'd stock up on toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, period products, cold bottled water, maybe get some electrolytes for hydration, and ibuprofen/paracetamol for aches and pains.

I agree the most important things are hearty snacks (bacon rolls, pastries ect) and Wi-Fi. And agree keep a common area clear for people to relax after dinner.

I don't have tiktok but I want to see too, can you also post on Instagram?

I'd pre make some quiche/ fritatta and some pies..... both can be reheated easily to make a meal
Quiche/fritatta with salad/ beans/ new Potatoes etc
pie mashed Potatoes with veg
Both can be eaten cold as a snack aswell

Bloody fantastic, I make a mean quiche and can be done on a huge scale

Bubble bath, phone charger set, plenty of hard wearing gloves for manual labour, books, board games for evenings, jigsaws, candle's, plenty of bottled water, snacks & cheese trays for after supper

This is a good idea. You sound lovely Op I’d love to come and help!

Snacks in the bedroom like nuts or crisps and some biscuits. I’m always starving staying at people’s houses and love a quiet snack in bed while reading!

The more the merrier

It may already have been mentioned (I think I’m about halfway down the thread) a but if it’s physical labour for a few days, think about recovery. You mentioned unlimited hot water. But any grazes, cuts, rubbed bits…

So a well-stocked first aid kit with band aids and steri-strips, savlon or similar disinfectant cream, clean cotton wool pads to wash irritations, Vaseline, sudocreme etc. Blister plasters perhaps.

And basic meds - pain relief (paracetamol and ibuprofen), mottilium for upset tums, immodium for upset guts, antihistamines…

Maybe some deep heat/deep freeze for muscle issues (or just hot water bottles for comfort in bed and to heat any sorenesses, and capacity to create an ice-pack).

Yes definitely this they need a holiday too.
Plus lots of wine available

@Helpfullnelly you and your friends sound amazing!

Given how thoughtful you are, I’d message them all individually and ask them if anything specific they need, use or would like so you can try to accommodate. Any fave meals, things they find eat etc
I’d set up a wattsapp group and add them all into it before they come so they can get to know each other a bit

have fun!!

For WiFi for that many people, you could buy everyone an eSIM for unlimited phone data. Should be under £10 each.

You aren't a terrible person at all. Xx
As for the hows, me and DH will go in the smaller king guest room, 3 boys from same family will share room 2, 2 sisters will share king bed, with friend in single in that room,
2 in another room in singles and there's one who's not sure if they can come out not, so im planning on dealing with that when I need to. 1 is not staying as they have family close by and will just come for day time