When you have Christmas visitors, what do you put in the bedrooms to make their stay nicer

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

They are family rather than 'guest' visitors so I know they will ask for anything they need without any awkwardness about being in someones house that you don't know.

My DC each have a double bed so they're going to use those rooms (DC will have inflateable beds/sofa)

I don't need things like TeasMades , my Dad is one of those early birds who puts the kettle on (wakes everyone up ) so I'll leave the tea-pot, teabags,sweeteners out .

The DC rooms have a TV each.
There's n room for clothes rails but I have some of those over-the-door-hangers and coathangers

Laundry hamper

Bin

Bedside lamp

Towel rail near the radiator

Bottle of water

Clock

Soap/Shower gel

They won't need extra bedding, we're warmer down south . But they'll be subjected to Christmas Bedding (DC will have sleeping bags and Christmas fleeces)

Am I missing anything?
Do you stay with family and think "I wish they had......."

Usually everyone muddles along but I want things to be nice and smooth (as possible) at Christmas

[BiddyPop]

I have a basket of bits and pieces that I just leave where people can rummage and find what they might want (I made it up when siblings may have had to either stay over, or just call to us before going to Church, for family funerals that they'd travelled overseas to - and tried to think of all necessities that they might need at such a time and may have forgotten, most are travel sized. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant (male & female), shower gel (male, female, neutral), cotton pads, makeup remover, moisturizer, q tips, clear nail varnish, nail varnish remover, comb, hair spray, spare plain tights, soap, Rescue Remedy, pen, paper (notepaper and a couple of index cards), pocket packs tissues, safety pins, sewing kit, painkillers, glasses cleaning spray, am probably forgetting stuff but that's the gist of it....lots are from hotels too over the years and I've raided it myself when I go travelling). I actually usually leave it in the wardrobe but people can go through it if they need anything.

When visitors are staying - things like jug of water and glasses are left out (well, glasses out and jug goes up just before them or shortly after arrival). And something nice to nibble.

A couple of recent magazines if I have any, or maybe a couple of books. They can raid the "library" (2 very full bookcases) in the sitting room but often won't, whereas I do find books in the room are dipped into.

Radio and a clock, lamp. Box of tissues.

Fresh towels for each person.

There are maps in that room too, with tourist information - but that's because we had au pairs for a few years and it was their room, so those things were there for them.

[TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet]

Biscuits are good.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Me too if I'm honest, I really would feel a bit embarrassed by toiletries, biscuits, chocolates, flowers (although that's the fragrance thing mainly). Surely people bring their own toiletries and just ask or pop to the shop if they forget something, or need a painkiller, or whatever?

[Poofus]

I think I would feel rather awkward if my hosts did all of here things for me. I like feeling like one of the family rather than like I'm staying in an expensive hotel. Sorry!

[Browneyesblue]

For family visitors, I always put a small framed photo of them in the room, so when MIL (for example) visits, I make sure there is a picture of her with the DSs.

It's something my Granny does when I visit her, so I do the same.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

No, really, flowers in a bedroom are so unnecessary. Unless they are totally unfragranced leave them on the landing.

[clippityclop]

Pretty tin of shortbread, bottle of water and a glass, spare blanket/throw on the back of the chair, flowering plant or posy of flowers, extra pillow in the bottom of the wardrobe, pad and pen. Face cloths and bath towels for each day. No to diffusers for me, they make me sneeze!

[IDismyname]

I am soooo going to look up towel sculptures.

Yy to flowers. I always forget to put any out.

[Bluestocking]

Hakluyt, you are too kind - I'm sure your brother will be thrilled to meet Wilson!

[PepsiTwirl]

On the bed:
I provide..

A bath towel, a hand towel and a flannel

A toothbrush in a packet and travel toothpaste that are sealed

Tissues would be in the room already

In bathroom there will be soaps, shampoo's etc left out and they will be told in advance where the medicine cabinet is..

I leave out breakfast, snack, drink stuff so they don't have to go looking for it in morning.

But are generally told to help themselves to whatever they want.

If they are unexpected guests, between us we will find them something to wear in bed. Even if just a tshirt or something

[Hakluyt]

As I said on an earlier thread, I put I gigantic spider I caught in the living room into the room my brother will be occupying for Christmas. I have named him Wilson, and I think he will be lovely company for my brother.

[AddToBasket]

Water carafe by the bed.

Painkillers somewhere they don't have to ask the host for them.

A chair.

Flowers.

The wifi code.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I really would dislike any sort of air freshener in the room, I like subtle reed diffusers or scented candles downstairs where there is plenty of air circulating but not in my bedroom.

[SilverStars]

A friend put a lovely chocolate on each pillow when we went to stay, such a sweet touch.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I've got a Yankee Candle reed diffuser (safer than candles) I can put on the wardrobe , Sparkling Cinnamon.

I'll be doing a declutter in December (I took a bag of DD things to the charity shop, lots of books to go but I'll need to drive them there. )

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

I have a 'visitors' bedding set, I'm afraid I do iron it!!!
Hot water bottles (one of my parents, can't remember which has really cold feet).
An hour before bed time I open the window a bit.
Flowers in the room.
No clutter whatsoever.
I leave a smelly candle and matches by the bed. And fresh towels.
My mum is obsessed with having a torch by the bed.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I would say bedside light, mirror, clock (I like ticking!), towels and wastepaper basket are all I look for in a spare room, I carry tissues and all my toiletries. I would avoid anything scented such as flowers or candles and don't use fabric conditioner on the bedding to make it a perfect stay for me.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oooh lots of things I haven't thought of here.

Tissues - yes (I have some festive boxed ones)
We have towels on a rack , so they can choose if they want a rough or smooth one, then either hang on the towel rack to dry or put in the aundry basket.

Basket of flannels and hair wraps (on chest of drawers in hall) , I can put paracetamol there, I know my mum always has some.

I bought a new pack of pillows last week (really nice springy ones)

They bring their own bathrobes and slippers.

I've just ordered a set of Philosophy shower gel (two bottles each nearly a litre) so they can be in the bathroom for general use, but I've got some Imperial Leather soap for my dad

Hangers on some of those over door hooks

Windows can open

Can't put a lock on in case my Mum isn't well but we are a 'knock and wait' family so no-on barges into rooms un-announced

Magazines - yes (I'll get some the week before)

Clock/radio is digital so not noisy ( and there's a table or shelf on either side of the beds)

[OhMittens]

Hangers and somewhere to hang up their clothes.

Ability to open the window a bit

Mirror near a plug (for hairdrying).

Own towels - including a small hand towel for hair.

I always have a spare dressing gown clean and hanging up too :)

[Adarajames]

My mum makes lovely towel sculptures for guests since she went in a cruise and the room staff did that for them each night, you could learn from YouTube and give it a go!

[Bluestocking]

You sound like a lovely host, as do Ishouldcocoa and her mum! Those are all things I've wished I had when staying away from home. The other thing I've found very comforting (I used to stay in hotels a lot for work) is something light and undemanding to read like a magazine or a frivolous novel.

[RunawayReindeer]

Definitely tissues,
potentially a box of paracetamol/rennie in case they wake up in the night after some indulgence, and don't want to wake up others?

A spare pillow for comfort? Visitors here don't even get a bed would you like me to come for dinner?

[IDismyname]

My mum puts out Nurofen, paracetamol, tissues, Vaseline for chapped lips, ear plugs ( no I don't know why) and a eye mask.

I usually put out spare toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner. Also any little hotel freebies I pick up like a sewing kit.

[traviata]

tissues
a dressing gown/ bathrobe

[beadybaby]

Gosh you sound a lovely host!

The only thing I could think of is some fresh flowers and scented candles. Unless you do a toiletries set with toothbrush, paracetamol etc but that might be overkill.