Probably over-thinking but HELP - house guests due on Sat

[nowit]

Long story short my Dad and his wife are coming to stay. They live a vair long way away and we haven't seen them in three years although we speak fairly regularly.

They are staying for a week.

What should i get in? should I provide towels in their room? Should I make assumptions about food or just get what we normally do and hope it's ok?

Bit nervous about it.

Would like to go above and beyond, what have you done or received at others homes that has made you welcome?

Bump

Relax - they're coming to see you for your company and won't be expecting to be treated like hotel guests.

Towels in their room and I always leave a few books I think people might like on the bedside table, along with a box of tissues and some fresh drinking water and glasses at night. It might be worth asking if they have any food dislikes ( if you don't know already) and maybe just get in a few food treats.

When I've visited others, these are the kind of thing I have appreciated.

Thank you SweetestThing - it is normally the small things but i can never remember. Tissues, books and water are a good ideas.

Are flowers too much?

I wouldn't put flowers in the bedroom in case of allergies, but would have them downstairs for everyone to enjoy.

A box or packet of biscuits on the room might be appreciated in case they fancy something to eat but feel
Uncomfortable helping themselves in the kitchen.

Thanks scrivette, Anyone else have any ideas?

Two more useful things are a small bin for rubbish and an alarm clock. If you want them to use certain towels then leave them in the room too, unless it's just easier for them to help themselves.

My mum and dad have a kettle in the room and take up mugs and tea bags, so they can have a morning cuppa, but then they're particular like that. :)
I would also have a few pre-prepared meals in the freezer so you don't need to cook every meal. Either homemade or pre-bought. Simple things like fish pie or lasagne. Also if you can, schedule in some meals out to take the pressure off you. Catering for extra people can be tiring, as you need to think of something "decent" for every meal, rather than just snacking or doing kids food.

Yy to a bin, with a liner in. And make sure there's hangers they can use or at least hooks - we regularly stay with sil and there's never even anywhere to hang a bath robe...

I like to put dressing gowns in the spare room along with towels, water jugs, books or magazines, a spare hair dryer, a tin of biscuits, tissues and flowers. Then in the drawer of the bedside cabinet I put things they might have forgotten such as new toothbrushes, toothpaste, headache tablets etc.

Just think about what would be nice to have in a hotel room.

If they live a v long way away, and might be up with jetlag, then a tour of the kitchen as to coffee/tea/cocoa and the biscuits/toast stuff and an invitation to feel free to help themselves anytime is good. I tell houseguests they can have anything they can find apart from cash and electronics.

Is there a bedside light ? Yy to towels and flannels, and an instruction about what to do with used ones and where to find new ones

I would second feelinghopefull's remarks regarding pre-prep'd food otherwise you'll be worn out.
Give some thought too about what you will do with them.
Will they have their own transport or will they be dependant on you for that?
Sending them off somewhere to entertain themselves for a couple of hours is always a good move otherwise after a couple or 3 days it can all begin to feel a bit claustrophobic for everyone.
Tickets for the cinema or local theatre often go down well and don't look as if you want to get rid of them (not that I'm suggesting you do).
Barbecue if the weather is up to it as that way, everyone gets to join in with the cooking and it's a bit more relaxed than sitting down to dinner each evening and rings the changes a bit.
Don't forget the nibbles to go with the evening drinks and don't forget food for breakfast - I always forget food for breakfast as I'm never up in time.
Yes to towels - if they've flown in from wherever, they probably haven't room to pack their own and they take up too much room to pack anyway.

Echo towels, small toiletries, books etc. Also nice to have a radio in the room if there isn't one so they don't get you up too early rush out of bed in the morning!!

Oh, and do you have a lock on your bathroom door? That's always a fun one, especially if small children used to barging in :-D

We have frequent visitors - agree with having some ideas and supplies in for food as it can be hard all looking at each other trying to decide on the day. Show them where things are and if you are busy let them help themselves to breakfast and lunch. Apart from ideas mentioned a curry, roast dinner, simple things that most people eat. Fresh fruit and ice cream or cheese and crackers as easy deserts that people can eat as much or little of. As my in laws have got older they eat smaller portions.

Have a spare loo roll or two in an obvious place in the bathroom.

Tell them how to get the tv on and the heating if u live in a particularly cold house at this time of year. I have memories of sitting shivering under a coat at a friends house with baby DS trying to keep warm as he got up and hour before their heating went on and to add to it I couldn't get the tv on. It was a long hour and we couldn't go back to bed as DH and our other 2 kids were all in one room.

As they are staying a week show them where the washing machine is and how to put it on as they may want to wash undies etc.

Visitors tend to be easier in reality than the thought before hand.

A super fresh room, clean it and air it out, put the duvet out for an airing.

Hotel fresh :-)

My goodness!! I never went to this trouble when my Dad stayed over! Clean room, clean bathroom, clean towels left in bathroom (as he'd be the only one using it).

Bedroom - bin, space for clothes

Bathroom - spare loo roll, air freshener (!), shower gel and shampoo (pinched from a previous stay at a hotel!)

Food - stuff in freezer or fridge. nothing too fancy. Saying that we live in open planned flat, so can cook and talk to guests at the same time! Ate out for one night.

These threads always end up utterly ridiculous, with people suggesting that the OP turns into a 5* luxury hotel.

OP - he's your dad. Make sure his room is clean and comfortable and tell him to ask if he needs anything.

If they aren't driving, might be nice to let them know you are providing towels (and toiletries such as shower gel, shampoo)

Went on hols recently to a friend's apartment and because she told me she had all these things I didn't have to put them in my case and drag them around.

Completely off-topic, but I LOVE your name Onthebottomwithawomansweekly!!