Hostess with the Mostest

[auroragold]

 So I just came home from a weekend away with DD. Stayed with a family member and it was not much short of a nightmare.  I won't tell my story - rather I'll ask this:

What ,makes a good host for overnight guests?

As an overnight guest, what do you expect?

[GodsChild1963]

A good host for an overnite guest....makes sure you are comfortable, warm, fed and entertained.  Also, when you yawn they should excuse themselves so you can get some rest!!

As an overnite guest I expect the bare minimum...I expect clean bedding and peace when I need it...

Tell us your story!!

Hugs!

[rfourangels]

To be a good hostess for overnight guests I try my best to give them their own fully stocked space, comfortable bed, and everything that they need. I have a whole guest basket in the bathroom  (filled with extra toothbrush, brush, toothpaste, robe, on and on), and have everything they could want with out the need to ask for it. I always make sure there is ample food, snacks, drinks, etc. and invite them to feel at home. I try to spend time doing what they would enjoy, sitting , swimming, talking, whatever it may be. If it is a family, I try to make my house very kid friendly (so it helps my stress too).

Honestly though? I like my space, and got rid of our guest room. I do not like to have company over, and would prefer to pay for a hotel than have overnight company.

I don't like to stay overnight at anyones house either, I stay in a hotel. If the hotels in the area are too expensive, I just don't visit. I like my space, my privacy, my time.  I don't like to walk to a bathroom down the hall or have an uncomfortable bed. I don't like to stay places where there isn't enough food (ie: my MIL always cooks by portions, and there is never enough food. She doesn't mean to be short on it, but everyone ends up hungry.) I'd rather have leftovers, so my guests don't feel that way. I also always bring  food/ hostess/ children's gifts, even if we are visiting for the day (not for a short evening or something like that, only if we spend a lengthy amount of time, and have meals there).

[suzi960]

well as a hostess of n overnight guest i will make sure they have a nice comfortable room. clean sheets make room dfor their stuff. make sure they have everything they need for the bathroom...towels shampoo,all that stuff..and of course id make them a great breakfast...

[auroragold]

 Perhaps my stay wasn't a NIGHTMARE but honestly - it could have been much better. It's not like I was a SURPRISE guest who simply dropped in for 2 nights.  And I don't need the Ritz Carlton but I would have liked:

-Blankets.  There were no extra blankets in the house so I got a sheet. It's March in Massachusetts people. And despite that fact that you keep your house at least 10 degrees warmer than mine, the middle of the night is more than SHEET weather.    I had a blanket in the car that I got out and gave to DD for the night. Yes - two of us with no blankets

Clean Sheets - so there's no guest room - no problem. And thanks to the kid who gave up her room to us. Glad she had two mattress that we could use (one on the floor and one on the bed frame).  Now she may only be a kid but I think you could have changed the sheets for us.

Towels - I have to ask you for a washcloth and towel?  Maybe you just forgot.

Food - I don't expect you to feed me but it would have been nice just to have SOMETHING available in the morning.

 

See - it really wasn't a nightmare afterall but the first night I was simply astounded that I was sleeping on a bed with used sheets and no blanket. I got very LITTLE sleep because I was cold.

To top things off, I've learned that family member has an abusive husband. Don't know if it ever gets physical but at 9am Saturday morning - they had a rip roaring hollering argument (well I heard HIM yelling lots).   I kept thinking that really - it could have waited until guests were gone - at least for the day. I didn't need to hear it. My DD didn't need to hear it (we don't use that language).

It was stressful

[dana63]

 My house guest will sleep on clean sheets and I have plenty of extra pillows and blankets. I will have soda that they like and any food they might like. My bathroom has extra toothbrushes, tooth paste and samples of shampoo, and body wash.