Invest In Your Home - How To Give Your Guests The Hotel Experience

Halloween is sadly over, Christmas is on the horizon - well, according to supermarkets it has been since September, but let’s gloss over that for a second - and that means guests!

With AirBnB and HouseTrip in the ascendant, and boutique hotels popping up to fight the big chains, there is plenty of advice online to giving your best to your guests - so whether you are planning to become a first choice for FlipKey or simply wanting to give visiting family that 5-star treatment, here are some tips for you!

1. Hot Drinks Station

A little area for tea and coffee, along with the associated paraphernalia, will be great for guests - paying or otherwise!

Just in case you are concerned that it will cost a huge amount, don’t worry - no need for a Tassimo or anything so extravagant, a travel kettle will be sufficient - the most you’ll be spending is on a new teaspoon or two. Biscuits if you’re feeling especially generous.

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A few bottles of mineral water are always worthwhile - both on their own and to fill the kettle if you aren’t luck enough to have an en-suite for your guest room!

A set up like this means your guests won’t have to come down to the kitchen early to get themselves a healing brew - this has an added bonus in the holidays of keeping them out from under your feet when when preparing food!

And you needn’t stick to hot drinks; one hotel I was lucky enough to stay in provided a small bottle of Sloe Gin in their welcome pack - but perhaps that’s going a little too far, but you’ll know your guests better than me!

2. Extra Bedding

A sheet or blanket for over the duvet - summer or winter - is a great touch! Not only can they be highly attractive (as mentioned in our previous blog) they also allow your guests to choose their own level of wrapping up.

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Some people overheat easily and can sleep under the sheet on its own, whereas others who need to be toasty warm can use both. Some additional pillows are a good idea too; I speak from personal experience!

At night, I am a one-pillow kind of person - I find that more than one makes me uncomfortable and strains my neck, so they are never used for sleeping on. But I never fail to appreciate the extra pillows in the morning when I sit up to read.

This is even more important for those who might have back conditions or other sleeping issues - it always does to be considerate, even if it means washing a few more pillowcases.

If you want to go the extra mile, there are even a few guides on how to present your extra bedding - very impressive!

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3. Bath Set

A set of extra towels for guests is always a lovely gesture - and it will stop them stealing yours! But why not compliment this with a little bath set - like the drinks station, it doesn't have to cost the earth.

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With a few nice refillable bottles, you won’t have to pay the premium for the travel- size toiletries which fill the shops in summer.

A shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste is all you need, and any additions to these essentials are nice but not necessary.

Then you can present them in a basket, jar or tray - whatever takes your fancy, really. You can even put a bottle of perfume or cologne on the side so people can feel super fresh and fancy for holiday frolics!

4. Fresh Flowers

Assuming your guests do not suffer from serious hay-fever or have any other plant-based allergies, some fresh flowers on arrival will be appreciated. If you prefer, you can even have a living plant to admire, which removes the need to remove and replace cut flowers.

As we mentioned in the last blog, plants have numerous other benefits as well as the aesthetic, so you might end up making your charges happier and healthier for their stay with you.

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If you have a garden or access to one, some flowers which are perfect to cut in the Winter months include Christmas Rose, Crocus, Daffodils, Carnations and Freesia - and of course many places will offer a gorgeous Winter bouquet without the need for gloves and secateurs!

5. A Lick Of Paint

Many people are looking to do some intense re-decorating before the holidays roll round - but you don’t need to go too crazy. After all, you’ll need some money for presents!

There are a few cheap methods to renovate the home - in fact, there’s a whole blog we wrote last year about that very thing, so go and check it out!

Of course it goes without saying (but we will say it anyway!) that a luxurious carpet with a thick pile and velvet finish will make your guests feel well looked after - just a thought!

NB: On this note, if you are looking to buy some carpet or a bespoke rug from ourselves in time for Christmas, to avoid any disappointment it is best to order by November 25th at the latest - especially if you are buying from our Carpet section! These products have to be ordered in from the manufacturer, so there is an additional lead time. You can find approximate delivery timescales here on our FAQ.

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A final piece of advice - too small to make it an extra point, but vital nonetheless - is to make the WiFi Passcode clearly visible for guests, so they come bothering you ever 10 seconds - if you have lots of family - with lots of young people who bring multiple tablets, phones and laptops - this will definitely save you time!

Hope you enjoyed this blog and are ready to start being the host (ess) with the most (est) this Yuletide season!

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