It is always exciting to have an out-of-town relative visit for a night or weekend. Of course, you want to ensure they are comfortable and entertained throughout their stay. Use the following tips to successfully host a visiting family member for several days.

Tidy Up Your Home

It is important to tidy up your home for your guests, but you do not need to break your back cleaning from top to bottom. Your guest is coming to spend time with you during their stay. However, you want your home to be presentable, so you do want to clean a little more than usual.

Designate A Guest Space

You also need to designate a space for your guest to ensure they have the comfort and privacy they need while away from home. A spare bedroom is ideal for out-of-town guests, but you can also use portable screens and closets to create a cozy spot for your guest in the living room.

Provide Comfortable Bedding

When providing a bedroom for your guest, you want to ensure you are also providing clean, comfortable bedding. Wash the bedding before your guest arrives, and be sure extra pillows and blankets are available as needed. 

If you don’t have a spare bedroom, prepare the living room for your guest to sleep in. You can take it up a notch by providing a sofa bed mattress for maximum comfort.

Provide Clean Towels

Whether you have a spare or a shared bathroom, it is important to provide clean towels for your guests. Your guest may need hand, face, and body towels that are not shared with household members, as well as clean washcloths for showers. Providing clean towels is a great way to help your loved one feel right at home.

Stock Up On Toiletries

Your guest is most likely planning to bring their own toiletries. However, it never hurts to provide a few extra travel-size toiletries to ensure they have everything they need. If you are unsure of specific brands or scents, be sure to ask your guest before you purchase the products.

Plan Meals In Advance

You can ensure meals go smoothly by planning a menu and mealtimes in advance. It is vital to discuss dietary restrictions and allergies with your guest, but you also want to find out their favorite meals to add to the menu. You may also want to leave a day or two open for ordering takeout or dining out.

Keep Snacks Accessible

Your guest is sure to get hungry outside of mealtimes, but they may feel too shy to ask you for a snack. This is why it is important to keep snacks and beverages accessible to your guests. Show them where everything is located in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, and let them know they are welcome to have a snack or beverage at any time.

Create A Gift Basket

If you are planning to provide snacks, toiletries, and towels, you may want to put everything together in a gift basket. You can even add a few extra items to their gift basket, such as a book and bookmark for the loved one who enjoys reading. If your visiting loved one is bringing a child, you may want to include a coloring book and crayons to make them feel welcome.

Provide At-Home Entertainment

Your loved one may want to relax after traveling to your home or sightseeing around the area. This is why it is important to provide at-home entertainment for your guests. This ranges from puzzles and magazines to television and the Wi-Fi password. Spending time at home is a great way to catch up with your loved one.

Plan Activities, But Remain Flexible

It never hurts to plan a few activities to ensure your guest is not bored while visiting. You may want to show them your favorite coffee shop or treat them to an afternoon at the museum. Of course, you want to remain flexible because they may not be interested or plans may fall through. Additionally, you do not have to be busy every minute of the visit.

Bottom Line

There is a lot of planning that goes into hosting a visiting family member for several days, so do not be afraid to reach out to your loved one about food choices, toiletries, and activities. You want to ensure they are happy, comfortable, and have everything they need. Remember, a smooth visit may encourage your relatives to visit again in the future.