When you are hosting out of town guests there are so many things that need to be taken care of. It really can be an overwhelming mountain to climb. That is why I want to share how to be a good host for out of town guests.
In this post, I’m going to be sharing simple things you can do to help you become a good host for your out of town guests. I’ve also put together a free checklist that has everything I shared with you in this post.
Hosting guest is stressful. When people come to visit everyone is off their routines which can be difficult to deal with. By making your out of town guest feeling at home does ease the stress of it all.
Being a good host is more than just making sure people have a place to sleep and I want to share with you 10 things so you know how to be a good host.
Here are more posts to help you get ready for guests
- How to arrange a beautiful guest room
- 10 Things you need to be cleaning
- Organizational tips for fall
Opening up your home
Opening up your home isn’t easy as I said before. It’s important that you and your guests feel comfortable. The tips I’ll be sharing will help ensure that you and your guest will feel comfortable. Sometimes we forget to think of ourselves when it comes to comfort. We’re so worried about how everyone else is feeling and doing that we forget about how we are doing.
Before your guests arrive
Before your guests arrive there are a few things you’ll want to do. Taking the time to prepare your home will help you and your guest have a great experience. Here are a few things you’ll want to do before your guests arrive:
- Clean the house
- Prepare the rooms
- Confirm arrival and departure dates and time
- Ask about special requests
Clean the house
It’s nice to give the house a good deep clean before your guests arrive. This is one less thing you’ll have to worry about when everyone is here visiting.
Going through the house and going through the clutter will also help make your home feel less crowded when your guests arrive.
Prepare the rooms
Washing the bedding and preparing the rooms is something you’ll want to take care of before they arrive.
If you don’t have a bed and are using air mattresses you’ll want to inflate them and make the beds.
Confirm arrival and departure
You’ll want to confirm the arrival and departure time and dates of your guests. Will they need a ride to and from the airport? Make sure you get all of the details from them so everyone is on the same page.
Ask about special requests
There are so many different diets out there that people are trying. It is also possible that there are food allergies that need to be addressed. It’s a good idea to communicate that before your guests arrive. I like to find out if there are any special food requests or dietary restrictions that we need to be aware of before they come for a visit.
How to be a good host?
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Be a Prepared Host
Something I find when hosting is to have extra of those forgotten items. Things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo are things that are often forgotten when people are packing. So before my guests arrive I like to put together little care packages for them.
Things to include are:
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- lotion
- shampoo
- conditioner
- soap
I will also add a few other things that are necessities but make my guests feel more comfortable like:
- Snacks
- Water
- Sudoku puzzles
- Pen
Sometimes people have different sleeping schedules. If you live on the east coast and your guests are from the west coast there’s a three-hour time difference so having something for them to do if they can’t sleep will make them feel more comfortable.
When your guests arrive
When your guests arrive there are a few things you can do to make everyone feel more comfortable. You can:
- Give a tour of the home
- Set out towels
- Make your home inviting
- Communicate
- House rules
Give a tour
Give a tour of your home to your guests so they know where they’ll be sleeping where the bathroom is and anything else they need to know.
Make the essentials available
Set out towels and extra bedding. Show them the care package you put together for them and show them where they can get more if they need to. Also, show them where to put the dirty towels so they know what to do after showering.
Make your home inviting
Along with giving them the tour and making the essentials available you can make your home more inviting by showing them where the snacks are or how they can make coffee. Sometimes people are afraid to ask and this will make them feel more at home.
Communicate
Make sure everyone’s comfortable. Ask them if there’s anything they need or that you can help them with. By keeping the lines of communication open you’ll keep everyone happy.
Share the house rules
If there are expectations let them know. I like to share the house rules. Things like:
- a quiet time
- where everyone eats
- shoes
Every home is different but sharing the house rules will help you keep your sanity. If there’s furniture that no one is allowed to eat on or have feet on, let them know. Is there a set quiet time? Let them know.
Going the extra mile
A few other things you can do to go the extra mile while hosting are:
- Share your schedule
- See the attractions
- Set aside some alone time
Share your schedule
If you have things scheduled during the time people are staying with you, let them know. I like to have my schedule posted on the fridge so everyone knows where I’ll be.
See the attractions
Give them ideas on things to see while they’re visiting. They don’t have to stay at home the whole time. Give them some ideas of things they might like.
Set aside some alone time
Hosting guests is tiring and you’ll need some alone time. Try to schedule a little bit of time that you’re not entertaining so you can regroup.
Hopefully, you found the tips I shared with you useful and you know how to be a good host. By making your guests feel at home and going the extra mile will help you be a good host. If you are hosting out of town guests and need some guidance you can download the free How To Be A Good Host checklist. This checklist goes over all of the steps I shared with you today to help you be prepared for your out of town guests.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Have an amazing day.
Jenn
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