Small but Slightly Extravagant Niceties for Visiting Friends

A nice robe and slippers for after showering.
And yes nice lotion and I like a spritz of perfume.
Alexa in the room to play music while I shower.
Fresh flowers (tulips) next to the bed.
A magazine.

How long do they stay with you? If it’s at least a few days, I’d appreciate a yoga mat and light weights to do some toning in morning.

Of all of that, the things Id appreciate would be a non-feather pillow, the plug strip, extra blanket available, and the truffles. Id rather grab a fresh bottle of water before bed if I wanted one.

Sounds perfect to me!! What are their favorite dishes and snacks that they request you to make?

Slippers or slipper socks. Flowers would also be lovely. If you let the peas know where you live you'll have a steady stream of guests

We also like providing extra special touches for family and friends.

What about framed photos showing the group over the years? Or handwritten card/notes for each? Something sappy or funny depending on your relationships for them to read on their own?

I have one of those little mini fridges down in my studio, I never would have considered putting it in the guest room when we have guests but that’s a great idea! I also have an extra large robe that I never use that I could wash up and keep in the guest room. All of our large towels are large bath sheets in every bathroom anyway.

We have a tray on one of the night stands in the guest room that we fill with a few bottles of water, some locally sourced packaged snacks, granola bars, maybe a lip balm, pocket sized lotion or hand sanitizer. Usually we know our guests pretty well so we know the kind of treats or candy they like so we include some of that too.

There are several different pillows guests can choose from, extra blankets in the dresser, the instructions for the Sleep Number remote, space to hang clothes, a power strip on each side of the bed so there are enough outlets for chargers. There’s an alarm clock in that room in case they need one. We also have a little framed thing with the guest wifi password on it on the night stand so they don’t have to use their data for the internet.

I think I’m going to move some of DD’s books into that room in case someone wants something to read. She has discovered some great books through her English classes that we’ve read together that I think just about anyone would enjoy reading.

I also make sure there is a box of Kleenex in that room and a wastebasket. I hate when I’m staying somewhere and I have to search around for some Kleenex. It seems like I always get a stuffy/runny nose whenever I travel so I always need a bunch of Kleenex. I hate burning through the little pocket packs I keep in my purse. (Maybe a pocket pack of Kleenex would be a nice thing to add to my tray.) There’s also a lamp on the night stand so people don’t have to only use the bright overhead light all the time. I hate having to stumble around in an unfamiliar room in the dark so it’s nice to have a small lamp next to the bed that can be turned off once you’re already in the bed. Maybe a little night light might be a good idea too, and we have an extra one I could put in there that could be plugged in if needed.

I have a stocked tray of toiletries in the guest bath - extra toothbrushes, qtips, feminine hygiene products, shampoo/conditioner/bodywash and so on.

There's a power strip next to the guest room beds and the 'nightstand' is a floor lamp with shelves so there's somewhere to put their phone and book etc..

There's kleenex in both guest rooms and the guest bath. One room has a desk with drawers and shelves, the other has a (empty) dresser and there's closet room in both.

Also a sign in both guest rooms with the wifi password.

There's plenty of books - both guest rooms double as our library so one has fiction and the other non-fiction. If you're visiting on your own (or as a couple), you get to pick which one you use.

So far all of our guests have been the sort who travel with their own reusable water container (bottle or insulated cup) and wouldn't appreciate disposable water bottles but I'll consider adding that if we get different guests who might like them

I forgot A FAN! I hate sleeping without one. I need the noise and I like the air. I have a fan stored in every room, just in case. I also bring one with me when I travel because most people/places I stay don't have one.

I have luggage stands for both of my guest rooms. I love them in hotels. I also have charges out and available. My bathrooms also have a lot of extras. Our kids are here visiting for the day/evening a lot and I keep a lot of things like tums, flossers, Advil, chapstick etc in our main guest bathroom so no one needs to ask for that stuff.

That all sounds very lovely. Based on what you’ve written and since you’re asking, fresh flowers would be appreciated and part of the whole pampered experience. Orchids in the bathroom could be a long term flowering plant.

I’d also need a fan or the ability to control the temperature and not affect the rest of the house, we have this at MIL house and it’s a lifesaver because they keep their house super hot, like 75-80 degrees and we live in an icebox.

And if you have any favorite locally produced items for them to take home that could be fun. Especially if it’s tied to your area, like Fredericksburg, Tx is known for their peaches. So a nice peach jam or something would be fun.

You mentioned room in closet and drawers, do you have plenty of hangers including one or two with clips for skirts if y’all tend to go out?

Chargers with the basic cords (C, lightening) in case they forget theirs.

Great quality sheets and pillows! If it is someone who visits often and you know they a weighted blanket that would be helpful, otherwise I don’t care what kind of blankets are there when I stay at someone’s home. It’s a pain to travel with one but makes a huge difference in my sleep. For one night we don’t bring it but normally do for any more than that. But nubbly sheets would do me in.

Do your curtains close well? If not a clip to block the light from coming in.

eta: After reading other responses I’ll second or third the request for the WiFi and the trash can. And a lamp that’s easy to reach on the bedside table. Maybe a nightlight in the bathroom? I love our automatic one so I don’t have to turn on a bright light in the middle of the night. And many of us are at an age where we need to consider if rugs are a tripping hazard, especially in a place they’re not very familiar with in the dark. 

Are you booking now?

   I’d never be upset if these weren’t available (except a fan in 80 degree house and even then not at my hosts, just the situation) but she’s wanting to go above and beyond and these are all issues I’ve run into while traveling or things I’ve enjoyed. I’m a little particular so I’ve learned to bring things with me so I’m comfortable. I even bring small trash bags because those dang trash cans in a hotel are so freaking tiny. Command hooks, snap together trays to contain my items, eye mask, fabric steamer, a lighted makeup mirror…I think you see where I’m going with this lol. 

Oh, and nubbly sheets, I just wouldn’t be able to sleep well at all. And lack of sleep makes my pain so much worse.

I know, right?  But you would not believe how much they help! DH goes no where without a baseball hat, and if we’re there for more than a couple days he has more than one. Plus the sweaty one from his training. And they hold our CPAP masks up and off the bed. His jackets/hoodies when there aren’t enough hangers. And yes, for 5 days or longer I bring extra hangers! Plus, he’s more likely to hang them up if it’s easy. Our sleep clothes so they don’t have to go in the drawer with the fresh clothes. Our car keys on the door.

I bring a pop up laundry hamper and liner because I have a bad back and am always in pain so this way I don’t have to bend over. Same with the makeup mirror so I can save my back for whatever we’re doing and not have to lean over the sink to apply my make-up. And we almost always go to a fine dining restaurant, I can’t stand to iron so my amazing steamer comes with us and takes no time to freshen those clothes up, I prefer natural fabrics and they wrinkle easily.

Most of this lives in our suitcase in ebags. What doesn’t goes on my travel shelves in my closet. Now, if it’s just one or two nights I don’t do most of this, but for longer stays it makes everything so much more relaxing for me after taking 15 minutes to set up right when we get there. 

I’m not a girly girl either. Just an anal retentive one 

I can’t take sleep medication, oh how that would solve so many problems!

If there's not a ceiling fan, then I would like to have a fan provided.

Reminds me of Kathy Hilton 🤗