Ned
11-07-2007, 09:15 PM
Great article Amy.
I don't know if you listed "pre-search" first because you felt it was the most important item on the list or not, but I think it is. We always check for allergies and food preferences when friends visit. With family we know already. We like to have a few foods around they really like, so they feel comfortable, but beyond that, we prefer to make them things they normally don't eat so they can experience something new.
Clearing space is very important to us as we don't want our things disturbed, so we remove them so our friends staying with us can have room.
I hadn't thought about a luggage rack, but when I read your article, it made so much sense I ordered a couple for the house. They can help us when we're packing for a trip so the bed stays clear. Great idea, thanks.
Freshening the bedding is a must. The morning that our friends arrive we put on clean sheets and quilts on the guest bed. All of our pillows for guests are allergy proof, but we don't have a variety. I think there is a limit to this guest thing. After all, we want to please, but we're not a hotel, but then their are big advantages to not staying in a hotel, but with friends.
You're right about the towels. We put out two full size bath towels per person, and a wash cloth. It's what we would want, so we do it for others.
Our guest bathroom always has liquid soap, shampoo, and pump hand cream in it for everyone. We use refillables. If they need anything else, we can usually help them, but I do think when someone is staying at someone else's home they have some responsibility for bringing the right belongings too.
My wife thinks your bathrobe idea is great, and she's going to purchase a pair. I'm not so sure it's important for occasional guests, but she thinks so.
The coffee idea is where we part company, and the mini-bar. If they want coffee, the coffee grinder and the french presses are in the kitchen. We don't allow food in the bedrooms (unless someone is sick), and we're not starting now. I think the mini-bar is way over the top.
We always have a TV for our guests and the cable guide is built into the cable system. There's a DVD player too, and I have a huge DVD library from which to choose movies. There's an alarm clock in the room as well. If they want an iPod docking station, they're going to have to wrestle me for the one in my office, and that's just not going to happen.
As far as instructions go, the equipment is easy and the bathroom is too, plus they can ask for help. They're guests after all, and we're all together to be together.
We're pretty knowledgeable about PHL and the surrounding area. Long before our friends or family come in to stay with us we've discussed what to do and see, and are ready to hit the streets running once they arrive.
"Get rid of the embarrassing stuff." I can only say. OH YEAH!
We're not hiring help. We don't want the intrusion. My feeling is if it's so much work to have someone over, that I need to hire help, I don't want the company.
One thing you didn't mention was the Internet. I know that when I visit friends or family I want to be able to connect my laptop to the Internet if at all possible. We have a wireless/wired network in the house so that anyone visiting can get on the Internet. I'll give them a security code. If they don't have a computer with them, they can check on their email with a old spare computer we replaced for our use. For getting email, it's fine.
I don't know if you listed "pre-search" first because you felt it was the most important item on the list or not, but I think it is. We always check for allergies and food preferences when friends visit. With family we know already. We like to have a few foods around they really like, so they feel comfortable, but beyond that, we prefer to make them things they normally don't eat so they can experience something new.
Clearing space is very important to us as we don't want our things disturbed, so we remove them so our friends staying with us can have room.
I hadn't thought about a luggage rack, but when I read your article, it made so much sense I ordered a couple for the house. They can help us when we're packing for a trip so the bed stays clear. Great idea, thanks.
Freshening the bedding is a must. The morning that our friends arrive we put on clean sheets and quilts on the guest bed. All of our pillows for guests are allergy proof, but we don't have a variety. I think there is a limit to this guest thing. After all, we want to please, but we're not a hotel, but then their are big advantages to not staying in a hotel, but with friends.
You're right about the towels. We put out two full size bath towels per person, and a wash cloth. It's what we would want, so we do it for others.
Our guest bathroom always has liquid soap, shampoo, and pump hand cream in it for everyone. We use refillables. If they need anything else, we can usually help them, but I do think when someone is staying at someone else's home they have some responsibility for bringing the right belongings too.
My wife thinks your bathrobe idea is great, and she's going to purchase a pair. I'm not so sure it's important for occasional guests, but she thinks so.
The coffee idea is where we part company, and the mini-bar. If they want coffee, the coffee grinder and the french presses are in the kitchen. We don't allow food in the bedrooms (unless someone is sick), and we're not starting now. I think the mini-bar is way over the top.
We always have a TV for our guests and the cable guide is built into the cable system. There's a DVD player too, and I have a huge DVD library from which to choose movies. There's an alarm clock in the room as well. If they want an iPod docking station, they're going to have to wrestle me for the one in my office, and that's just not going to happen.
As far as instructions go, the equipment is easy and the bathroom is too, plus they can ask for help. They're guests after all, and we're all together to be together.
We're pretty knowledgeable about PHL and the surrounding area. Long before our friends or family come in to stay with us we've discussed what to do and see, and are ready to hit the streets running once they arrive.
"Get rid of the embarrassing stuff." I can only say. OH YEAH!
We're not hiring help. We don't want the intrusion. My feeling is if it's so much work to have someone over, that I need to hire help, I don't want the company.
One thing you didn't mention was the Internet. I know that when I visit friends or family I want to be able to connect my laptop to the Internet if at all possible. We have a wireless/wired network in the house so that anyone visiting can get on the Internet. I'll give them a security code. If they don't have a computer with them, they can check on their email with a old spare computer we replaced for our use. For getting email, it's fine.