Spring is prime travel time, and chances are you’ll be opening your home to friends or relatives for a visit. Here are some tips to help make your Aunt Helen’s (or Cousin Joe’s) visit comfortable for everyone.

Making Plans
Talk to Aunt Helen to arrange an arrival and departure date for the visit, making sure to check calendars for any conflicts. Also, talk about what activities might be planned for the visit. You wouldn’t want to get baseball tickets when she has her heart set on visiting the local art museum.

If Aunt Helen hasn’t stayed with you before, let her know if you have pets -- some people are allergic to cats or dogs. Ask if she needs any special accommodations – for example, a first-floor bedroom if stairs are a problem or dietary restrictions for food allergies.


Plan Meals in Advance
Whether Aunt Helen prefers gourmet meals or casual gatherings, you’ll all enjoy her visit more if you do a little meal planning before she arrives.

Breakfast and lunch are best left as casual affairs. Find out whether guests prefer bagels or scones, tea or coffee and have a selection of these along with some fresh fruit and a morning newspaper for a relaxing do-it-yourself breakfast. Lunch can be as simple as sandwich fixings on the patio or a pre-packed picnic basket ready to take to a local attraction. For dinner, plan a summer barbeque or a night out at a local hotspot.

And if you’re cooking at home, stick with what you know. Trying out new recipes on guests is a recipe for disaster. If there’s a new recipe you have your heart set on preparing, try it out in
advance. Your guests will appreciate the extra effort and you’ll rest easier knowing dinner will be something you’ll all enjoy. Whatever you decide, meal times will be relaxing and enjoyable for host and guest alike if you take the time to do a little planning before guests arrive.

Ready the House
As the date for the visit nears, it’s time to get the guest bedroom ready. (We’re assuming that Molly Maid has already done a great job cleaning the house.) Whether you’re turning your teenage son’s bedroom into the guest room or you have a spare bedroom, you’ll want to make space in the closet or clear out a dresser drawer for Aunt Helen’s clothes.

In either case, you’ll want to put fresh sheets on the bed and air out the blankets and comforter.

It’s easy to add a few welcoming touches. Brighten the room with a small vase of flowers or a houseplant. Many people read before sleeping, so a few current magazines and a bedside lamp are helpful.

Bath Basics
If you’re fortunate enough to have a guest bathroom, you can stock it with the essentials – towels, soap and shampoo. You can even go all out – add a hair dryer, makeup mirror or one of those big fluffy robes you get in fancy hotels.

But, if you’re like many households, Aunt Helen may end up sharing with the rest of the family. To make it easy for everyone, put together a simple “bath basket” that you can put in the guest bedroom. The basket could contain soap, shampoo, moisturizer, face towels and even a bath towel. At shower time, Auntie can just bring the entire basket with her.

With the house clean and the guest room in great shape, you’re ready to roll
out the welcome mat for Aunt Helen, and you’ll all enjoy a fabulous
(and comfortable) visit.

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