Whether its the in-laws or old friends, every now and then houseguests drop by and you’ve got to figure out how to turn Chez Moi into an approximation of Versailles. The good news is you’ll never make it so don’t even try, but the bad news is there is still a lot of work that goes into being a happy, if not perfect, hostess.
But don’t run away screaming quite yet.
With a load of preparation, a lot of flexibility and a little bit of luck you could be ready to open a B&B before you know it. Or at least allow your sister to sleepover when she’s in town.
The Preparation
Cleaning
The key to successfully hosting houseguests is to prepare. A lot. Kate Sweeney, a New York transplant now living in Boston, gets ready for out of town visitors by cleaning from top to bottom, making up guest beds with fresh sheets and laying out clean towels. Carolyn Turco, another Boston-based hostess, likes to leave linens in plain sight so guests don’t need to go searching through closets in the dark.
Of course, this is only works if you know about your guests in advance. Sometimes surprise visitors drop in and leave you scrambling to hide the unmentionables you left drying on the balcony. The next time you get such a shock, remember you can do wonders with a ten-minute pick-up. Even if all you do is straighten the magazines and dump the rest of your stuff into a pretty trunk you’re home will seem larger, cleaner and brighter almost instantly. Later, while guests enjoy a cocktail or two, you can do a clean sweep of the bathroom and/or guest room. And remember, if anything does go wrong — you can always comfort yourself with the knowledge that it wouldn’t have if you had known they were coming.
Planning
Sometimes guests drop in just to see you and sometimes they like to use your home as a base for local travels. Before you go to the trouble of planning activities (of which they may or may not want to be a part) just ask the reason for their visit. Simply stating and asking, “I’m so glad you’ll be in town next weekend! Are you traveling for business or pleasure?” allows you to remain welcoming, while at the same time extracting information about their expectations.
If possible, run some plans by them before you make any reservations or buy tickets to a show or event. Stocking up on food and drinks is another smart idea when you’re expecting guests. Heather Sanger, an American living in London, always makes sure to load up on the ingredients to any dishes she plans for guests before she needs them. Heather also likes to plan meals requiring little attention, like her famous “French Toast Casserole” that just needs to be popped in the oven while she socializes before breakfast or brunch.
Keeping around a few extra personal care items is also a good idea. Gayle Haslett, a serial expat now living in France, insists on fresh soap and bottled water for her guests’ bathrooms while Carolyn Turco likes to keep extra toothbrushes on hand just in case a friend forgets one. Laura Geshay, a Texan who loves to see friends and family, likes to go the whole way and offers travel-sized lotions and potions for guest use. With everything available the likelihood of emergency runs to the drug store is much less.
Logistics
When guests are coming into town for longer visits it can be hard to imagine going about your daily life while still attempting to be entertaining. For Shari Vo-Ta, who welcomes guests from around the world to her London home, figuring out a few logistics makes visits much less stressful. Moving her laptop to the living room and setting up a guest account, investing in a second cell phone so guests can stay in touch no matter where they wander, and providing visitors with an Oyster Card (for the London Undergound) all mean she can feel more confident in letting guests loose in the city.
Gayle Haslett also likes to have plenty of maps and brochures on hand so guests can move about as they please. And as any happy hostess will tell you, giving guests plenty of free time for themselves can be sanity saving for everyone in involved.
Finishing Touches
When you’ve got all of the major preparations covered adding a few finishing touches to the guest room can make you a memorable hostess. Gayle Haslett likes to provide in-room chocolates for guests while Heather Sanger sets out fresh flowers and candles to provide a welcoming atmosphere. Adding a pretty pitcher of water, a disposable camera, luxury tissues and a small sewing and/or nail care kit will also help prepare for commonly requested items.
A Lot of Flexibility
Hosting houseguests can be a stressful experience because of expectations. Not only is it normal to want to be a perfect hostess but many women also try to cram every tourist attraction in town, long, lazy meals and gossip from the last decade into just a few short days or even hours. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see this is a recipe for disaster. Rather than expecting things to be perfect, purposefully plan a lot of flexible options.
For example, making a reservation at a restaurant that allows cancellations as well as having a host of delivery menus available as well as having food on hand for a quick dinner means you can literally do whatever you want when the time to eat arrives. The same goes for providing guests with books and magazines for a quiet night, plenty of board games for a more social evening and a guided tour of the local bar scene for something a little more wild.
A Little Bit of Luck
Of course, try as you might there are some things that will always remain out of your control. Inclement weather, attractions closing for renovation and public transportation delays or strikes are just a few the issues able to impact a guest’s visit. Though such events may seem catastrophic, experienced hostesses know they can’t do anything about it if an Act of God descends while they have visitors in town. Instead, just keep your fingers crossed for the best and learn to grin and bear it if you get the worst.
At least you’ll know you’re making unique memories!
Beth Morrissey is a freelance writer in Ireland who welcomes houseguests on a regular basis. Though she won’t win any prizes for her hostessing, Beth prefers to have fun with her friends rather than worry about hospital corners. In fact, she suspects everyone does. Pop by Beth’s blog, Shenanigans (http://bethmorrissey.wordpress.com) for a silly slice of life from Dublin.