Welcoming Touches for Your Out-of-town Guests

Hospitality sweet

By Krista Weaver | Dec. 4, 2021

Whether you have a dedicated guest room or a living area that doubles as one, there's no need to go all "Boutique Hotel" lavish to provide visiting friends and family with a gracious space. With even a few unexpected touches, you can ensure they’ll stay comfy, relaxed, and feeling right at home in your home this holiday season — or year-round. (On the other hand, skip this article entirely if you don't like them or prefer their stay is short. We kid. We kid.)

Answer Before They Ask
"What's your WiFi password?" A simple picture frame on the nightstand is a smart and stylish solution for sharing all the deets they need to feel right at home in your corner of cyberspace. Use it for clearly displaying your WiFi username and password, instructions and/or codes for your smart TV, front door, or garage, or even just a personal welcome message or pic taken on one of your adventures together. Any pretty frame will do; we liked this one, made from recycled sand-cast aluminum, that we found for $49 at The Lake House in Charlevoix. 

Quench Their Late-night Thirst
While intended for holding an entire 25-ounce bottle of wine (and we're certainly here for that too), this glass-free, leak-proof canteen works equally well as a bedside water carafe. It's perfect for those parched, 3am wakeups in a strange house with no idea where you are or what you've done the night before … or so we're told). Filled with a cold bevy, it maintains the temperature for a full 24 hours. Leave it bedside with a bottle of aspirin, and your guests will be happy, hydrated, and ready for Round Two. Assorted colors. Nest, Traverse City. $42.50

A Good Night's Sleep
For a few nights, it hardly matters whether you pop guests on an air mattress or a king-size Tempur-Pedic. But even a few hours with the wrong pillows can mean the difference between bright-eyed and bushy-tailed or an emergency call to the chiropractor and a neck brace. A good rule of thumb: Top your mattress with a variety of options. We suggest two firm and two soft pillows per double bed; two or three semi-squishy throw pillows (a bolster for the neck, a weighty square and rectangle for between the knees or along the mattress edge will do the trick for guests of all aches and ages); and, of course, an ultra-cozy extra blanket for afternoon naps and extra-chilly nights. Either way, they'll feel like they've just checked in to The Ritz. We found this ruffle Chinchilla faux fur throw at The Quiet Moose in Petoskey for $379.

Lull Them to Sleep
Cover all the nighttime basics with this combination two-speed personal fan (hello, sweaty sleepers), flashlight, and USB charger. The fan can run for 12 hours at high speed, keeping guests cool while satisfying their need for a little white noise; the flashlight keeps them from tripping on those zero-dark-thirty bathroom breaks in an unfamiliar space, and the USB port keeps their phone charged so they can text you when they’re ready for their morning coffee. Or, better yet, to ask if you’re ready for your cup. The PAL-360, $25, is made in the USA and available at Votruba's, Traverse City.

Make Their Nosey Cozy
Soy candles are ideal for the guest room because they burn slower and longer than traditional paraffin candles and are totally soot-free. Besides casting a warm glow, Illume's generously sized North Sky candle shines in sanded mercury glass and fills the room with the lavish scent of fir, citrus, white birch, and the north woods. If you prefer your guests never leave their room, this is the candle you want! 22 ounces, 120-hour burn time. $54.99. Available at The Front Porch, Suttons Bay.

It's The Little Things
Likely, your guests traveled a long way, possibly through dicey weather, risking life and limb, to see you. Even if they didn't, don't leave them to wash their hair with that sub-par, two-in-one shampoo/conditioner combo favored by no-tell motels. Nobody looks or feels their best using that swill. Instead set out some to travel versions of a few high-end hair and body products. An easy, inexpensive way to make a simple shower feel that much fancier, plus, it’ll help your guest feel vibrant and touchably soft in all the selfies they'll, no doubt, take inside their beautifully appointed guest quarters. We found an assortment of travel-size Pureology products at Studio 415 in Traverse City for $7.50 each.