Sociability column by Linda DeWald

Tips for Houseguest Visits

Summer is a popular season for houseguest visits. Here are some tips to make the visits more enjoyable for you and your guests.

Invite Visitors!

We live in a magical gem of a city. It’s a joy when friends and family visit from afar.  To encourage houseguests, entice them with an online copy of this newspaper at www.jacksonvillereview.com. This site has a helpful Local Events Calendar.

Chat in Advance

When your guests tell you they will visit, start with some basic fact finding. See if they have food preferences or allergies. It’s not fun to present your lactose intolerant high cholesterol guests with an elaborate and expensive cheese tray!

Activities Menu

Before planning outings, do a quick assessment of your guests’ expectations. Do they want to relax at your place or do they want you to choreograph a whirlwind tour of every site we have to offer?

They may be tired from travel on the first day so not anxious to be “on the go”. That said, it is helpful to have options ready when they ask you, “What’s next on the agenda?”

It’s considerate to let your guests choose activities from your menu of alternatives. You can select an activity you really want to share. For my guests, that’s an obligatory ride on the Jacksonville trolley; board on N. 3rd St. at the corner of E. California St.

Concierge Materials

Keep local visitor information in your guest space.  Include brochures on Jacksonville history, restaurant menus, woodlands trail maps, plus flyers or ads for local stores and services. Check with the Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center on N. Oregon St. at W. C St.

Include information on activities for all age groups. For children, consider Rolling Hills Alpacas at 970 Old Stage Rd., one-mile from downtown Jacksonville. Observing a baby alpaca is a treat for all ages.

At-home Food

Have lots of munchies readily accessible around your home, like nuts and fruit. Have make-ahead meals at hand for times you don’t eat out. When you all return from a day of sight-seeing you can nap like everyone else, instead of cooking dinner.

Eating Out

When you choose a restaurant consider your guests’ food favorites and budget. Every one of our Jacksonville restaurants has something to offer.

My informal poll indicates houseguests typically treat their hosts to one special meal during their visit and other meals are handled with separate checks. It’s worth thinking in advance about this issue and what will work best for your group.

We are so lucky our restaurants provide separate checks without any complaint! Remember to ask up front so there are no awkward moments.

Cash at Hand

Hosts and guests will benefit from a pre-visit trip to their bank. Ample cash including small bills will keep restaurant and attraction payments simple and speedy. This is just one example of completing routine errands prior to a visit with a goal of less fuss during the visit.

Broken Pillows

A pillow is broken when it is old and doesn’t pop back into position. Did you put your broken pillows in your guest room when you bought new ones for yourself? That’s an example of upgrades that might be needed in your guest area.

Stay overnight in your guest quarters before your guests arrive and fine-tune as needed. Your visitors will appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Express Appreciation

Everyone loves encouraging feedback and expressions of gratitude. Words are powerful and positive words work wonders for hosts or guests.

Uplifting phrases like “How nice of you to take the time and effort”; “You’ve made me feel special”; and/or “I really appreciate what you did” work perfectly.

It may occur to you to use well-meaning phrases like “You shouldn’t have”, but I recommend sticking to the positive. The test is simple. If the exact same words could be used to chastise an errant child, it’s not the optimal compliment.

A modest parting gift for your guests is thoughtful; perhaps snacks for the road or airport. A follow-up communication is reassuring for both guests and hosts. A quick call or email to reiterate how well things went during the visit always feels good.

I hope your houseguest visits create wonderful memories!