Spring time is always the start of the new travel season. You can still go to places in the South without having to suffer from roaring temperatures and peak season fares. And so I’ve decided to fly my mom over. In Dubai, it’s now just over 40 C (104 F) and Emirates offered a great promotional deal. How could I not do it?!

With everything else going on, I didn’t want to stress about preparing my mom’s room. Instead of doing everything in one big go, I opted for 30 minute blocks. A lot easier to digest. If you don’t want to break into a sweat, check out these tips:

• Where will your guests stay? Do you have a designated guest room or will a room double function? Instead of sleeping on the couch, you can invest in inflatable beds (those with a motor already built in) or a mattress which can be stored underneath your bed.
• To make them feel comfortable provide some closet space for your guests. This may also be the opportunity to remove unwanted or not worn clothing items from your wardrobe. If you don’t have a closet, you can check into garment racks. You may also want to create some space in the hall for the extra shoes, jackets and hand bags.
• For easy unpacking, you can provide a flat area like a bench (where you could store linens) or a suitcase stand.
• If your visitors are coming from abroad, they may need an adapter. An extra charger is always great just like sharing your wifi password with them. Those international roaming chargers can spoil any holiday. Giving them a local, pre-paid SIM card will also be fantastic for them and you!
• It’s always welcoming to have towels prepared for your visitors. To help your guests identify their specific towels, you can offer different colours for each guests.

• Travel sized toiletries are a nice gesture. They may bring their own toothbrush, but you may want to offer essentials like toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo and body lotion. Out here, sun screen can be added. A decent hair dryer is a fantastic surprise.
• To help your visitors stay hydrated, leave a bottle of water with them. Prior to their arrival, find out about any dietary restrictions. You may want to cater accordingly.
• Less is more in a guest room. Leave your guests some empty space to place their items on the night stand, the coffee table or desk.
• If your visitors are not from your area, give them some local maps, a tourist guide, information on getting around plus a metro card, Entertainer vouchers and a copy of the latest Time Out magazine.

How ow are you getting organised for your guests? Leave a comment and share your story. I’d love to hear from you,

Agni