Ten Tips for Having Guests Stay

I hope everyone's new year is off to a great start. Mine has been busy but fun. We kicked off 2023 with something very exciting for us. We had our very first guest staying with us at our home in Saudi. We have lived here off and on since 2015 and nonstop since 2019. We return to the UK every summer to see family, but we had never had anyone visit us from back home, until now! My mum visited us this January for 10 days. she was not only our first guest to Saudi but it was her first visit to this part of the world too so we wanted to make sure she had a fantastic time and show her what a wonderful part of the world we live in. We had such a lovely time and I thought I would share with you my tips for having friends and family from back home coming to stay.

1. Make sure they have everything they need when they arrive

We loved setting up my mum's room like a hotel room. We tried to think of everything she might need from toiletries to bathrobe and towels, books to read, abayas if wanted, a laptop, and chargers. We made sure to stock the foods she might like to eat.

2. Give them a warm welcome

We put fresh flowers and chocolates in the room and the kids made little notes and gifts to make their nanny feel welcome.

3. Let them guide their stay

Find out in advance what they would like from their stay. Do they want to relax, to sightsee, to do umrah, or to go on an adventure? Do they want to stay local or travel a little within the country? Get their opinions and let that (along with time and budget) guide your plans.

4. Make an itinerary

Time really flies and it can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day even when family or friends visit so making a plan can make sure you do some fun things and make the most of your time. you can see my Mums favorite places from her trip below.

5. Do chores in advance

The last thing you want to be doing when you have a guest staying is cooking and cleaning. I batch cooked some meals in advance and froze them so the evenings that we ate at home, I could simply pull something out of the freezer and put it in the oven. If it is an option then it could be worth hiring a cleaner while you have guests to give you more time.

6. Don't try to cram too much in

Just as it's easy to let time slip away, planning too much can leave your guest and you too tired to really enjoy their stay, so balance is key. Plan activities around the usual flow of your day. For my family that meant getting out in the mornings and allowing afternoons to relax. We also went out a couple of nights and further afield at the weekend.

7. Think like a tourist

When we have been here a while we forget about the things that made us go wow when we first started exploring our new home. Try to think back, what were your favorite things to do when you first arrived? What are the places to visit and things to do that give a holistic taste of Saudi Arabia? Some history, some culture, some scenery, and of course, some food. Mix it up. Do a little of everything.

8. Give them some space

As much as it's great to spend time with family, it can be hard on people who aren't used to all the chaos of family life. So, especially if you have a busy household, make sure your guest has a space of their own that they can escape to if they need to rest. Ideally, this would be their own room, but if that's not possible then try to work in times that they have the house to themselves or some time to relax in the garden without others around.

9. Make it easy for them

Check out all the requirements for travel and send them a checklist. Send them the links for things such as their visas or apps they may need on arrival. Book their taxis with a trusted driver or collect them from the airport. Book the easiest flights at the best times for them wherever possible.

10. Enjoy it

Having guests goes so fast so don't fret about the small stuff. Make time to enjoy your visitors and the activities you do with them. Eat the dessert, detour to catch a nice view, make cocktails to drink in the garden, leave the washing up and go for a walk instead!

Places we took my Mum for her first visit to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

• Mangrove eco-park, Ras Tanura

• Desert camp, Dhahran

• Ithra exhibit and museum

• The Belgravian, Khobar, for brunch

• Al Hasa caves and Al Qarah hill

• Cay coffee

• Ras Tanura beach

• Mall of Dhahran

• La Mer, Khobar for brunch

• Khobar Corniche

• Dammam Heritage village

• Ithra for a show (we saw Shrek the musical)

• The Cheesecake factory Ajdan walk, Khobar (we don't have The Cheesecake factory in the UK!)