As we said in the previous article, welcoming guests properly counts for a great deal. Beyond a smile at check-in, a welcome basket goes a long way towards making people feel at home.
It is not compulsory, but it is a good way to start a stay well.
Alongside the welcome gift, we think it is worth providing the basics for the first day or two. A few rolls of loo paper, kitchen roll, napkins, coffee and washing-up sponges, plus shampoo and shower gel in the bathrooms, are all part of a decent welcome.
1. A simple welcome gift: wine and water
Straightforward and easy to put together. A bottle of wine and some water is enough to make most guests happy. There is no shortage of wines to choose from, and you can buy well ahead of the check-in. And the important question: who does not enjoy a good bottle of wine?
2. A welcome gift of local produce
This one is our own favourite. Our welcome gifts are mostly made up of things from the region: a good local wine, something from the bakery we like best, and a bottle of water. Guests are delighted by it, and genuinely pleased to try something from where they are staying.
3. A welcome gift of toiletries
A sound option, since there is almost always someone who has left something behind. Toothbrushes and toothpaste, body lotion, dental floss or wet wipes all work. It costs a little more, but it shows the guest you have gone to some trouble over their stay.
