5 Things You Should Bring To A Guest House [Know Before You Go]

Guest Houses
Written By Taz Zaidi

What To Bring To A Guest House

Guest houses are more laid-back than hotels.

They also tend to provide fewer amenities for guests. This means guest house guests are typically expected to bring more personal items with them.

In this guide, we’ll cover what every traveler should consider bringing to a guest house stay.

After covering the essential amenities that hosts will typically provide, we’ll cover the 5 items to bring, plus how to filter your search to find the guest houses that provide the specific amenities you want.

*Agoda.com is one of the best places to find and book guest houses online. To see today’s deals on guest houses in your destination, click here.

Which Amenities Are Included In My Booking?

Guest houses (also spelled “guesthouses”) can vary by atmosphere, amenities and property type. To learn all about the 8 types of guest houses, click here. Also, in comparison to hotels, guest houses typically provide fewer services. For example, most hotels replace guest towels and bedsheets daily - many guest houses don’t.

So, what do guest houses typically include/provide? Essential amenities you can expect to find in a guest house stay include: a towel (per guest), hand soap and possible extras (like coat hangers). Some guest houses offer more, but this is what to expect at a minimum.

*For today’s deals on guest houses in your destination, click here.

5 Things To Bring To A Guest House Stay

Below are the 5 items you should consider bringing to a guest house stay. I’ve provided context as to why you should bring each item, as well as quality and budget-friendly options on Amazon.com. All these items are affordable (you can buy all 5 for under $100 total).

1) Basic Toiletries

Guest houses typically provide fewer toiletries than hotels do. They usually provide hand soap and toilet paper, but you should likely expect to bring your own toothbrush, toothpaste, shower soap and shampoo (sometimes provided), plus any other items that are part of your daily hygiene routine (like a hair dryer).

2) Toiletry Bag

Regardless of the setup in your particular guest house (whether it includes a shared bathroom or it’s a fully private rental), toiletry bags are great for organizing your toiletries. Some bags have a hook, which allows them to be hung in a bathroom, locker or bedside.

  • For Men: For a water-resistant, reliable toiletry bag with multiple compartments and available in multiple colors on Amazon, click here.

  • For Women: For a water-resistant, reliable toiletry bag with multiple compartments and available in multiple colors, click here.

3) Flip Flops

Many guest houses do not provide room slippers. By bringing flip flops, you can move around your room, bathroom and the property without dirtying your feet or having to put shoes on. Flip flops can be especially convenient in beachfront or rustic-themed properties.

4) Power Strip

While hotels typically provide electrical outlets within reach of each bed, guest houses often do not (many weren’t originally built to host guests). For this reason, it’s a good idea to bring a power strip with you. This way, you can more easily use your phone and/or other electronics while charging them from a distance.

  • For a reasonably-sized power strip (that also has 4 USB ports), click here.

5) Universal Travel Adapter

If you’re traveling to a location with a different wall socket input than your home country, buy an adapter for your trip. You’ll insert your plug into the adapter, then insert the adapter into the wall socket. You could buy a region-specific adapter for a destination you’ll be visiting, or a universal adapter that will work on all your future trips. To see exactly which adapter you’ll need in any particular destination, click here.

  • For a quality, well-priced universal travel adapter on Amazon, click here.

*3 more items to consider bringing to a guest house, particularly in urban or shared spaces, include: ear plugs (for sound sleep), padlock (to lock your belongings, if locker is included) and a microfiber towel (your provided towel might not be as comfortable as you'd like).

*For today’s deals on guest houses in your destination, click here.

How To Filter Your Search To Find Specific Features

To find a guest house with a specific feature, filter the search on Agoda.com by selecting “Guesthouse/bed and breakfast” below the “Property type” section.

From here, your search results will display guest house properties. To find guest houses within any particular price range, adjust the “price per night” on the sliding scale (below the “Your budget” filter).

Breakfast Included + Kitchen/Kitchenette

To find a guest house with breakfast included or with a kitchen/kitchenette, click “More” (below the search bar), then select “Breakfast included” under “Room offers” and/or “Kitchen” under “Room amenities”.

To find other room or property features, browse the various filters (washing machine, refrigerator, etc.).

*For today’s deals on guest houses in your destination, click here.

Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

Guest houses vary in presentation, style and amenities offered. Because of this, it’s important to be prepared prior to your arrival. Consider bringing these 5 items to ensure a comfortable, stress-free stay. To learn more about guest houses, explore our other guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

How To Find Great Deals On Guest Houses

Agoda.com is a great place to book a guest house online. You’ll find properties for groups, solo travelers, couples and families. For today’s deals on guest houses in your destination, click here. If you’ve never stayed in a guest house before and just prefer a step-by-step guide showing you how to find and book your ideal stay, follow our Guest House Booking Guide.

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Taz Zaidi [Author]
Taz Zaidi [Author]

Taz Zaidi is an American travel writer and the founder/creator of TRVLGUIDES.com. Connect with him on Instagram (@tazzaidi) or on his personal website, at tazzaidi.com.

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Taz Zaidi
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