Why plan for the unexpected if you now find it's fairly normal to have sudden guests appear around the holidays. This means you are someone they feel great being around during this most festive time of the year. So, with that being the new mindset............prepare for your guests.
I keep a nice wicker basket on the guest bed filled with convenience sized shampoo, conditioner, face soap, body wash, toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, eye drops, aleve, bath sponge, towels, scented linen spray, a channel guide for the cable television, a welcome note detailing where extra blankets and linens are and how to adjust the thermostat, a small tin of cookies, chocolates, pastel mints, hair brush, comb, razor, shaving cream, deodorant, chap stick, travel sized manicure kit, sewing kit, pedicure set and clear polish. I keep a nice one-size fits most soft robe hanging in the armoire along with a pair of mens and womens slippers. I have a small 4 cup coffee pot on the guest bathroom vanity with hot cocoa packets, coffee, creamer and sweetener and 2 cups. I have a small refrigerator that I keep in there with bottled water, a few soft drinks and small bottles of juice. I took my cues from nice hotel rooms that specialize in making guests feel comfortable. During the holidays this room is also decorated for the celebration to include a wrapped gift on the bench at the foot of the bed.
A beautiful collage of frames, a really nice calendar for the upcoming year, a box of chocolates or even nice holiday candles make wonderful generic gifts.