TRAVEL WITH SERENA -- WELCOME YOUR GUESTS

Many of us will be traveling over the holidays; many others will have house guests. Travel editor Serena Brower offers up a few suggestions for making your guest feel welcome. -- AP

Have you ever stayed at the home of a friend or relative and spent the time living out of a suitcase on the floor? Annoying, isn’t it? Make your guests more comfortable by providing them with a drawer and closet space for their clothes.

If space is an issue, and your guests will have to live out of their suitcases, purchase a suitcase rack for your guest room. These are inexpensive and can be folded up and stored in the back of a closet after your guests leave. Living out of suitcase for several days is bad enough. Don’t make your guests get down on their hands and knees whenever they need clean underwear.

On a bedside table provide an alarm clock, box of tissues, and a small dish or tray for rings and other jewelry your guests will remove at night.

Make sure there’s a place where your guests can charge their cell phones.

Don’t forget to leave plenty of extra towels in the bathroom. No one wants a wet, naked guest making a mad dash to the linen closet.

Motion sensor night lights help guests navigate to the bathroom in the middle of the night without stubbing their toes or bashing their shins on furniture.

Splurge on some new pillows for the guest room. Don’t make your guests sleep on your lumpy discards. And make sure you provide extra blankets for those chilly night.

Thanks, Serena! Readers, do you do anything special to get ready for your holiday guests? Let’s hear from you. -- AP

TRAVEL WITH SERENA -- THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is next week, and travel editor Serena Brower knows that many of you will be heading out by car, train, or plane to spend the holiday with relatives. Once upon a time, our ancestors traveled by another mode of transportation. How many of you remember this song from your childhoods? -- AP

Over the river and through the woods,

To grandmother's house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,

Through the white and drifted snow, O!

Over the river and through the woods,

Oh how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes, and bites the nose,

As over the ground we go.


Over the river and through the woods,

To have a first-rate play;

Oh hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!"

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day, Hey!

Over the river and through the woods,

Trot fast my dapple gray!

Spring over the ground, like a hunting hound!

For this is Thanksgiving Day, Hey!


Over the river and through the woods,

And straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow.

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods,

Now grandmother's cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

I'll bet that brought back some memories! Tell us about your Thanksgiving memories for a chance to win a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP