Bathroom and toilet

Two-ply toilet paper Yes, two-ply. Nobody likes single-ply.

Towels Supply the biggest, most luxurious bath towels you can afford – preferably a bath sheet and a small hand towel. They should be made of cotton or bamboo (no synthetics, please).

Basin, shower and/ or bath The shower and bath should be big enough and the showerhead placed high enough so a tall person won’t have to duck their head. Also ensure that the pipe extending from the wall is long enough, so that the person doesn’t have to stand close to the back wall to be under the jet of water.

Toilet Test the toilet before and after you’ve had guests. Does it flush properly? Does the water level rise? Are the seat and lid securely fitted? The toilet could cast a dark cloud over an entire experience.

Geyser It should be big enough and heat the water adequately to make sure all overnight guests can bathe properly. A gas geyser that heats water as needed could well be more economical.

Taps The hot- and coldwater taps at the basin, shower and bath should be clearly marked – and most certainly not be reversed. Change the tap washers as soon as you notice dripping.

Mirror Ideally, provide a mirror at the basin at a height that would suit both Casper de Vries and Victor Matfield.

Soap Provide a decent bar of soap (or liquid soap) at the basin and the shower. Those silly little bars of soap that hotels and guest houses distribute so eagerly are not very practical.