We host homes in six very different places: Houston, Austin and Crystal Beach in Texas, the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, Lake Freeman in Indiana and Los Angeles. Every one of them comes with a full kitchen, bed linens, towels, and the basic toiletries and pantry items, so you do not need to pack a household. But each location has a few things that guests regularly wish they had brought. Here they are.
What you never need to pack
Sheets, towels, pillows, hand and body soap, shampoo, toilet paper, dish soap, coffee, tea, cooking oil, salt and pepper, hangers, an iron, a hair dryer, and a first‑aid kit. Every home has these. If something is missing when you arrive, tell Kelly and it gets sorted.
Houston (Medical Center and NRG)
Comfortable walking shoes for hospital corridors, a light layer for aggressive air conditioning, and an umbrella; Houston rain arrives sideways and without notice. If you are here for treatment, bring a folder for paperwork and any medication you need refrigerated; the fridges are full‑size. Event guests: NRG has a clear bag policy, so bring one.
Austin (West Campus)
Swimwear, because Barton Springs is not optional. Sunscreen and a hat. Burnt orange if it is game day, unless you are supporting the other team, in which case good luck. A reusable water bottle; it is hot and the trail is long. Earplugs if you are a light sleeper during a big weekend.
Crystal Beach (Bolivar Peninsula)
This is the one where people under‑pack. Beach chairs and an umbrella (the cottage has some, but bring your own if you have a full carload), a cooler, fishing gear if you fish, water shoes for the shell beds, and heavy‑duty sunscreen. A cheap beach cart pays for itself in a day. If you have a golf cart or can rent one locally, do; it is how the peninsula gets around.
The Poconos (Lake Harmony and Arrowhead Lake)
Winter: proper gloves, waterproof boots, hand warmers, and ski gear if you own it (rentals are available at Jack Frost). Summer: swimwear, a towel for the lake, bug spray, a headlamp for the walk back from the fire pit, and a jumper for the evenings; it drops cooler than you expect at altitude. All year: firewood is stocked, marshmallows are not.
Lake Freeman (Monticello, Indiana)
Life jackets are provided with the kayaks, but bring your own for small children if you have them. Fishing licences are required in Indiana and can be bought online before you arrive. Sunscreen, bug spray, a cooler for the dock, and card games for the guest house bar in the evening.
One thing for everywhere
Your check‑in details. They are sent with your booking confirmation, and having them on your phone rather than buried in an inbox makes arrival simpler. And if you forget something, anything, message Kelly. Nobody is going to make you feel bad about it.
Check availability or browse our homes by destination.