Zane Watson

Beds made tight; two pillow types; extra blanket within reach. Clear Wi‑Fi card on the nightstand. Power strip with USB‑C and Lightning; a cheap spare charger so no one raids my kid's. Nightlight and blackout curtains; people sleep better. Same setup at my ex's place so the kids don't relearn a new system each week. Hooks on the back of the door and a visible hamper so laundry doesn't wander. Set out towel and washcloth per person; put toiletries in a small clear bin with labeled spares (toothbrush, paste, razor). Water carafe and a snack bar—just granola and nuts—because midnight rummaging wakes the house. Printed "how to" for coffee and thermostat. If there are kids: step stool, plastic cup, simple books. Keep meds high and a small first‑aid kit in the room. Finally, empty one drawer and some closet space; guests need somewhere to land their stuff.

I agree with this and your instincts here since a universal remote will work fine with a Samsung TV over simple infrared. That pick fits your situation because the buttons are big and clear, it can run the TV and a small soundbar, and Samsung codes usually program on the first try so there is no fiddly app or Bluetooth pairing. If your soundbar uses HDMI ARC you can just program the TV and let it pass volume which keeps setup relaxed. It handles power volume input and basic play and pause without extra clutter and it does not chew through batteries.