Not everyone has an extra room or even a bed mattress for guests. Today there all sorts of reasons to have a spare air mattress. Even having a guest room does not mean those guest won't bring along their children. But anyone who has slept on an air mattress knows that they are not always perfect solutions. Modern beds have lots of padding, and that padding is basically controlling and containing air, but that air is also surrounded by lots of matter, scientific matter. Wool, cotton, polyester, silk, latex, and foam are types of matter that will to one extent or another hold onto the heat of the body in the bed. Sleepers often take for granted the padding beneath their body and its ability to hold onto their body heat until it is not there.
Air mattresses, lacking that matter will disperse the heat from the body leaving the user feeling colder as the night progresses. The various types of plastic that make up the air chamber may also lead the user to perspire. This is not hospitality at its finest.
The solution is simple. A good quality mattress topper, perhaps even one with a foam mattress inside the top layer will provide more matter to contain the heat of the user while at the same time keeping the body away from the plastic beneath. This mattress cover can also be cleaned and stored with the air mattress for those extra emergencies. If there is guest bed that is the same size as the air mattress, use the mattress cover on the guest bed and only remove it for those special circumstances. If there isn't an extra room put a set of sheets and the mattress cover in a container specially designed for guests. Include a set of clean towels, a flashlight, and anything else one might think would make the guest feel welcome. A packaged tooth brush and tooth paste set thrown in the bottom might not be a bad idea and would show extra thoughtfulness.
Futons and other couch beds would also be greatly assisted by a thick mattress topper for different reasons. Often the padding on those types of beds is thinner than a traditional mattress and the support mechanisms can be felt. An extra pillow or foam mattress cover can provide that extra padding and mean the difference between well rested and happy guests and those a little cranky in the morning.
Providing a guest a good night's rest will make any host a star!