How To Be A Good House Guest
No other time of the year fills our social calendar quite like the holiday season. Events both large and intimate take up most of our weekends in December and many of us travel across state lines to reunite with loved ones we haven’t seen in far too long. While hosting family, there is usually plenty of preparation that goes into being the best host you can be. But how much thought and preparation does one dedicate to being a good house guest? Below are some of the most indispensable qualities for a good house guest to possess.
Communicate with your host.
Share the specifics regarding your stay with your host as soon as you have finalized the details. Have a clear arrival date and a clear departure date and time. It doesn’t hurt to text your host an ETA update before you are due to arrive, too! If you are traveling by plane, be clear about transportation. Even if your host has graciously offered to transport you to and from the airport, do not assume that you have a chauffeur during your stay. Ask, “Would it be helpful if I got a rental car for the duration of my trip?”
Ask what you can bring.
Even if your host says “nothing” try not to arrive empty handed. Stop and grab fresh flowers on the way or have a small hostess gift packed in your suitcase ready to go if you are getting picked up. A small trinket or confectionary item from your hometown would be a thoughtful idea!
Come prepared.
A good host will provide their guests with the basics but don’t be a burden by failing to prepare! Pack your essentials (toiletries, medicine, etc) and double check that you have everything before you leave your home.
Be adaptable.
Ask when your hosts usually go to bed and wake up in the mornings so you can follow suit if you can. Go along with as many of your host’s pre-planned activities as possible. Your hosts probably put a great deal of thought toward your arrival and you can show appreciation for their efforts by being easygoing and receptive to their plans. Do not suggest plans yourself unless asked. Try to give everything a chance and make an effort to display how much fun you are actually having. That will surely make your hosts feel appreciated.
Lend A Hand.
Make your bed. Pick up after yourself. Make every attempt to leave your guest quarters as clean as they were when you first arrived. Offer to help with meals or do the dishes or take out the trash. Even if your host declines, offering is polite and shows consideration for others. Also make an effort to ensure that you have taken all of your belongings with you when it is time to leave. It is an additional burden on your host to mail back to you anything you forget, so don’t let it come to that!
Write A Thank You Note.
Leave a thank you note in the guest room or mail one to your host within a few days of arriving home. Make sure it is handwritten and expresses sincere gratitude for their hospitality.
DON’T:
Snoop around their home.
Take excessively long showers.
Bring anyone else with you (including a pet) who was not invited.
Use anything without asking first.
Make plans during your stay without first checking with your host.
Overstay your welcome.