Does your holiday travel include staying overnight with family or friends? It does for a lot of us and there are a few things to keep in mind when youβre a guest in someoneβs home. Even if they invited you to stay - or insisted upon it - saying it was βno trouble at all,β remember that having house guests does take up time and energy and maybe even money. So the least you can do is not make things harder for them or act like a jerk.
Hereβs what not to do as an overnight guest, so you can leave on good terms with your host.
- Showing up unannouncedΒ - This goes for any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. Arriving at someoneβs door without asking if you can stay with them isnβt just rude, they may not be home, or have other plans, or they just canβt put you up.
- Assuming itβs okay to bring your petΒ - Just because someone invites you to stay doesnβt mean theyβre extending that offer to your animals as well. If you want to bring your pet, do the right thing and ask first. And if they say no, donβt push back or beg.
- Being rude to your hosts or other guestsΒ - This should go without saying, but be polite to your host, their family and anyone else there. Itβs literally the least you can do.
- Ignoring house rulesΒ - If they asked you to take your shoes off at the door or keep the noise down after 9p.m., do it! Their house, their rules and you need to follow them while youβre there.
- Acting like youβre staying in a hotelΒ - Remember that your host is doing you a favor by allowing you to stay in their home, and you canβt expect the same amenities you get at a hotel. So donβt wait for someone to make your bed, clean up after you, make your meals or let you have the run of the place.
- Criticizing or insulting your host or their homeΒ - While youβre a guest, you may not think the guest room mattress is soft enough or that the interior design could use an upgrade, but keep it to yourself. Sure, youβre entitled to your opinion, but you donβt need to share that with your host.
Source:Β Lifehacker