Being a good guest

HouseguestsIt’s inevitable: Whether your choice places to stay when you travel are hostels or hotels, you’ll eventually end up couch surfing in the home of a friend or acquaintance. How do you know you’ll be a good guest? Lifehacker’s recent “Be a Perfect Guest in the 21st Century” points out that the best advice goes beyond merely being polite and focuses on not burdening your host.

Many of us have nightmare houseguest stories, and learn from those experiences so others can’t tell the same stories about us. The Lifehacker article boils the main points down to three categories:

1.    Communicate: Make sure you know each other’s schedule, talk about dietary restrictions and personal quirks, and ask about the household schedule and practices.
2.    Be prepared: Pack what you’ll need, plan for your own transport and consider a rough itinerary so you’re not relying on your host to entertain you.
3.    You’re not in a hotel: Clean up, repay your host in some fashion (buying groceries, taking him out to dinner, buying her a present) and send a thank you when you get home.

Is it all that simple? What are your own best practices when being hosted on your travels?

Posted by | Comments Off on Being a good guest  | August 20, 2010
Category: General, Hospitality

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