{"id":20289,"date":"2022-12-20T09:50:45","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T14:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=20289"},"modified":"2024-01-09T15:20:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T20:20:57","slug":"how-to-be-a-good-house-guest-holiday-visitor-etiquette-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/your-life\/how-to-be-a-good-house-guest-holiday-visitor-etiquette-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be a Good House Guest: Holiday Visitor Etiquette Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ready to be a great guest?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Holidays\ncan be the best time to get families and friends together for an extended\nvisit. The kids are out of school, the adults have time off from work, and\nthere\u2019s just nothing like enjoying a festive event with those you don\u2019t get to\nsee enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\nis a joyful season, it must be said that the traveling and hosting that goes\nhand in hand with holiday get-togethers can also be overwhelming \u2013 for the host\nand the guest! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s sleeping in your old room at Mom and Dad\u2019s, couch surfing with friends, or bunking with cousins, if you\u2019re spending the night in someone else\u2019s home, it\u2019s probably a good time to brush up on some house guest etiquette to make the visit truly enjoyable. It doesn\u2019t matter if you plan on dropping by for a short stint or settling in for a more extended stay, following these house guest tips will definitely increase the chance of getting an invite back.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep\nscrolling for our 6 tips on how to be a good house\nguest \u2013 for the holidays, and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

House Guest Etiquette Rule #1: Bring a Gift<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

House guests should always bring a gift for their\nhosts. It doesn\u2019t have to be an enormous or lavish present by any means, but\nsomething thoughtful and kind presented with gratitude will start the visit off\non the right foot. Some of our favorite gifts for hosts include a bottle of\nwine, artisanal olive oil, flowers, candles or a\nvintage treasure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the\nhome you\u2019re staying in has kids, you\u2019ll instantly get bonus points by busting\nout some candy and small toys. This will make the littles warm up to you pretty\nimmediately, which is important \u2013 especially if they\u2019ve been moved so you can\nstay in one of their rooms! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

House Guest Etiquette Rule #2: Clear Arrival and\nDeparture Dates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Let your hosts know exactly how long you plan to stay.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Franklin is often quoted as saying, \u201c\u200b\u200bGuests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.\u201d Keep that in mind as you choose the length of your stay and be sure to communicate arrival and departure dates well in advance of the visit. Being vague about your plans when you\u2019re on someone else\u2019s turf is not just bad house guest manners \u2013 it\u2019s bad form in general. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re\nexpecting your hosts to pick you up at the airport, aim to keep them over-<\/em>informed of any delays or other\nchanges in the schedule. Also provide your hosts with the flight carrier and\nflight number that you\u2019re coming in on so that they can track any delays\nthemselves from the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

House Guest Etiquette Rule #3: Respect the House\nRules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a house guest, you must always be aware that you are\nin someone else\u2019s territory. As such, it\u2019s important you follow the rules of\nhouse, even if they\u2019re not explained directly to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First,\nask before you access or touch anything outside of your \u201cguest quarters\u201d (that\nincludes the thermostat). Find out the general waking and quiet hours, along\nwith any necessary details about the kids and pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second,\nturn your Spidey sense on and observe the routines of the house. Your guests\nmay be too shy (or well-mannered) to explicitly call you out on bad house guest manners \u2013 like continuing to wear\nyour shoes after everyone else has left theirs at the door or leaving your\nguest room a shambles throughout the day \u2013 but they will definitely notice. And\nremember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

House Guest Etiquette Rule #4: Help Clean Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re wondering how to be a good guest, helping your hosts clean or tidy is the place to start. Doing the dishes immediately after meals, wiping down countertops, cleaning bathrooms after use \u2013 the list of what needs your attention should be relatively obvious. And if you\u2019re not sure exactly what to do or how to help? Get creative. Take the trash to the curb. Help the kids pick up their rooms. Bring the dog to get groomed. Wash your host\u2019s car (especially if they\u2019re letting you drive it). As a house guest, you need simply look for areas you can help \u2013 and then go ahead and get it done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Love cooking? Make a dinner or take your hosts out for a night.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While cleaning up is an extremely important part of being a good house guest \u2013 so is not creating messes in the first place. If you tend to be a bit untidy, try to pick up your clothes, make your bed, and not leave your personal items strewn around the house (or all over the bathroom counter). Everyone feels calmer and more comfortable in a clean house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

House Guest Etiquette Rule #5: Be Present in the\nMoment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Put in\nthe work to truly connect with your hosts by setting aside distractions and\nbeing present in the moment. This means storing your laptop, putting your phone\ndown, and really making an effort to engage with the family or friends you\u2019re\nvisiting. It can be difficult to tear ourselves away from our screens, but it\nis important to give your hosts the attention and respect they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\nsaid, also be sure to take time for yourself. While introverts might find it\nespecially stressful to stay constantly engaged during a visit, anyone can get\nfed up after spending too much time with someone else. Be sure to focus on your\nneeds as well as those of your host. It will serve to make the trip as\nenjoyable as can be for all involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

House Guest Etiquette Rule #6: Celebrate Your\nVisit \u2013 and Your Departure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Do something nice for your hosts before you leave.
Free Image via Pixabay<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s\nalways a nice gesture to either make dinner (or take your hosts out) on the\nlast night of the visit. If you\u2019re not especially handy in the kitchen, it is\nalso more than OK to order a takeout spread. Make sure your hosts know your\nplan in advance, so that they\u2019re not surprised (especially if they\u2019re the type\nto pull something together themselves for your last night).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nfestive good-bye dinner is a perfect chance to end your visit on the highest of\nnotes, reminiscing about your trip and maybe even daydreaming about your next\nget-together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The above\ntips about how to be a good house guest will\nhopefully help smooth any bumps during your holiday visits this year. If it\u2019s\nstill not going quite as well as expected, it\u2019s more than OK to ask your hosts\nif there is anything in particular you can do to help shoulder some more of the\nload. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find more ways to be a good house guest in the following articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n