How to Be a Good Houseguest when Visiting Friends or Relatives

If you want to visit friends or family that live too far away to make it a day trip, and you hope to stay with them, there are a few things you can do to make sure your visit is enjoyable for everyone. Being a good houseguest also makes it more likely that you'll be invited back in the future. Here are some tips on visiting friends or relatives.

1. Ask Before You Visit!

It seems so elementary, but horror stories of people who show up unannounced and uninvited are commonplace. I suppose these people are counting on not being turned away, but talk about bad manners and taking advantage of others! If you throw out hints hoping someone asks you to stay but they don't, you have two choices. You can either book yourself a hotel in the area, or ask them if it's okay for you to stay with them. Chances are they'll say yes, which means you then have a responsibility to be a good houseguest.

2. Take A Gift

A good houseguest will bring along a small gift to give their hosts upon arrival. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, but if you know them well enough to be staying at their house, hopefully you can think of something they'd appreciate. If nothing comes to mind, take them a fruit basket, chocolates or other edibles.

3. Follow Their Rules

When visiting friends or relatives in their own home, a good houseguest will do as their hosts do. If you're a smoker and they aren't, they'll probably want you to smoke outside. Don't just assume it's okay to light up--ask first, and if they say no, go outside without grumbling about it. The same goes for complying with any other household rule you might not particularly like. It's their house, and they're saving you the cost of a hotel, so be polite and follow their rules.

4. Be Accommodating!

While you're there, try to disrupt their normal schedules as little as possible. If they have to go to work early in the morning, don't expect them to cook you a big breakfast or wait while you spend hours in the bathroom. A houseguest's needs or wants shouldn't take precedence over the hosts.

5. Offer To Help

Being a good houseguest means offering to help the hosts with the cooking, cleaning or other chores. If they accept your offer, pitch in with a smile. However, if they decline, don't ignore them and do it anyway! No means no, and scouring the kitchen while they're at work is really bad manners. Your hosts will be irritated that you went against their wishes, which doesn't make for a particularly enjoyable visit.

6. Keep Your Visit Short

The general rule is to stay a maximum of three days. Anything longer than this is likely to start wearing the welcome mat thin, and good houseguests would never want that. Three days of entertaining out-of-town friends or relatives is about all most people can take. End your visit while they're still enjoying your company. Oh, and one more thing--don't even think of leaving behind a big mess for them to clean up!