If you’re going to be traveling to visit family for the upcoming holiday season and will be staying in their home with them, there are a few things you should brush up on and commit to so that both you and your hosts enjoy having you to visit.
To help you see just what these things are, here are three tips for being a better house guest this holiday season.
Make It Look Like You Haven’t Even Been There
While you will likely be traveling with a decent amount of stuff and you’ll be taking over a space that may or may not be meant for guests, it’s always a good rule of thumb to try to make it look like you haven’t even been in the spaces that you’re using as a guest.
In the place where you’re sleeping, make sure you make the bed every morning and keep your clothes and other belongings put away. Keeping everything in a closet or behind closed doors can help you ensure that your stuff doesn’t get spread too far. And when you’re using the bathroom to get ready for the day, be sure you clean up after yourself and bring everything back out of the bathroom when you’re done using it. This way, if anyone else comes to use that bathroom or needs to go into the room you’re sleeping in, they won’t have to worry about moving your stuff to find or do what they need.
Offer Help Wherever You Can
In addition to keeping your space clean and organized, you should also seek to make these things easier for your host as well.
When hosting people in their homes, it’s very easy for normal routines to get pushed to the wayside. This can make it so that your host feels like they have more on their plate than they can handle. Especially if you’re staying with someone who might have a hard time taking care of things as they are, like an elderly relative who’s on the verge of moving into an assisted living facility, you should be offering to help with things like cooking, cleaning, and other household tasks.
Be Clear About Your Timeframe And Schedule
While it’s now normal for things like canceled flights and other travel delays to make the exact timing of your trips a little up in the air, you should be clear with your hosts about when you plan to arrive and leave their home.
Along with this, you should also discuss what your plans are while you’re there. If you have other people or places that you’ll be visiting, make sure you inform your hosts so they can plan accordingly.
If you’re going to be a guest in someone else’s home this holiday season, consider using the tips mentioned above to be their best house guest yet.
Originally posted on October 19, 2022 @ 4:11 am