When you stay at someone’s house for the holidays, you’re generally going to be a topic of conversation.
Before your visit and especially after your visit.
Unfortunately, this can go either way: you can charm the socks off your hosts…or annoy the hell out of them. For better or worse, being a good houseguest is entirely in your control.
Here’s a quick guide to make sure you end up on the right side of “memorable” this holiday season:
Well done, sir! | Uh...You did what? |
| You called ahead to ask about the agenda and expectations during your stay | You assumed your hosts would entertain you the entire time and sat around looking at them while eating their food and saying "what's next, guys?" |
| You gave your hosts a clear arrival and departure time | You decided to "go with the flow," and surprised them 2 hours before they were expecting you, and stayed 2 days longer than they hoped |
| You walked in the door carrying a bottle of wine and some chocolates | You showed up empty handed and immediately asked to use their phone for a long-distance call |
So thoughtful! | What were you thinking? |
| You sucked it up when they wanted to play Scrabble for 3 hours | You sat in the corner sucking down beers while cackling at ridiculous YouTube videos |
| You kept your luggage neatly tucked away and organized in your guest room | Your smelly sweatshirt laid on the dining room table until 2 minutes before dinner, when the hostess finally had to "suggest" that you find a better spot for it |
| Your toiletries were tidily stowed on the far corner of the bathroom counter or in your room | You left your razor (and your stray hairs) in the sink while your grimy toothbrush carelessly leaned up against the hostess' toothbrush |
High five! | Palm to face |
| You offered to help at each mealtime and complemented the hosts on the food | You explained that you really weren’t a fan of string beans, and did they have any frozen tater tots you could eat to tide you over? |
| You helped wash the dishes and put away the leftovers | You stood in the kitchen eating stuffing out of the serving dish while watching your hosts clean up |
| You asked if it might be okay to do some exploring in the afternoon, and whether they might need anything while you were out | You disappeared without a trace for 3 hours, and returned with a case of wine that you hid away in your room |
YES! | Noooooo!!! |
| You let your hosts control the remote and watch their favorite programs on TV | You insisted everyone sit through a 4-hour marathon of Boardwalk Empire "because the character development is amazing” |
| When leaving, you removed your bed linens, tidied up, and left them with a parting gift | When leaving, you left them with your unmade bed and a wet towel wadded up on the floor |
| After getting back home, you sent your hosts a thank you note and told them they were welcome to stay with you anytime | After getting back home, you tagged them in some unflattering pictures with the caption “LOL. Good times! Same place, same time next year?” |
Conclusion: What it takes to be a good houseguest
There’s really no secret to being a good houseguest. And it’s not much harder to be a good houseguest than it is to be a bad one.
So, if you’re going to make an impression, you might as well make it a good one.
Ultimately you just need to be mindful of your hosts and remember that you’re in their space. Which means: follow their lead, thank them excessively, and try to be as positive and helpful as you can while you’re there.
Have you had a bad guest experience? (whether as the host or the guest) What happened? Leave a comment below!
” And it’s not much harder to be a good houseguest than it is to be a bad one.”
Boom right there. This applies to so many other things, too. In general, doing something the right way isn’t that much more difficult than the wrong way.
So true, Greg!