7 Additional Etiquette Tips for the Overnight Guest

Being an overnight guest whether it is with family or friends can be challenging. I recently posted nine etiquette tips for being a good overnight guest. Here are seven additional tips that will help you navigate the nuances of being a gracious overnight guest and preserve the relationship.

• It seems to go without saying, however, do not bring soiled laundry to your host's home expecting to wash it there. It has happened where people are so busy with work and getting ready for the trip that they bring some dirty laundry with them to do at their host's home upon arrival. The best way to handle this is better planning. 
  
  If you are staying more than several days and/or have children, you may need to wash a load of clothing. Do ask your hosts for permission rather than assuming it is OK to do your laundry at their home.  

• Offer to assist with cooking, dishes, or grocery shopping. If on your third offer to assist and your host says no thank you, there is no need to pursue this further. 

• Plan to take your hosts to dinner or to cook a meal. Depending on the length of your stay, this could be once or twice. If you are staying a few days, then once is fine. Should you be staying a week, then twice would be considerate. 

• Remove your bedsheets on your last morning, placing them neatly on the end of the bed. Note that some hosts will say to simply leave the bedding on the bed. Honor your host's request. 

• Remember to return keys and/or a garage door opener to your host. 

• If you borrowed the host's vehicle, fill it to at least the level that you found in the vehicle, or top it off if possible. An alternative is to leave enough cash for the host to cover the cost of replacing the gasoline.

 

• Leave a thank you note for your host. Alternatively, send one within a week of arriving home. 

9 Etiquette Tips for the Overnight Guest

Will you be staying overnight with family or friends for Christmas? It isn't always easy staying with someone in their home, on their turf. While they may be family or friends, we often have different sleeping patterns, organization habits, cooking styles, and more. Following are etiquette tips for being a good overnight guest and how to make the experience more enjoyable for all.

Guests:

• Bring a hostess gift. This can be a candle, picture frame, candy, flavored oil, spices, or a green or flowering plant. Also thoughtful is a regional gift such as a local wine, jams, cookbook, or travel book for your hosts to begin planning their trip to visit you. 

 

• When told to "make yourself at home," do be gracious and neat. Avoid loud music or TVs, leaving clothing strewn about, bathroom towels in a pile, or the bed unmade. Ask your host where you should put your soiled linens, etc. Clean up your dishes, tidy the bathroom and your bedroom.

 

• As not everyone has the same sleep schedule, if you like to sleep in and your hosts are early risers, do discuss this ahead of time so that you can create an appropriate plan.

 

• Consider your sleeping attire. What goes at home might not work when others are present. Hence, sexy lingerie, sleeping in your underwear, or in the nude should be reserved for home. This is especially so if you are sleeping on the couch or an open room. And no, saying "I sleep better in the nude" will not work as an excuse. Err on the side of modesty.       

      

• If you have allergies, consider this in your plans of where to stay. If you are allergic to cats, and your host has a very furry kitty, do not expect your host to keep the cat in another room while you are there. In this case it is best for you to stay elsewhere such as at a hotel. 

   

• If you or your children have a fear of dogs, or other pets, do not expect your host to keep their pet in another room or outside during your visit. You are best staying elsewhere.    

       

• If all the bedrooms in your host's home are all on an upper level and you are unable to navigate the stairs, discuss this with your host. Perhaps there is an option to set up a sleeping arrangement on the main level.   

 

• Do not ask or expect your host's to offer their child's room to you.

 

• If you live with your boyfriend or girlfriend, though are staying with mom and dad for the holidays, respect their wishes of where you will sleep. Some parents won't have an issue with you and your significant other sleeping together in their home, while others will. You most likely know which way your parents feel. There is no need for an argument. If your parents are uncomfortable with your sleeping arrangements, and you feel you must sleep with your significant other, simply stay in a hotel