We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a house guest visiting from overseas, and while we excitedly make lists of fun things to do and places to eat, there are a few niggly house guest/host etiquette questions running through our mind. So we've started a checklist in preparation for 'host' duties.
Our guest will be sharing our one bedroom apartment with us for 2 weeks. We’ve opted to sleep in the lounge and give the guest our bedroom – we feel better as we won’t have to tip toe around anyone in the mornings/evenings, and our guest will have some privacy.
We’ve been wondering, would you ask a guest to help with the dishes if they don’t offer, or just grin and bear it? Ditto for contributing to shared cooked meals? This obviously applies more to a guest staying longer than a few nights.
Checklist so far:
- Clean: bathroom & the guest’s room especially important
- General de-cluttering
- Cut a spare key for guest
- Provide fresh towel & face washer
- Clear drawers so they can store clothes
- Give guest a house tour, pointing out where common things are stored: bowls, cups, breakfast cereal.
- If you’re sharing cooked meals, invite your guest food shopping with you – easier to navigate different food requirements.
- Print out a map of your local area with your place clearly marked. Give guest a note with your address & contact numbers in case they get lost.
Any other suggestions?
[Image: Shop Until]
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Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
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20 Scrumptious Brunch Recipes 
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Comments (11)
I always put a basket of toiletries in the guest room. Soap, personal size shampoo, conditioner, moisterizer. I usually grab these when I stay in a hotel and keep a supply on hand. Also a spare toothbrush in case my guest forgot to pack one or the airline lost their luggage...
Two weeks is a long time for someone to maintain "guest" status. I'd consider having a talk about do's and dont's of various stripes and certainly ask for a hand with cooking, dishes, etc., at least on occasion.
Incidentally, that's got to be the most passive-aggressive welcome mat I've ever seen (pictured at the top of the article). It's clever, but kind of nasty under the surface.
Two weeks? I'd charge them rent!
A hairdryer, if they don't use the same voltage as you.
It's a friend, people, not some unemployed cousin camping out on your couch. A list of do's and dont's is probably not very appropriate (or will win over any new guests). The guest is coming to visit for fun, as is probably not expecting to be accosted with a list or rules akin to moving into a victorian era boarding house (no men allowed! no tv after 10! only put shillings in the pay heater!)
We often have friends from abroad, so we bought a pre-paid mobile SIM card to stay in touch without paying for iternational calls.
We also leave in the guest room a few guidebooks and maps of the area, and a dictionary.
For cooking, we ask every friend that come to teach us one recipe: he cooks for us one meal, we look and write the recipe on a guest books with date and his dedication. It's a pleasure for everybody to share one special dinner preparation!
Finally, since we live in Swizerland, who comes finds a tiny welcoming chocolate box!
I like to provide my houseguests with internet access. Most guest Is really seem to appreciate that they can check their email from home...
Again people with the harsh comments on another post. "charge them rent" 'do's and don'ts'. I'm sure the author of this post like this person and doesn't want to scare them away. I hope I don't know the ones personally who wrote that. That's pretty f'd up. I like Lori's and Ariacielo's suggestion. When we have family coming in from Brazil we treat them to a fabulous dinner in Manhatten(their choice of food at least twice and we go food shopping with them so they can pick out what they need and they usually offer to help pay but my mom and step dad alwat=ys refuse. When they leave we give them wine and a momento cause who knows when we'll see them next especially since everything is ridiculously expensive. Oh and take plenty of pics of their stay with you!
@orchid64: I don't understand. How is that mat nasty?
Towelling dressing gowns. My husband bought several in a sale years ago for our (still non-existent) swimming pool, they have come in very handy over the years.
I only allow people to stay for the weekend, no more than 4 days tops. This includes my relatives also. Before you shun me for writing that: We had guests from Wales for a month, I'd had never met such pigs. One spat in the sink constantly (double ewww), didn't flush (triple ewwww) and would use their fingers (yes!!!) to pick up food and they left dishes and glasses in the bedroom even after I told them about the dishwasher. (I actually bought another pair of gloves to clean with while they were here.) When they asked if I could wash their clothes, I drew the line. I showed them how to use the w/d. I think of myself as a mellow person, with a slew of patience but, they were too much and they were here too long. And they took ALL the toiletries I left in a basket. Finally, there were no thank yous either. Now if someone wants to stay longer, I suggest hotels in the area.
Heather AB: If you look at the mat upside down, it says "go away".
And it's not nasty, it's rather entertaining. Where can I get that MAT????
I like that mat!
I don't get guests that often, but when I do, I usually get a Time Out Chicago and the events calendar from the paper and hilghight things that I think my guest might like to do.
I buy breakfast food, snacks, and ice cream, and then let the guest decide what they want to eat for lunch and dinner. I would never ask a guest to help with the cooking, dish washing, or cleaning, unless he or she was from Wales.