When someone is kind enough to invite you into their home proper etiquette is important, show your appreciation during and after your visit and be thoughtful and respectful while you are there. Be the kind of guest you would like to have in your own home.

Start with a Gift of Appreciation

Show your gratitude by arriving with a gift for the host. Choose something you know they will love.

Arrive & Leave on Time

Your host should know and approve your visit duration before you arrive, be respectful of their schedule and time your visit considering what is best for them. Be punctual and arrive and depart when you say you will, during the visit be on time for daily meals and activities.

Children, Pets & Others

Don’t bring along children, pets, or others unless this has been clearly communicated with the host beforehand, the same holds true for inviting people over while you are visiting.

Communicate Your Comings & Goings

Let your host know where you are going and when you will return, it is just common courtesy to inform them of your schedule.

Don’t Help Yourself

Don’t help yourself to food and other items, your host will set the tone on how meals and other daily activities will be handled. Helping yourself to the refrigerator or pantry is impolite unless you are told otherwise. Most hosts will tell you to make yourself at home but wait for their ok.

Offer to Help

Don’t expect to be waited on during your visit, offer to help with meals, cleanup and other daily chores, the host will let you know what they are comfortable with, some enjoy the help others prefer to take care of things themselves. Be sure to offer but politely accept the host’s answer if they decline.

Limit Technology Use

Limit the amount of time you spend on your phone and other devices, it is rude to ignore the people around you to talk and text with others. If you need to make a phone call, or send a text or email go to your room to do so.

Be Conservative with Bedding & Towels

Most people don’t change their bedding daily so don’t expect this when you are a house guest. Depending on the length of your stay you can request new bedding if necessary or ask if you can launder your bedding and towels yourself. Make your bed each day and keep your room tidy.

Pack Your Own Toiletries

Bring along your own shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, lotions, and other daily essentials, if you need something during your visit make a trip to the store.

Prepare Activity Ideas

Before leaving for your trip research the area where you will be staying. Look for local entertainment, attractions, shopping, parks, and restaurants. Have a list of ideas for outings. Your host may already have everything planned but they may not and might appreciate your suggestions.

Buy Groceries

Restock the pantry and refrigerator before you leave with anything you used during your visit.

Clean Up After Yourself

Aside from keeping your room clean, don’t leave your belongings laying around the house, keep your things in the space your host provides, wash your dishes, keep the bathroom neat and clean and remove your shoes before entering the house.

Adhere to Their Schedule

Follow the hosts schedule as much as possible, if they serve dinner at a specific time be prompt. Join in on activities when asked and let the host take the lead on the timing of activities. If their bedtime and wake time differs from your own be respectful and quiet at those times. Let them know that you are not high maintenance and that you can easily adapt to their schedule. Communicate that you are happy with any activities they have planned but you are also comfortable entertaining yourself.

Help With Meals

Offer to take the host out for meals several times during your visit. Depending on the host you can also offer to shop for groceries and prepare meals or order takeout. Some hosts will enjoy this, others prefer to prepare meals themselves, let them decide.

Clean Before You Leave

Leave the room you stayed in just as it was when you arrived. Launder the bedding if the host agrees or strip the bed down and place all of the bedding inside of a pillowcase at the foot of the bed, wipe down and dust any surface areas and clean the bathroom.

Show Your Appreciation

Thank the host when you arrive and when you leave. Follow the visit with a nice thank you card or letter and a small gift of appreciation. You can leave the gift and card on the counter when you leave or send them within a day or two of your departure. Include a handwritten note with nice details about the visit. Don’t send an email on this occasion, it is too impersonal.