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If your holiday travel plans include you visiting or staying at another family's home, it's important to be considerate of the time and effort they put in to accommodate you. That said, it can be easy to overlook some common courtesies during the rush of the holiday season. Here are some tips to help you not be a Grinch of a guest:
- Showing up unannounced - This goes for any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. Arriving at someone’s door without asking if you can stay with them isn’t just rude, they may not be home, or have other plans, or they just can’t put you up.
- Assuming it’s okay to bring your pet - Just because someone invites you to stay doesn’t mean they’re extending that offer to your animals as well. If you want to bring your pet, do the right thing and ask first. And if they say no, don’t push back or beg.
- Being rude to your hosts or other guests - This should go without saying, but be polite to your host, their family and anyone else there. It’s literally the least you can do.
- Ignoring house rules - If they asked you to take your shoes off at the door or keep the noise down after 9p.m., do it! Their house, their rules and you need to follow them while you’re there.
- Acting like you’re staying in a hotel - Remember that your host is doing you a favor by allowing you to stay in their home, and you can’t expect the same amenities you get at a hotel. So don’t wait for someone to make your bed, clean up after you, make your meals or let you have the run of the place.
- Criticizing or insulting your host or their home - While you’re a guest, you may not think the guest room mattress is soft enough or that the interior design could use an upgrade, but keep it to yourself. Sure, you’re entitled to your opinion, but you don’t need to share that with your host.
Source: Lifehacker