Being a guest to stay

After my last post about making an effort for guests who come to stay, Ivy from the blog Little Ivy Cakes posted a comment asking me this:

My question for you is, What are some nice gestures you can do as a guest to make it more pleasant for the host? perhaps making a home made dinner for
them? or ... :)

Great question Ivy!
First off, being a good guest starts with merely enjoying yourself. The more you enjoy yourself and make it known to your host that you are enjoying yourself, the more your host will relax. But enjoying yourself also doesn't mean drinking all the wine, and helping yourself to the beauty products in the bathroom cabinet. Being prepared to at least try the food that is put in front of you, make an effort in the conversations, and thanking your host, is more than enough to make most hosts enjoy your stay. However if you would like to go the extra mile, here are a few suggestions.

• I like Ivy's idea of making a meal for your hosts. This is especially a good idea if you are staying over for a few days or more. Try to arrange it before your visit with your host to check if you need to bring any equipment along, and definitely take along your own ingredient's, but I'm sure no host will mind you sharing their olive oil and salt.


• Once again, flowers is always a nice gesture, even more so if they are from your garden, or perhaps you stopped and picked some next to the road on your way, either way, you don't always have to spend money on a nice gesture.


• Making your bed as a stay over guest is another way to make it a bit easier for your host - if you need help in this regard, read my post on making the perfect bed.


• My mother-in-law always brings her own pint of milk with. They have plenty cups of tea when they stay, so we always appreciate the extra milk.


• If you are as talented as Ivy who bakes incredible things, something home made as a gift will be much appreciated, and best of all, you'll most likely get to eat some yourself too!


• Even if you know your help is probably not needed in the kitchen, it's always worth asking if you can help out. It shows that you are not taking your stay for granted and expecting to be treated as royalty. But unless you are staying with close family, don't take over in the kitchen and start preparing food without asking, it's surprising how many people feel a bit territorial about their kitchens.


• Hang up any towels you use, and leave the bathroom tidy after you've had shower or bath.


• Take along a book or magazines, you don't want your host to feel they need to entertain you at all times.


• If you you have kids that are fussy eaters, take food along that you can prepare yourself.


• Go with the flow, and ask if your hosts need you to get up at a certain time for any plans they may have.


• Make use of any coasters when you have a drink, you don't want to leave marks on furniture that will outstay your visit.


• Before you leave, make sure you leave the room more or less as it was presented to you. Put any rubbish in the bins, fold or hang up used towels. Ask you host would like you to remove the sheets, and offer to put on fresh clean sheets... they might decline, but they'll appreciate you asking.
  

A big thank you stipulating what you enjoyed most about your stay always goes down well. There's nothing like manners! Our mums will be proud of us ;)

Take a look at this amazing Lemon cheesecake that Ivy made, I imagine if you take something like this along when staying over somewhere they might never let you leave again.