If you live in a desirable location, you´ll probably have lots of visiting guests. We are always excited to have family and friends staying with us. They usually accept our offer for a couple of nights or sometimes even weeks. They benefit from our local experience and we hope to contribute to a dream vacation.
This month we´re showing Jan´s parents around Mexico. They have been quite impressed so far. In one week´s time we took them from the wet woods along the tropical mountains to the Pacific beaches. Everything that should be seen and done in the area will be soon ticked off the list.
Although I love catching up in our new country of residence, there is also a flip side of the fun: With overnight guests your daily structure disappears. Spending time together and trying to share a small home has inevitably a big impact on your routines. I´ve learned that whoever is visiting you, it requires good cooperation of both parties to assure it to be a comfortable stay.
Sightseeing at Sayulita, Mexico
An Open Door & A Warm Welcome
“Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” This straightforward saying refers to the dislike of having guests too long. I would definitely feel bad sending my guests away after three days, but I do agree that guests and hosts should give each other enough space to breath. Here´s what we found helpful to keep making it a pleasant time for everyone:
1# – Agree on a Date
Not every time of the year is a good time to have guests. Figure out your holiday dates and let your guests know which time suits you well before they book the flights. Also take into account the length of their stay. Be clear about your expectations before agreeing on arrival and departure time.
2# – Coordinate Basics
Make an inventory of what your guests should bring and what you should purchase for them. Do you have enough clean sheets and towels, toiletries, adapter plugs? Moreover, make sure they bring whatever isn´t available in your host country before they start using your own supplies.
3# – Prepare Your Guests
It´s great to receive well-prepared guests. Encourage them to research about the history and culture and send them links of informative books and websites. It adds to their anticipatory pleasure, provides a much richer experience in the end and it saves you from having to explain the basics – again.
4# – Familiarize Them
Independent travelers can also travel independently when they stay with you. Go around town with them during the first couple of days, explain them how public transportation works, and give them your guidebooks. You´ve seen everything a trillion times already, don´t feel obligated to go with them.
5# – Go to Work
It´s easy for travelers to expect you to take off some days (“but we´ve flown all the way over to spend time with you!”). Remind them that you are in your normal living environment and that you still need to go to work. Don´t take off too many days if that means having to deal with stress afterwards.
6# – Make Them Enthusiastic
If you feel that your guests like to use your home as a hangout place, encourage them to be active. Share your knowledge and tell them your stories to make them curious and enthusiastic. They should leave your home to make the most of their time abroad instead of taking away your bit of quiet time.
7# – Communicate
When we open our home for guests, we really don´t mind sharing our stuff and cooking for everyone. However, it does make it a lot easier when those things are discussed on beforehand: Who´s using the bathroom when, who´s eating dinner at home today, what about combining laundry, etc. Take initiative in coordinating each other´s wishes.
8# – Accept Help..
Your home is not a hotel. Any respectful guest wouldn´t mind helping you with some housekeeping tasks. Don´t hesitate accepting their helping hand. If you expect more, ask kindly for it. It will make everyone feel better.
9# – ..and Money
The same applies to financial contributions. Your guests may bring a thank you gift or invite you out for dinner. If you have the feeling the pay division isn´t fair for the length of stay, don´t feel bad accepting an additional contribution for housekeeping and transportation costs. They might be only once here, but you´ll be providing for other guests in the future.
10# – Exchange Experiences
As a local you may have different interests than your guests. Knowing what they liked and didn´t like can be useful to pass on to your next visitors. Nothing is more cheerful for a host than optimizing its guests´ experience and seeing them leave thankfully, energized and fulfilled.
Make Your Guests Feel at Home
Now that you´ve taken care of yourself, it´s your responsibility to take care of your guests and make them feel at ease.
Every guest worries a bit that they cause extra work for you. As a good host you shouldn´t act imposed upon. There may be some moments of annoyance, but it´s unnecessary to make them feel inconvenient. Remind yourself that they are staying temporarily and most of them visit you only once.
Every time we visit someone´s place in Guadalajara for the first time, Mexicans typically welcome us with the words: están es su casa – you´re at home. This basically means make yourself at home. It´s the message you want to transmit to your guests during their entire stay.
When Saying Goodbye
You may not know when you would see each other again, but there are many certainties: Your guests have gone places and they have seen people, they have grown by having traveled a unique destination, and they leave with a clearer understanding of your new life in your new world. They´ll get on the plane with real-life impressions of a country they might have never visited if you hadn´t moved there.
While waving our guests goodbye, we realize once again how fortunate we are to live in a desirable location…
Do you often have visiting guests?
How do you make sure everyone has a great time?
