We've had many guests stay with us in Illinois and in Hawaii and I can truthfully say they have almost all been perfect... but some more perfect than others. I saw an article in the Sunday Star Advertiser about house guests being like fish that tend to smell bad after 3 days. I haven't found that to be true if they followed a few rules. Well maybe they're not so few. I'm going to use my own children as examples because they do follow these rules.
1. Rent a car: We do have a car and minivan. That's true. However, Art takes extreme care of his cars and he'll know every little dent that someone puts on his babies. We've been burned...remember? Therefore it would be great if you rented your own car. Our kids often do.
2. Bed and Breakfast: We will have cereal, soymilk, coffee and tea available. If guests want more than that, I hope they'll go shopping. We have two refrigerators and can hold what they want.
3. Other Meals: Everybody is on their own. Guests usually eat lunch out because they're busy exploring the island. We'd love to have them eat dinner with us if they don't mind what mom is cooking. Tif's family is particular so she'll often cook her own meals that she knows KC will eat. Jon and Sarah, having been Peace Corps volunteers in West Africa will eat anything.
4. Room: We provide towels (bathroom and beach) and whatever else hotels do. Our kids always try to tidy their room a little before they leave the house. When they leave to go home, the rooms are spotless.
5. Tour Guides: Oahu is a small island. We've seen it a LOT... the same places. Whenever we have guests we'll take them to key tourist places for one or two days. After that it would be great if they went on their own and enjoyed themselves without us. Our most recent guest, Emily was one of those perfect guests. I was amazed at what she found to do just by checking on Internet for things to do.
6. Electricity: Hawaii has THE most expensive electricity rates in the U.S. When you leave the house, turn OFF the fan, the air conditioner, whatever.
7. Include Mom: We have always appreciated people making an effort to talk to mom even though her English is limited. She understands enough. We had one couple (from Seattle-You know who you are.) who don't speak any Japanese, but they always made mom feel special and let her know how much they enjoyed her cooking.
8. Have FUN! The kids are never around during the day. There are too many things for them to do. Our kids will go to the beach, the zoo, the Bishop Museum, the aquarium, etc. They will also hike, scuba dive, surf, sight see, snorkle, sun bathe (with sun screen) etc. There are a lot of ETCs. if you just look around.
Do you have anything else to add to the list?
1. Rent a car: We do have a car and minivan. That's true. However, Art takes extreme care of his cars and he'll know every little dent that someone puts on his babies. We've been burned...remember? Therefore it would be great if you rented your own car. Our kids often do.
2. Bed and Breakfast: We will have cereal, soymilk, coffee and tea available. If guests want more than that, I hope they'll go shopping. We have two refrigerators and can hold what they want.
3. Other Meals: Everybody is on their own. Guests usually eat lunch out because they're busy exploring the island. We'd love to have them eat dinner with us if they don't mind what mom is cooking. Tif's family is particular so she'll often cook her own meals that she knows KC will eat. Jon and Sarah, having been Peace Corps volunteers in West Africa will eat anything.
5. Tour Guides: Oahu is a small island. We've seen it a LOT... the same places. Whenever we have guests we'll take them to key tourist places for one or two days. After that it would be great if they went on their own and enjoyed themselves without us. Our most recent guest, Emily was one of those perfect guests. I was amazed at what she found to do just by checking on Internet for things to do.
6. Electricity: Hawaii has THE most expensive electricity rates in the U.S. When you leave the house, turn OFF the fan, the air conditioner, whatever.
7. Include Mom: We have always appreciated people making an effort to talk to mom even though her English is limited. She understands enough. We had one couple (from Seattle-You know who you are.) who don't speak any Japanese, but they always made mom feel special and let her know how much they enjoyed her cooking.
Do you have anything else to add to the list?
I used to get in a big tizzy about cleaning the house enough for guests until a friend once told me, "If it isn't clean enough to suit them, hand them a broom and tell them to go for it."
ReplyDeletethese tips should be published in a newspaper they are so good!!! It makes me realize it's ok to insist that guests rent a car!
ReplyDeleteWhat great tips! I didn't realize electricity is so expensive in Hawaii. No wonder everything costs so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are better than us! Our last guests stayed 4 nights with us back in 1998. I had to drive them everywhere. Since then, David expects our friends to stay in a hotel. We certainly prefer to stay in hotels and love the privacy.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite guests are the ones who bring their own house via an RV. I love your idea of their getting a rental. My tiny pick up has room for only one passenger. Since most guests come in pairs, I am usually the one supplying the rental. Guess I could make the extras ride in the back with the dog:))
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend's cousin lived with his dad and his stepmom and her mom was straight from Laos coming to America in 2010. She couldn't understand any English, I felt sorry for her as language barriers aren't very fun.
ReplyDeleteI can speak a little Japanese, but I regret I've never found anyone around here (in South Carolina) I could try to talk to with.
good advice, I've also started cleaning my house after the grandkids visit instead of before then I'm not so uptight about spills etc which will happen!
ReplyDeleteWe've never had guests stay with us, but we've stayed at others' homes on the mainland, as we always make sure to at least give omiyage, treat them to meals, etc. The very least we could do for allowing us to stay in their homes.
ReplyDeleteSo true. Whenever guests have stayed with us, they usually bring a little omiyage and take us out for a meal. It's very kind and thoughtful, but I didn't want to put that down as a requirement. :-)
DeleteI don't mind putting myself out for guests. All I ask is being taken out once for a nice meal and a thank you note.
ReplyDeleteSome lovely points here.
ReplyDeleteAll these reminds me of the stay we had in Flessels (France) what a lovely stay and what lovely hosts.
The Star may have offered the famous quote, but Dr. Johnson said it back in the eighteenth century. I practice the 3-day rule wherever I go.
ReplyDeleteUnless it is a single female, like my cousin, folks don't stay with me, they always get a room somewhere else. I am not the Hostess with the Mostess. So, my advice would be, get a room somewhere. Dianne
We've had guests stay a couple of weeks or more with us and it hasn't been a problem at all when they follow the rules.
DeleteI eat toast for breakfast and will bring my own bread!
ReplyDeleteOur house guests all fit right in, too.
You bring your own bread? Wow! We do provide bread too. LOL
DeleteOne tiny, unimportant glitch which I've wondered about and never answered. If one leaves the room spotless, as is the right thing to do, then one also would make the bed as your picture indicates, even on the last day. However, after you leave, the host will swoop in and change the sheets on the bed. I wish all problems were this minor! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe had a guest once who left the bed unmade and politely told us she had done so, because the sheets would be changed. This nice person caused no rift. On the other hand, if the bed is made, then the host has a few days of freedom when they can deal with the, admittedly minuscule, problem whenever they choose.
Actually, you're so right. There have been times that guests have kindly removed the sheets for washing and that was appreciated too.
DeleteWhat a lovely list; now you should frame and post it, and open a bed and breakfast! You forgot one thing: Please remove your shoes. Maybe you have a sign at the door.
ReplyDeleteI usually ask a host if they want the sheets removed or the bed made. I like to have my own hotel spot, so I can be awake at night, or be a temporary slob. I really like the hotel desks so I can spread out my agenda, booklets, maps and plans.
I drove a rental once in Honolulu. My mother did not have a heart attack, but my son was scared, as I wanted him to help me find streets, and they all started with a "K"! A scooter rental is tempting, but I'm afraid of getting hit. Taxi service is lovely in Honolulu; no frayed nerves or worrying about street signs.
DrumMajor
VERY good! Yes, yes! Please remove your shoes at our house. That is an ABSOLUTE must! Even repair and delivery people in Hawaii know better and automatically remove their shoes.
DeleteDriving in Honolulu is very scary! We were out there tonight and saw somebody side swipe another car and kept right on going. We tried to get the license plate number but missed it.
I love your list Kay. I really wouldn't mind seeing this list framed and posted in a room so generously provided for me by a friend/relative. Thanks for sharing this, kay.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to you and the family!
Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to you, Leona!
DeleteI don't usually have house guests, except my kids and occasionally a family member. I don't think they live up to your list.
ReplyDeleteWe usually do not stay in the homes of others either. I really do prefer to stay in hotels.
Hmmm... Do you think our list is too difficult?
DeleteI think typing and framing your list would be lovely, or sending it to pending guests. I really like how you reminded people to include your Mom and how. It's good to know she's not the type to just sit in the corner. Hadn't really thought about the electricity. I'd heard about conserving water. I did learn at my spot on Kauai, which did not have a/c, that the fans and opening the windows upon return from a day out, cooled the room very quickly. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteShe actually does tend to hide out, but comes out to cook and do chores and such. I love it when friends take the time to try to get to know her.
DeleteI'm so grateful we got the solar panels. We're regretting not getting more now. Whenever we come back from a trip, we open all the windows and let the tradewinds blow the hot air out.
I think that is a great list. Gregg and I usually stay in hotels whenever we have traveled as not being anti-social but we like our own space and don't like to put people out anyhow. On the other end of the spectrum we love people staying with us and Gregg is a great tour guide and loves taking people around.
ReplyDeleteWe love our guests, but driving into town is exhausting. The traffic in Hawaii is miserable.
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