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Since I'll be traveling a bit over the next few weeks/months, I've been thinking a bit about hospitality, and the responsibilities of the guest and the host. Some of this obviously applies more to private residences than rentals/hotels, but still.
1. The place where one's guests stay should be reasonably clean and tidy. If there is a reason for it to be otherwise, then they'd better be *very* close friends.
2. If one is a professional host (i.e., a hotel), then the facilities must be as described.
3. Quiet is good.
4. One must do one's best to accommodate one's guests preferences in terms of food, time alone, and suchlike.
5. If the guest is tired and cranky, then the host should make every effort to assist in alleviating this condition.
1. Leave the guest space, whether paid for or not, in reasonable condition. This means stripping the bed, folding the blankets, not using all the hot water, etc.
2. If one is in a hotel, tip the chambermaid. Always.
3. Unless the conditions are truly unbearable, find the best of the situation. Hosts are human, too.
4. Do not take the towels, ashtrays, etc. They are NOT part of the room fee, and you are not entitled to take them. Theft is theft, period.
5. If one is staying in a private home, offer to pick up at least one meal during one's stay, or buy some groceries, or even set the table. Every little bit helps.
1. Theft. This means not only material goods, such as towels, sheets, etc., but more personal possessions such as jewelry, mementos and books, or living creatures such as pets or (God help us), significant others. Don't laugh. I've seen it happen.
2. Entitlement. Being in a private home does not give one the right to leave messy towels about, order the host to provide meals and entertainment, or sulk if everything does not go one's way.
3. Backbiting. Criticizing one's hosts behind their backs is the height of rudeness if one has stayed in a private home. What might be a public service when it comes to a hotel is unspeakably rude in this circumstance.
4. Breaking the house rules. If one stays in a non-smoking hotel room or a smoke-free house, don't smoke. If hot water is at a premium, don't take a three hour bath. If there's only one bathroom, don't read War and Peace. If someone is trying to work, don't start a conversation/laugh loudly/insist on being the center of attention.
5. Being the Ugly American/Guest. This is especially true in foreign countries, but it applies everywhere. Loud, obnoxious, nasty people will make enemies, not friends, wherever they go. Quiet, polite, accommodating people will have a good time no matter what.
I realize that I haven't always lived up to these ideals, but God willing I've learned....
1. The place where one's guests stay should be reasonably clean and tidy. If there is a reason for it to be otherwise, then they'd better be *very* close friends.
2. If one is a professional host (i.e., a hotel), then the facilities must be as described.
3. Quiet is good.
4. One must do one's best to accommodate one's guests preferences in terms of food, time alone, and suchlike.
5. If the guest is tired and cranky, then the host should make every effort to assist in alleviating this condition.
1. Leave the guest space, whether paid for or not, in reasonable condition. This means stripping the bed, folding the blankets, not using all the hot water, etc.
2. If one is in a hotel, tip the chambermaid. Always.
3. Unless the conditions are truly unbearable, find the best of the situation. Hosts are human, too.
4. Do not take the towels, ashtrays, etc. They are NOT part of the room fee, and you are not entitled to take them. Theft is theft, period.
5. If one is staying in a private home, offer to pick up at least one meal during one's stay, or buy some groceries, or even set the table. Every little bit helps.
1. Theft. This means not only material goods, such as towels, sheets, etc., but more personal possessions such as jewelry, mementos and books, or living creatures such as pets or (God help us), significant others. Don't laugh. I've seen it happen.
2. Entitlement. Being in a private home does not give one the right to leave messy towels about, order the host to provide meals and entertainment, or sulk if everything does not go one's way.
3. Backbiting. Criticizing one's hosts behind their backs is the height of rudeness if one has stayed in a private home. What might be a public service when it comes to a hotel is unspeakably rude in this circumstance.
4. Breaking the house rules. If one stays in a non-smoking hotel room or a smoke-free house, don't smoke. If hot water is at a premium, don't take a three hour bath. If there's only one bathroom, don't read War and Peace. If someone is trying to work, don't start a conversation/laugh loudly/insist on being the center of attention.
5. Being the Ugly American/Guest. This is especially true in foreign countries, but it applies everywhere. Loud, obnoxious, nasty people will make enemies, not friends, wherever they go. Quiet, polite, accommodating people will have a good time no matter what.
I realize that I haven't always lived up to these ideals, but God willing I've learned....
