Hosting houseguests can be great fun, but it can also be stressful. If your houseguests want to sightsee as well as visit, you can make their (and your) experience more enjoyable. Our tried-and-true tips for hosting houseguests and showing them around can simplify your planning process.
- Consult your local Convention and Visitors Bureau or tourist information office to find out what tourists typically want to see. Pick up maps and brochures for your guests to use. If you don't have a local tourist information office, check your state's official website and look for links for visitors.
- Find out about your houseguests' sightseeing preferences before they arrive, especially if they use wheelchairs or are slow walkers.
- Create a rain plan if bad weather could adversely affect your guests' sightseeing itinerary. Look for museums, historic homes and other indoor attractions that your houseguests could visit if the weather turns sour.
- If your houseguests enjoy independent travel, or if you must work while they are visiting, don't hesitate to offer them maps and travel information so they can sightsee on their own.
- If, on the other hand, your guests prefer to be escorted when they sightsee, consider signing them up with a local tour operator such as Gray Line.
- Discuss any financial considerations, such as admission tickets and local tour costs, honestly with your guests before they arrive. You do not need to spend lavishly on your houseguests to make them feel welcome.
- Ask your houseguests whether they plan to eat with you each evening. Remember to inquire about dietary restrictions and timing of meals – some people need to eat every few hours. If your guests are not sure if they will eat with you, ask them to let you know a few hours before dinner time so you know how much food to prepare.
- Offer your houseguests some unscheduled "down time" each day so they can rest, go for a walk, check email or otherwise "recharge."
- Don't feel obligated to babysit during your houseguests' visit. Of course, you may want to have some time with your guests' children, and offering to babysit is an excellent way to achieve this.
- If you have "house rules," tell your guests about them before they arrive. Remind them that they can reserve a hotel room if the rules are problematic. Typical house rules include restrictions on smoking, pets, wearing shoes indoors and eating in certain areas of the home. Polite houseguests will be happy to do things your way or to work out compromises in advance.
- Most importantly, feel free to decline requests you cannot accommodate. There is a big difference between being a gracious host and being a doormat. There is no good reason that houseguests should be allowed to take unfair advantage of your generosity.
