1. Bring a “hostess” gift. Even when staying just one night, always present your host with a house gift shortly after your arrival. Good gift ideas include attractively wrapped kitchen tools, a book, candles, a collectible your host will treasure, and specialty food and wine you know they will enjoy. The main criteria should be that it be something your host will appreciate.
   
2. Make yourself useful. Offer to help with meal preparation, dishes, and other chores as though you were a member of the household. Do not expect your hosts to wait on you hand and foot throughout your stay. A nice gesture during an extended stay is to treat your hosts to dinner at a nice restaurant or cook them dinner at home one evening.
   
3. Be grateful and flexible about foods and eating times. Except for medical and religious restrictions, avoid dictating meal times and what your hosts serve. If you do have food restrictions, let your hosts know with a simple note prior to your arrival. If you have special food or beverage needs, bring these items with you.
   
4. Keep your space tidy. Make your bed each day, keep your belongings put away, and leave the room or sleeping area in neat order at all times. Because guest spaces are often used by the family for other purposes, leave your door slightly ajar when not in the room, so that your hosts can access the room as necessary.
5. Be diligent in the bathroom. Never leave the bathroom in a mess. Wipe the sink and shower, neatly hang your towels, and close the lid on the commode after each use. Review other tips from our April "Etiquette Tip of the Month" on Bathroom Etiquette.
6. Ask permission to use any item in the house. Leave money for any telephone and other charges (including utilities) you may have incurred during your stay. Be sensitive to whatever guidelines your hosts may have for the use of all items in their home.
7. Share your schedule. While you cannot expect your hosts to entertain you throughout your visit, a good host will feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being, and want to know when to expect you in their home. Provide your hosts your general daily itinerary—primarily when you may be expected to leave and return each day. Carry your host's home and business address and telephone numbers with you to keep in touch if you will be delayed or in case of emergency. If you have a cell phone, leave the number with your hosts too.
8. Be grateful, and let your hosts know. Write a thank you note to your host upon your return home. Reciprocate in-kind whenever possible, by offering to host your hosts for a visit. When you make yourself an outstanding guest, you may often hear "mi casa es su casa," my house is your house.
   

To view our past Etiquette Tips of the Month, please choose a topic below:

• Party Tips Episode III: Prevention is Worth a Pound of Faux Pas
  (Current Issue: July 2005)
• Beach Etiquette (June 2005)
• Flower Etiquette (May 2005)
• Umbrella Etiquette (April 2005)
• Spring Cleaning: Your Actions and Behaviors (March 2005)
• Dos and Taboos at a Chinese Dining Table (February 2005)
• Try My "ABW" Approach to Year-round Gift-giving (January 2005)
• Gift-Giving and Receiving (December 2004)
• Thanksgiving: A Perfect Time for Thank-You Notes (November 2004)
• Cultural Awareness: Celebrating National Days (October 2004)
• Thinking Rightly: Ethics and Etiquette (September 2004)
• Shared Printer Courtesy (August 2004)
• Party Planning ... The Key to Success! (July 2004)
• Is it Marketing or Spam? (June 2004)
• What to Wear? (May 2004)
• Letter Writing Etiquette (April 2004)
• Etiquette on the Road: Manners for Pedestrians & Drivers (March 2004)
• Workplace Etiquette (February 2004)
• Ten Ways to Celebrate the New Year - Chinese Style
  (January 2004)
• Being a Perfect Party Guest (December 2003)
• Be the Perfect Guest at a Family-Style Meal (November 2003)
• Party Invitations (October 2003)
• Theatre Goers Beware! (September 2003)
• Proper Introductions (July 2003)
• The Lost Art of RSVP! (June 2003)
• Toasting Practices for all occasions (May 2003)
• Bathroom Etiquette (April 2003)
• Shaking Hands: A critical factor in giving a good first impression...or not? (March 2003)
• Telephone Etiquette (February 2003)