What to Know About Hosting Spring-Break Guests

Whether the bathroom is shared or not, you’ll want to make sure your guests have clean towels (at least one large, one hand and one washcloth per guest). If you can manage two large towels per guest, this is preferable. You’ll also want to keep a hair dryer, extra toilet paper and a bar of soap within reach. Bonus points if you supply shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer and sunscreen, as well as basic medicines like pain relievers and an upset-stomach remedy. It’s also thoughtful to have common toiletries like toothpaste, shave gel, spare razors, pads and tampons, should guests need them. These aren’t mandatory for a good host, but they’re a real relief to a guest in need. It’s nice to offer guests staying for more than three days access to your laundry, or to let them know where laundry services are available.

A good host finds a balance between spending every second with their guests and spending no time together at all. Ideally you’ll enjoy a couple of meals and activities together each day. However, this will greatly depend on your respective schedules and the purpose of their trip. Some trips are specifically designed to see the person who is hosting. Other trips may be about visiting the area for one reason or another. Be sure you understand the nature of the trip so you can plan your time together, and apart, so that no one ends up feeling overtaxed or left out. Check in with your guests about a few things you can do together, and ask whether there’s anything they’d like to do or would prefer to do on their own.

You should have enough groceries on hand for the visit so you can provide meals and snacks at your home. But you shouldn’t feel as though you have to pay for meals and snacks when you’re out sightseeing or adventuring together. While in some cultures the hosts are responsible for everything, that’s not the case in the U.S. A good guest will often offer to contribute to groceries or even take you out for a meal as a thank-you. But as the host, you shouldn’t be expecting this. It’s just one of many options for guests to engage when it comes to chipping in or saying thank you. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t mean your guest was rude.

You do not have to loan out your car or even have bikes for your guests, but you should be able to direct them to the best transportation options if they don’t have a vehicle.

Many hosts wonder whether they are responsible for picking up and dropping off their guests, whether at the airport or bus or train station. Hosts are not. But it should be discussed so that no guest is left waiting on a host who wasn’t planning on rides.

Finally, it’s important to thank your guests for coming. While hosting is a lot of work, spending time like this with them is a wonderful experience, and often creates some of our fondest memories together.