When you travel you may find it convenient to stay with friends instead of staying at a hotel.
This will save you some money, but it also is an opportunity to get to know your hosts in a more intimate way.
It is your job to be a good house guest who would be welcome to return to their home in the future.
Give your hosts lots of advance notice as to when you will be staying with them.
I like to do this several months in advance so they will be prepared for my visit.
When someone is kind enough to invite me to stay at their home I want it to be pleasant for all of us.
Do not expect your hosts to pick you up from the airport or train station.
It is enough that they are providing a place for you to stay while you will be in their city.
Do not ask them to do anything additional unless it is their original idea.
Make your own arrangements for getting to and from their house by going online or making some phone calls.
Once you are at their house, find out the details of their schedule for work, children's activities, and their pets.
You want to be a welcome addition to their household, not a burden.
You are a guest in their home and must accommodate their schedule and routine, not the other way around.
By discussing it in advance you will be able to ask questions to find out things such as when they arise each morning, what types of food they eat, and what activities they may already have planned.
If you have special dietary needs, let them know ahead of time and tell them how you will handle that issue while you are at their house.
Anything you can arrange for yourself will be greatly appreciated.
This also applies to medical or sleeping arrangements that must be addressed.
Always be prepared for the unexpected.
I recently stayed with friends and it turned out very differently than originally planned.
They missed their flight returning from a family gathering, and I ended up staying alone at their home the first night and caring for their pets.
Become a considerate and flexible house geust and the word will get out to others, making you a welcome visitor in other people's homes as well.