You know that houseguest? The one who comes for dinner and stays for breakfast, an afternoon at the pool, a barbecue and Sunday brunch. She is polite enough never to arrives without an invitation, but on the other hand, she has never reciprocated with an offer for a weekend at a beach or country house of her own. Frankly, she makes the assumption every summer that she will get by on the kindness of friends with guest rooms. How is it that she gets invited back time and again?
Being a perfect guest has its own unspoken rules of conduct:
1. Arrival - pull up iwth your suitcases and effortlessly get out of the car. Be sure to ask where your hostess wants your bags and keep them there for the remainder of your stay - be neat and considerate.
2. Even though you might feel like a 'time out' when you arrive, the perfect houseguest pulls herself together and joins in whatever is going on be it a tennis match or a round of cards.
3. Adapt your behaviour to your hosts' hosting style. Some will have a weekend itinerary all planned out for you while others will show you to your room and declare that there is food in the fridge and a car outside and to come and go as you please.
4. Never under estimate casual, always pack a little higher.
5. If you have children, be sure to ask if it is ok to bring along your six-year-old.
6. Always send a thank you note.
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