5 Things A Cottage Guest Should Never Do...

[julie@cottagedaily]

I'm building a list for an article I am researching and have included my own list based on past experience. Please feel free to add to this list. Guest from hell comments are greatly welcome


5 Things a Cottage Guest Should Never Do...

1. Arrive empty handed

2. Complain about the amenities - We had guests whose first words out of their mouth was, "Oh, we'd never buy a cottage here." That was their last visit.

3. Start fighting with their spouse - yes that's happened too.

4. Ignore everyone else and spend the whole weekend reading magazines

5. Expect to be waited on hand and foot

Did I miss anything?

Cheers,
Julie

[Joe Cottager]

they should never invite THEIR extended friends or family as well and just casually mention that someone THEY know might just DROP BY.

[julie@cottagedaily]

Oh, I had that happen this past weekend. I totally agree.

Cheers,
Julie

[Born For The North]

Don't take the last beer......

[Shuswap Bushman]

Not offer to gas up the boat after I take you and your kids skiing and tubing for the day. Heck, I turn it down but the offer is what counts. Just to be clear, this is for when folks drop by uninvited. When *I* invite them I do not expect gas money.

[Looney]

Blow your boat motor and tell you "you must have bought a lemon"
Then go home and not offer to help pay for it.

I could see this topic bringing back bad cottage memories

[adkcamp]

Clog the toilet. Sorry........

[Mark]

Be the first to use your brand spankin' new septic system and bathroom. Hey...I paid for it!

[Panache]

My biggest peeve is guests overstaying their welcome.
I can't stand when they arrive just before meal time and then not have the courtesy to leave when they've GOT to know it's dinner time. I like to eat at a particular time [yes, even at camp] and I just think it's plain rude to show up when it's close to dinner time - be it lunch or supper. I get so stressed about this. I know I shouldn't let stress get to me at camp, but I have Crohn's disease and if I don't eat when I'm hungry, my discomfort gets worse. Grrr - now I'm all riled up!!!
I once had someone show up at 10am and they didn't leave until 10pm!!! And their camp is just around the bay. WTH???

[Born For The North]

If your (well...not yours....the guests) children get "bored" don't expect it to be my responsibility to make sure their entertained.
I just can't recall being that bored as a child and we went without computers, Play Station,
Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV stations!!

[cottageguru]

Say, 'So what is there do do around here anyway?'

[julie@cottagedaily]

This is such a difficult subject, at least for me it is, because often I'm grinning and baring it. It's really hard when you're the host to set the record straight. Often what happens is we just don't invite people back.

How do you get around this?

Cheers,
Julie

[Dad Fixit]

This is such a difficult subject, at least for me it is, because often I'm grinning and baring it. It's really hard when you're the host to set the record straight. Often what happens is we just don't invite people back.

How do you get around this?

Cheers,
Julie

tell 'em up front what you expect from guests & don't be afraid to ask (strip the beds, sweep the floor, whatever) ... we've followed this rule since we bought our place and <<knock-on wood ... or head in my case>> we don't have anyone on the "banned" list & everyone keeps comin' back

[cottageguru]

You could always write a nice little homily on what makes a good cottage guest, have it framed and place it in the cottage somewhere. I saw a great one a few years ago but can't remember where. I have a feeling it was in an old copy of CL.

And, if they don't measure up.....then don't invite them again.

My pet hate is when we have a guest who brings a dog and doesn't clear up after it. I've been known to offer them a neatly bagged present on their departure, saying, "I think you forgot something". I clean up after mine - I expect the same from any visitors.

[Kegfridge Commander]

I hate some1 thats invited up, told what 2 bring 4 food, doesn't bring it, and brings something only 4 themself. Had this happen only once, can't remember that person's name and their phone number got erased from my phone book.
Another 1 is, use the ash bucket please, don't flick your ash on my deck and put your butt in the ash can not on the ground. I don't smoke and hate the smell and pickin up butts....my neighbors r the worst, must of picked up 100 butts from the ground during last month's thaw.