Continued from here, where I was just about to list the top ten things for being a good guest:

1) Ask about policy. If hosts prefer you help yourself, do so, so as not to look like you're waiting to be served. If they would rather you not, wait until you are invited to join in meals, drinks and such.

2) Keep your intruder status in mind. Don't hog the hosts' favorite chairs. Don't leave dirty or wet clothes hanging around bathrooms and such. Make yourself as unobtrusive as possible, allowing your hosts to keep some semblance of their home being their own.

3) Clean up your messes. Unlike in a hotel, the people you're staying with are not there to clean up after you. If you eat, make coffee, shower ... whatever ... wash up after yourself. And keep the guest space tidy. Keep your things picked up, make your bed, if you're sleeping on a sofa bed, put it back to sofa use during the day. Your hosts will not be happy if they have to look at your mess day after day.

4) Contribute and conserve. Shop for the food you eat, and whatever you drink. Buy enough to replace what you use, and more. Even if you're buying food, you will still be costing your hosts in power, water, and such ... things that won't have the bill coming until after you're gone, so try not to leave your hosts a shock. Turn lights off, go easy with the water, control thermostats (Here it's aircon that costs a fortune, so keeping that off when not necessary is appreciated.) ... the things you do at home to keep costs down.

5) Help out. Pitch in. Volunteer to take up some of the slack your hosts don't have time for. Make it easier to have you around than not. Do some ironing, run the vacuum, do something helpful and enjoy 'making yourself at home' in a contributory sense.

6) If space is limited, stay out of the way during busy times. Keep opinions to yourself, as well. You may be seeing more of your hosts than you've seen before, but this doesn't license you to judge.

7) If children are part of the host family, be pleasant and kind, but don't sign up to be constant kiddy entertainment. Having company will be enough of an interruption in children's routines without teaching them to expect a three-ring circus when visitors come.

8) If you have children with you as guests, don't let them trash the place, keep them busy and as quiet as possible. Get outdoors with them as often as you can so they can release excess energy. Learn early on what is precious in the house, and keep the kids well away from items that are especially dear. Do not ask your hosts to rearrange their house or their lives because of your kids. If you lack the control, everyone will be better off if you stay in a hotel.

9) Do things on your own so the hosts have time to themselves, and do not expect to be included in every activity and conversation. Guest status does not translate to intimacy.

10) At least one dinner out of every three should be on you, either purchased and prepared by you (and cleaned up after, as well, of course), or your treat in a restaurant, and your thanks should be expressed by a 'Thank You' meal on your last day.

And as important as any tip, do NOT overstay your welcome. If you sense things are getting tense, find a hotel.