Maybe it’s because people are taking fewer exotic vacations lately, but I’ve had more people stay overnight in the past month than I have had in the past year. All the activity has has made me think about what makes a good houseguest. What inspires us to invite some people back, while locking the door behind others?

It probably boils down to thoughtfulness. I’m love to cook and don’t mind providing an endless supply of clean towels. If you’re staying longer than 3 days, however, it’s nice when guests chip in and help with the dishes.

Luckily, most of my guests are great to have around. We laugh, cook together and feel sad when it’s time to say goodbye. They’re not pilfering stuff from my medicine cabinet or hogging the television remote!

Then there’s the guest horror stories. Recently a certain guest left a pile of sopping wet towels on my guest room bed. Yes, I have to wash the sheets anyway, but now I have to let the mattress air dry, too. And then there was the married couple who can’t sleep in the same bed because the husband snores. So he sleeps on the sofa and keeps the rest of us up all night. Joy!

One of the most thoughtful gestures any guest can do is to bring a little token of appreciation. If you’re one of those people who love to bring people little gifts, SHOP.COM has lots of adorable options that will make you and your host happy!