Things that (irrationally) annoy you when staying at other people’s homes

[NameName2023]

Currently staying at my MIL’s house for a couple of days and three things have irritated me and I need to get over it:

1. bed - actually applies to both my SIL and MIL. Both of their spare rooms are huge, ridiculously so. Yet they only have double/kingsize beds when there is easily enough room for a super king. This is probably my issue though as we have a super king at home so I’m used to the space, rather than having to squeeze in with my 6’5”, rugby built husband.
2. Drinks - not once have they offered anything. I’ve offered to make tea if I’ve made myself one. Also, they’ll only offer alcoholic drinks if DH is in the room (DH was getting toddler down for bed, he came in to top up the milk bottle and FIL offered him a drink, despite me being sat there without one. It’s like women can only be offered a drink once the men have!).
3. lunch - literally nothing in the fridge for lunch today. They knew they had guests but obviously didn’t think to get food in to make sandwiches or anything. I’m breastfeeding our baby and bloody hungry. I was offered a very nutritious breakfast of Rice Krispies and thats all I’ve been offered today. DH and I are going to the supermarket later. Going to stock up on snacks.

I guess some of it is my issue but it’s just really annoyed me. I just want to be back home!

No bedside lights, or bedside tables
Plug in air fresheners / those weird sticks in oil that stink to high heaven
Bedroom windows locked shut with no keys. It is often stifling and a fire hazard
Zero heating
Poor water pressure/inability to have a hot shower
Shower attachments over baths [so you have to sit in the bath to wash your hair]
No locks on bathroom door

My ILs turned my husband's bedroom into a guestroom. But the people they really want to stay over most is me and him, plus one aunt, who is morbidly obese. Why is that relevant - because they put twins in, not a double or king!?!

We only live forty minutes away, so it's always been preferable to drive home than sleep in singles, and his aunt preferred to stay at ours too. MIL eventually redecorated with a double bed.

Double bed has the spongiest mattress in the world. I literally woke up with a bad hip at Christmas. They invited us to stay for NYE too, but I didn't want to start the new year in pain, so went sober instead.

Not to mention lack of bedside tables for a few years. This Christmas - bedside tables and lamps - no lightbulbs!

It's not a budget issue - MIL loves to redecorate, so the furniture is expensive and the bed is covered in expensive cushions. She just always looks miffed when we say that we'll go home, and just adds more cushions, as if that solves anything.

To add insult to injury, they've set up the spare room as a nursery for our son, but we haven't even got a comfortable fucking bed there.

I always take an eye shield and earplugs when staying away. Plus extra layers in case their house is freezing.

Sleeping in a single bed makes one feel aged nine or something!

Poor one! I always laugh at this because half my double goes to waste- I only sleep in one half of it. Why would I need two people's space?
I also appreciate the lower price when staying in the kind of hotel that still has proper single beds.

In any case, everyone get a single in hospital.

I've got a teeny tiny house, with barely any room for me (and the bedrooms can only JUST accommodate a double bed, and no other furniture) and I've got guests coming for Easter, so I am worried now... There are hardly any wall plugs either, so I guess I'll just start off with an apology and a lot of cake and hope they forgive me.

Dunelm do a very neat extension socket for 4 plugs. I bring one in holiday now with us!
Maybe get one for your guests?

Now you mention it, I do have some extension sockets tucked away in the house - I can dig one out and move it upstairs, good call, thank you!

A double bed instead of a king or super king - DP and I are not tiny people - I can’t sleep if I’m squashed.

Homes that are too hot and/or stuffy; especially if you can’t open windows.

No window, bin or loo brush in the bathroom and not being told (or having it made obvious) where spare loo rolls are!

People who don’t eat/drink regularly. I always feel awkward asking in people’s homes.

Tbh, the only people I ever stay with are my parents or my DB and SIL. I wouldn’t worry about asking there. I hate being a house guest.

So many horrible ornaments on every surface in the bedroom that there is nowhere to put anything at all. Like you're really not wanted.

@SeatonCarew I get it. I have two cupboards of glasses for all occasions. They bring me great pleasure just through their existence but there is an absolute thrill when I serve the right drink in the correct glass.

So many common complaints, could easily write the MN guide to being the perfect host.

If people rarely have overnight guests they often don't really have provisions or room for them. I've stayed on bloody futons with just a bedspread, slept about 5 minutes!

My family and closest friends are all a help yourself bunch which works well but my parents in particular eat endless processed crap and no real meals. It's like a kids party with sausage rolls and crisps, I start to long for an apple!

A friend has the bathroom downstairs. Just the way the house is built though. Not her fault. I hate it though.

I sleep in a double bed in her spare room but light comes through the curtains. Ds sleeps on a blow up air bed but the bed needs pumping daily and the floor is freezing cold.