Would you prefer to stay at a friend's house or a hotel?

[Firefly45]

Ive got an old friend who is in town for work and asked can she stay at ours.
She has plenty of money.

I really dont want her to stay. I dont like having visitors. Im embarrassed about state of our house. Ill have to do a massive clean/clear out of spare bedroom and tidy whole house on a weekday.
Im v happy to meet her but dont understand why anyone would want to stay in someone else's house if money isnt a factor.

I hate staying over at people's houses and would always choose a hotel if I could.

Is it just preference maybe?
DH thinks some people think its rude to stay in a hotel when they could stay with friends/relatives?

Hotel - every time. I absolutely hate staying in other's houses and never invite anyone to stay in mine. I'd rather keep things separate and just meet up rather than "live together" even for a short time. When I've done it in the past, I've been really stressed and anxious and decided that separation is better for my sanity.

Hotel always for me

She asked can she stay at ours

This is what I would find incredibly rude! Unless it was a very close family member or friend you see often! This is an old friend and it doesn't sound like you are very close.

If I was the 'friend' I might mention 'Oh, I'm going to be working in your town, it would be lovely to catch up whilst there'. And then, IF you then offered for me to stay at yours, I'd consider it. I'd never put an old friend on the spot and expect to stay. To invite herself is rude and surely its a work expense she can claim for a hotel anyways if working? 🤔

No one amongst my friends and family can afford hotels on a casual basis for visiting friends, and we are all relaxed abut having each other in our houses.

I stay in a hotel when I visit Dc because the flatshare is not suitable - but the cost limits the number of times I can go to about once a year. They come home to London lots anyway because so many friends are hear - and they regard my home as theirs - which it is.

@TheatreTheatre shes there for work not a casual meet up arrangement.

When visitors say that they will stay in a hotel rather than at someone's house I think it's cause to breathe a big sigh of relief.
Most people value their privacy and it is a massive imposition really if you're not, say, immediate family, to impose yourself and your personal preferences on someone else.
I'm sure there are as many people out there as not, that would feel offended if someone said they're going to stay in a hotel.
Personally it would have to be some kind of emergency situation before I would stay in the home of another person, no matter how well I knew them.

It entirely depends.

And I'm fine having guests who are easy-going and understand that I will be in and out all day on school runs, have to concentrate for work when I'm not, and go to bed and wake up early, and i live in the middle of no-where. I am happy to give lifts where I can fit them in, but they will have to amuse themselves most of the time.

Hotel all the way here.

could she be one of those tight but loaded types, or hates her own company?

100% hotel. I wouldn’t even consider giving up that pleasure and stay with a friend instead.

Hotels every time. I love staying in hotels, I don’t know why, but we only stayed in hotels for very special occasions when I was young (self-catering UK for family holidays back In the 70s/80s) so hotels still have that aura for me - like I’m really being pampered!!

unless it’s a super-close friend, I’m always reluctant to accept staying over at somebody’s house - and certainly wouldn’t reciprocate the offer!

Personally I’d prefer a hotel but even if I did prefer to stay with a friend, it would need to be a very close friend and I’d need to wait until I was invited! I would never suggest it myself

This
just say its
not convenient!

Hotel always.

and the last time a friend of dh’s stayed with us while on a work trip we found out that he pocketed his accommodation allowance and swiped the receipt for the dinner out we paid for and claimed it back. He laughed about it afterwards delighted he was getting one over his employer, while we sat sort of stunned.

Well, this is MN, where the end of a friendship is one unwashed bowl of Weetabix away… As far as I’m concerned it is normal to stay at people’s houses - if they have a spare room. So I guess I’m your friend in this scenario. Just don’t clean up very much?

Hotel. I like my own space and being able to do my own thing. I hate staying in someone's house and wonder should I get up when they get up or do they want some peace so I should stay in my room.

Depends on whose house it is. I love staying with my closest friends, just as I love hosting them. But if you don’t want to say no.

I prefer to stay with the friend if their house is nice and they are easy to be with. I hate having people staying overnight myself though which seems a bit selfish.
some people live in chaos so it would depend on the person.

Hotel, definitely. Let’s face it, most people’s set-up for hosting guests is way less convenient than a hotel. Plus, as a guest, there is always a risk of inadvertently annoying your hosts…

I wouldn't mind someone staying at mine if I had the time to clean up properly. The only place I ever go overnight is at my friend's, she has a 1 bedroom flat so I sleep on a blow up bed in the lounge. It's surprisingly comfy. The most embarrassing thing happened last time I stayed. I had to do a number 2 in her loo & it wouldn't flush away 😳. I flushed about 4 times & it wouldn't go. Luckily I found a jug so filled it up a few times, flushed & it finally went. I came out & told her the story (we tell each other everything) & she laughed & said it wouldn't have bothered her if I couldn't get it to go.

The only person I'd ever share a bedroom with though is OH, and even that's a push! We always have separate rooms when I go away with my friend or my dd

I’d rather stay at a hotel unless we were super close. Even then if I don’t know her partner very well I wouldn’t want to stay at all.

I couldn’t say no without a reason so yes I would lie. Tell her ur in the middle of decorating and the spare bed is dismantled and place in a mess with it all.

I prefer hotel too depending on how close the friend is - can only think of 3-4 friends I’d be as comfortable staying with as in a hotel.

It’s fine for you to say no and suggest local places to stay

I hate staying at other people's houses or having people stay at mine.

I just never do it.

No chocolate or wine in them old would make this an appealing experience unless the very best of friend and even then it wouldn't feel relaxing.

If she’s staying for work, then work will pay for her hotel.

I don’t think it’s rude to stay in a hotel, especially if she’s never stayed at yours before.

Just say that it’s not convenient to stay, but you’d love to meet up for a meal. Keep the reply simple.

I don’t mind receiving guests but when I go to see someone I always book a hotel. Just more comfortable and less pressure on who I’m seeing.
My one exception is when I go and see my aunt, if I’m staying over I stay with her in her lovely guest room but that’s because we get our pyjamas on at 7pm, order a takeaway and get tipsy together. She’s like my second mum and we don’t get to see each other as much as we’d like so every minute is precious and we laugh til we cry all night long until we roll into our beds.
Other than staying with her, hotel all the way.