To ask if you were going to stay with family for a week?

[Chocolateflapjack01]

...would you expect to be fed 3 meals a day for the whole week or would you go and do a shop/ offer to?

Too many variables. For a start, if I was staying with family for a week I'd be very surprised if we were in for three meals a day. So I'd be fully expecting that if I'm fed (largely) while at home, that I'd be paying for drinks, coffees and meals out to thank the hosts.

Beyond that, it also massively depends on who. Staying with my parents, I'd probably do a few shops and we'd inevitably discuss meal plans etc. Staying with elderly aunt over the summer with the kids, she made it clear she didn't want me doing any of that so I took some lovely wine and champagne - for us to drink and a lovely bottle for her for another time, some chocolates and insisted that she let me buy all the little treats while we were out and about - which was mostly coffee/ice cream and the odd sandwich lunch. But that was just three days.

If someone stayed at mine i would feed them. It would be appreciated if they bought a meal out/takeaway or food. When my BIL used to stay, be would buy the biggest lump of beef and pork (which would be enough to split 3 ways each so far froze them) and id make a roast. Just lovely and i liked that

You need to give more context, @Chocolateflapjack01!

Staying with my parents, I would pick up some shopping, cook some meals and fill their freezer with cake and scones (I like to bake, they don’t but like to eat!)

Staying with friends, we’d get ourselves cereal or toast, eat lunch out and take them out to dinner or get a couple of takeaways.

Hosting, I assume it’s on me to provide food but usually our guests treat us to a dinner/takeaway.

My family and friends wouldnt accept my buying groceries unless I turned up with something a bit fancy. But I do pay for the dinner or takeaway.

I would always go and do some shopping and would offer to cook/buy a take away if could afford to. But there was a time that I stayed with brother and his wife and am not even allowed to make a cup of tea there so would be waiting forever for even a cup of tea. But visiting dad would always go and do a shop as he would not have everything there and would cook for the week. Now would just stay in hotel or b&b as don't like staying with family.

I'd offer to buy stuff definitely and depending on the relationship I'd also offer to do some cooking. I always end up doing the cooking when I go to my parent's as my mum hates it and it stresses her out.

With my parents I wouldn't contribute financially (maybe bring some wine) but I'd offer to cook a meal, and I'd help with food prep etc.

At my in laws we usually buy and make half the meals.

As a host, I'd expect to provide all the food. If the guest wanted to buy things, that'd be nice but not expected.

why don't people just ask? A week is a heck of a long time. As guest or host I'd want time alone, know what the general plan was for days out with hosts/guests and what people expected to eat and when. I would expect help as the host, and expect to offer it as a guest.

Unless they were particularly hard up I would expect them to provide the food, though I would insist on taking them out for dinner and/or buying us all a takeaway at least a couple of times during my stay.

Would not cook them 3 meals a day! When people have stayed they help themselves, with a occasional meal cooked by us/takeaway bought by them. No way could we afford to provide all that food and cook all the time.
We are the younger relations though and it's always been family staying.

I'd expect to buy food and treats as well as having meals out and takeaways.

We stay with my PILs for this length of time at least once a year as they live at the other end of the country. They are very happy to provide all meals and wouldn't hear of us doing a supermarket shop but we will buy booze and pay for e.g. days out, a meal out, a takeaway etc.

I have family in Scotland and if I take the children I do our own food shop for our own breakfasts and lunches and then dinner is normally hosted by the family, or we go out but I chip in with a top up shop, would pay for a meal out or takeaway and also help washing up.

Only ever stayed at bil's for the week end. Sil cooked everything from extreme scratch so couldn't have turned up with anything she approved of tbh!! We used to pay for take away 1 night.. She was fastidious about washing up and we weren't allowed to help!!

No, when we go back home we might buy some fruit, or treats, but dont expect to pay for anything really. Same when they r here. It is not a guest if they re expected to pay their way. Might as well to go stay in a hotel then

If I was invited, and not summoned, I'd try to make sure at least a couple of meals were out at a nice pub (with taxis) and maybe a take-away. I wouldn't buy someone shopping.

@CookPassBabtridge

Would not cook them 3 meals a day! When people have stayed they help themselves, with a occasional meal cooked by us/takeaway bought by them. No way could we afford to provide all that food and cook all the time. We are the younger relations though and it's always been family staying.

😱really? You have guests but you only occasionally cook for them??

If we stay at my db I take loads of booze, great cheese, nice fruit, breakfast pastries, crumpets etc. we will pay for lunch and a couple of takeaways.

@ReadtheFT

It all depends on the circumstances, though, doesn't it? If you are both working FT with kids, or a busy parent working at home, and just one person comes to stay, that's doable. Parents visiting who need no help at all v parents who need picking up,, entertaining. Four or five family members with kids ... all depends on space, affordability and give and take. And expectations. I agree a hotel or B&B is one answer if the hosting family can't cope and work and their guests aren't prepared to help.