So you’re thinking of visiting friends or family but they live far away from you– what should you do? Should you ask to stay with them, at their house? Or should you book a hotel?
The Arguments for Staying at a Hotel
Here’s the deal: sometimes it’s nice to get away from your friends and family and give them their space. If and when you stay at their house, you’re with them 24-7, and that can irritate you… or them. It’s nice to have your own space, away from the craziness of a house full of… pets, kids, babies, construction, clutter, etc. And then there’s this: they have a place for you to sleep, but it’s on an old, hard mattress, on the floor, in the kids’ room… with the kids. Can you say awkward?
Asking to stay with friends/family means putting them out– they have to clean up before, during and after you’re there. They have to supply you with meals, which means grocery shopping and meal prep and expense. And they have to do the laundry after you leave. Do you really want to put them through that hassle? It’s no wonder hotels are so prevalent, right? They take care of a lot of that “stuff” for you.
Ancillary Reasons
What are some other reasons to choose a hotel, like Brunswick’s Travelers Inn, to stay at overnight, rather than with friends/family? How about a reliable Internet connection? Peace and quiet? A place where you can do what you want without the judgment of others– choosing the bedtime you want, sleeping au naturel if you want, leaving the bed unmade in the morning, and/or having some romantic time with your partner… these are all things you can do at a hotel.
Finally, if and when you’re with friends/family and you’ve had about enough of them, you can always use the hotel as your “out.” Just say, “Well, I’ve got to get back to the hotel and take my pills,” or “Got to get the kids to bed, so we’d better head out now.” A lot of people like the idea of “escaping” back to their hotel after time with relatives!