Ashley would like to see her friend, but she’s frustrated by the situation. Sure, she has a room to spare, but she doesn’t exactly want a houseguest for seven days straight — especially one who hasn’t offered to contribute toward groceries or help with meals as a “thank you” gesture. Still, Ashley feels guilty about saying no.
Steph certainly isn’t alone in looking for ways to cut travel expenses — high hotel prices have been prompting some Americans to turn to friends and family for a free place to stay. Deloitte’s 2025 travel survey found that 24% of respondents planned to stay with friends or family instead of a hotel because of room rates. For hosts like Ashley, though, having a guest for a week can mean extra grocery costs and a lot less privacy.
When asking to stay crosses a line
Hosting anyone for a full week is a massive undertaking. And while Ashley may feel awkward about saying no, she’s hardly alone in not wanting overnight guests.
A November 2024 YouGov survey of 4,678 U.S. adults found that 26% “dislike” or “hate” hosting friends or family overnight, even though most respondents said they enjoy it.
So, what can Ashley do? With the visit less than a month away, she should say something before Steph makes plans around the idea of staying with her. She doesn’t need to make it a big conversation, though. A quick text saying she’s excited for the visit but can’t host should be enough to get the point across without doing any irreparable damage to the friendship.
It’s better to be clear now than leave Steph scrambling to find somewhere to stay at the last minute. If she has the time — and to assuage any lingering guilty feelings — Ashley can also offer to help find a cost-effective hotel or Airbnb rental, without taking on the entire responsibility for sorting out Steph’s travel budget.
A hotel can easily be one of the biggest costs of a trip, so it’s understandable that Steph would want to save on that expense. But Ashley has bills of her own, not to mention a routine she’d have to work around for an entire week.
She can still make time for dinner or a few outings while Steph is in town, without having to host her for the week.
