Are you are moocher?
Trip Start
Jan 30, 2007
1
84
814
Trip End
Dec 31, 2011
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London,
England,
United Kingdom
Sunday, May 25, 2008
See my previous posting for some more background to this - http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/happysheep/shangri-la-la/1211728680/tpod.html.
As travel costs rise, beware the vacation 'moocher'
Friday May 16, 2008
By Belinda Goldsmith
More and more people are 'mooching' - outstaying their welcome with family and friends while on holiday.
Beware of those annoying guests who overstay their welcome or use you as a hotel: a survey has found that rising travel costs will mean more "travel moochers" - friends or relatives after a free bed.
A survey by travel website IgoUgo found that 57 per cent of 1,376 respondents would consider staying with friends or relatives to save money on a vacation, with 55 per cent only going on holiday to a place where they have free accommodation.
But the poll also found there was a difference between guests who place time spent with family or friends as a priority for visiting, and "moochers" who are motivated primarily by saving money when they land on a friend's doorstep.
Of the people who would travel somewhere because of friends or family, 75 per cent reported enjoying time with their hosts as a key reason for the trip, while 25 per cent were "moochers".
"There's something to be said for staying with a local on your vacation - not only will you save money, but you'll likely get the inside scoop on the coolest things to do and see," IgoUgo.com spokesman Cameron Siewert said.
"But your host should feel that you value spending time with them - not that you're simply taking advantage of a free place to crash."
The online poll, conducted between April 22 and April 28, found the majority of respondents felt comfortable staying with family and close friends.
Only 15 per cent said they have or would consider staying with people they don't know or met on the internet, ruling out "couch surfing" - taking up offers from locals for a free bed or couch.
On average people said they would stay between two and five nights with family or friends, with 86 per cent taking their hosts out to dinner to show their appreciation for free accommodation.
"Moochers" - a phrase coined by IgoUgo - expect fewer hospitalities like linens, groceries, and lifts from the airport when staying with friends - but they were also found to offer fewer hospitalities when people stayed with them.
Eight per cent of "moochers" won't even let guests stay with them.
Poll respondents had a list of horror "moocher" stories.
One told the story of a pen pal who arrived from Denmark with her cousins, smoked in the house despite requests not to, let her children clamber over antiques; and woke up their hosts at 6am wanting breakfast.
Another said: "I did not realise that letting my brother's girlfriend stay in my apartment for a few days before she flew to Europe meant that she was allowed to control my access to my own room, and that my furniture had to be moved out of the way so she could use the room as a yoga studio."
Siewert said visitors needed to be good guests.
"The trick is to be a welcomed guest and not an inconsiderate mooch - after all, the ultimate goal is to get invited back!" he said.
- REUTERS
This story was found at: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/7/story.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10510529.
moocher
