Reply #5: OK. This worked for me with an ubuntu guest and was very easy:

[struggle4progress]

(1) Go to the guest settings, choose Shared Folders, click the little +-folder-icon and add the host directory there. Remember the name assigned to the share (say "ShareName") Check the AutoMount box and back out

(2)(a) When starting the guest, I now find the share mounted under /media/ShareName. The share inconveniently belongs to root, but it ALSO belongs to the vboxsf group.
(2)(b) So I add my name to vboxsf group: System >> Administration >> Users and Groups >> Manage Groups >> <select from list> vboxsf >> Properties >> <add username to list>

(3) Gotta reboot

Now I have access to the share mounted under /media/ShareName without fancy contortions