To think that if you can't control your children, you shouldn't come to hotels?

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

DH and I are currently staying at a very nice boutique hotel in the countryside. It's been a hell of a busy year and so the idea was to treat ourselves to a couple of days somewhere luxurious and to do lots of reading and sleeping. However, we're staying at a place that's converted old outbuildings into suites, two suites to a building. And the family next door have the two noisiest children on the face of the planet.

Yesterday morning we were working up by the children shrieking to one another and then for their mother (it appeared she'd pushed them out into the communal stairwell to play). A phone complaint later to reception and the noise ceased (and they glared at us every time they passed us in the hotel). But damage done, we were already awake (and given that I am exhausted all the time from this pregnancy, it was awful not being able to go back to sleep). Yesterday evening, exactly the same thing. Screaming children sent to "play" on the stairs and landing outside our room where they screamed, ran around and then got into an actual fight (complete with shouted insults and wails for a parent). It happened again this morning at 7am (there goes our lie-in) and this time the call to reception had no effect.

I'm really cross that I haven't been able to have a lie-in because of their lazy parenting. I remember going to hotels with my family when I was small and my mother coming down on me very hard when I was too loud and in danger of disturbing the other guests. They're the only children at the hotel and their running and screaming in the library yesterday was attracting frowns from every other couple there. AIBU to hate the parents of the noisy brats for being so selfish and entitled? My feeling is that when you have kids, you don't get to just ignore behaviour that might be ruining an experience for other people.

[paxtecum]

YANBU.
But book an adults only hotel next time.

[CointreauVersial]

Sympathies, OP.

Children making bit of noise is probably unavoidable in public areas of the hotel (reception/lounge etc) but how inconsiderate of the parents letting their DCs scream and shout outside people's rooms at 7am. I would have been furious.

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

Paxtecum that's part of the problem. Whilst this isn't officially adults-only, it's mainly adults. There are no other children here. But I wouldn't mind them being here in the least if they were just being quiet and behaving nicely. The parents should have taken them out and run them around during the day. It's this kind of awful behaviour that comes to mind when people start whining about how children are being excluded from restaurants etc.

[lovelyredwine]

I can understand your irritation, but unfortunately it's a risk you take when booking into a hotel. Next time go for an adults only hotel, or book a boutique rural cottage- the ones where they provide you with a posh hamper of food so you don't have to cook too much or go to the shops.

[NewtRipley]

YANBU

[LaurieFairyCake]

I'd have asked to move rooms the second they started squawking.

[Iamsparklyknickers]

YANBU, boutique hotel or not you don't inflict your kids worst behavior on others, if they're climbing the walls take them outside.

[OddFodd]

YANBU - that's just piss poor lazy parenting

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

That's exactly why I'm irritated. Why should the burden be on me to go somewhere isolated? Why is the burden not on the parents to make sure their children know how to behave?

[YouStayClassySanDiego]

Depending on how bloody livid I would be feeling, I would have knocked on their door and told them to control their children.

I'm usually placid but there's a limit.

[3littlefrogs]

I have twice had a weekend break ruined by the noisy, unsupervised children of (presumably drunk) wedding reception guests rampaging up and down the corridors in the early hours banging on doors and shrieking.

Complaints to reception work for a little while, then it starts all over again.

It is all part of the increase in general bad parenting and antisocial behaviour.

It isn't worth the expense of booking a weekend break any more IMO.

[TheHippyWhoWearsLippy]

Oh that sounds like hell, nothing worse than noisy brats that the parents can't be bothered with-hence the kids being noisy. When you book a hotel you don't expect this kind of behaviour so why should you book adults only. I work in a hotel at senior level so I would advise that you ask to speak to the manager about the problem. Sometimes communication at the higest levels work best.

[NurseRoscoe]

hmmm I don't think YABU however how old were the children? Do you have children of your own?

I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old and I find that they can make a lot of noise without even meaning to, therefore it's quite hard to keep them quiet. However I wouldn't be taking them to a quiet hotel at this age, would draw the line at somewhere like butlins or haven, so maybe that is irrelevant.

Children do make noise and they are on holiday too however it is up to the parents to keep them amused and out of other people's way, not send them into communal areas on their own.

[madmomma]

yanbu

[Morgause]

YANBU.

[RedLondonBus]

How annoying! I would want my money back.

I see too many parents letting their kids run riot and smile on at them indulgently!

[Minor]

I have been known to take Dc out for a long walk at 6:30am when on holiday, or for a paddle in the lake/sea.

It is hard to keep them quiet once they're awake but that doesn't mean you have to inflict their noise on people trying to sleep

[MoominMammasHandbag]

I would be looking for some kind of refund as well to be honest. If this sort of issue is not managed by the hotel, then a bad review on trip adviser.

[TheCrackFox]

YANBU

Some people are just incredibly selfish.

[paxtecum]

Why should you book an Adults Only Hotel?

For your own benefit, that's why.
You could have been next door to a colicky baby crying all night.

Though I suppose you could be kept awake all night by noisy neighbours shagging!

[feelingfuckingfestiveok]

throw a packet of crayons at them and some gob stoppers with 'the look'

[optimusic]

The age of the children is irrelevant. You don't chuck them out of your room, into communal areas at stupid oclock to disturb others. Yes children make noise, but still no reason to disturb others.

[differentnameforthis]

See it as practice for when your baby is here. No lie ins then either.

But seriously, I do understand where you are coming from & when we are away we do try & encourage the children to play quietly. But sometimes it just doesn't happen. It is not always down to lazy parenting, as you will find out soon.

And don't call them brats, they are only doing what their parents are allowing them to do, it isn't their fault.

[OhWellWhatToDo]

YANBU!

It's so annoying.

[Lifeisaboxofchocs]

oh it is the same at restaurants. DH and I spend our time telling the children how to eat nicely, play quietly, talk at a reasonable volume. And they are very young. Our hope is that, in time, our had work will pay off, and this will come naturally to them.

Frustrating though when you see children going bat sh*t crazy at the table next door, and the parents chilling without a care in the world.