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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a 6 person lodge for myself?

283 replies

MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 12:29

One of my favourite things to do since escaping my controlling ex is to get away by myself for a couple of nights, somewhere remote with a good view, a hot tub, where I can just relax and recharge.

I've found a lovely site that has a few 2 person glamping pods, and 2 self-catering cottages. One cottage sleeps 4, the other sleeps 6. I dithered over both of them but decided to go for the 6 person lodge as it has nicer facilities, bigger kitchen, nicer views, and an enclosed garden for if I decide to bring my dog with me.

I've just received an email from the company asking me to clarify it's just for me. I've said yes. They've come back and said it's a busy time of year for them (October), so would I like to have one of the glamping pods instead as the cottages are really for bigger parties only.

I've had another look on their website and can see now it says they charge a fixed rate for 2 people, and for each additional person it's an extra £50 per person, per night! So they're obviously thinking they can make more money out of a bigger party rather than just me on my own.

I haven't specified this to them yet but I was planning on paying extra for early check in (£30), bringing the dog (£25), and a bottle of fizzy on arrival (£40). So it's not like they won't be getting their moneys worth out of me.

AIBU to book the larger property just for me?

OP posts:
Mirabai · 12/08/2024 13:34

As someone who works in this business it’s VU, indeed unprofessional of them, to try and shift you to a glorified tent after you’ve booked.

If their pricing model doesn’t work for them (it’s weird, what are they doing?) the onus is on them to change it not inconvenience their guests.

It’s very common to have single guests in 2 bedroom properties. Most cottages just charge a flat rate.

Fluufer · 12/08/2024 13:34

MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:27

The bigger cottage was £20 per night more than the smaller one. Smile

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Well then that seems like their own fault. If they wanted to charge more for the big one, they should have charged more. I would be extremely unimpressed if they declined the booking at this point. I don't like being charged per person for these things anyway, surely it's the space your paying for?

Indianajet · 12/08/2024 13:32

Last year I booked a two bedroom cottage for just me and my dog - same price whether I was on my own or with other people, I paid for the use of the cottage as I wished.

MagpiePi · 12/08/2024 13:31

If you've paid the basic rate for 2 people then it seems a bit of a cheek for them to ask you to move.
Also, £40 for a bottle of fizz? I hope it is a Moet at least!

EatCrow · 12/08/2024 13:30

MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:02

This cottage is in Scotland too Smile It also has a covered gazebo with a fire pit which was the selling point for me in October!!

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Sounds perfect! This is something I would definitely do (and even pay the extra if no other choice). Lucky you and lucky dog ☺️

brunettemic · 12/08/2024 13:29

Arguably you’re negatively impacting their business, which is why they asked. Nobody is right or wrong in the situation and they’re certainly not “cheeky twats” for asking. Equally they can refuse your booking if they so wish.

Original poster
MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:27

Fluufer · 12/08/2024 13:25

YANBU. They need to sort their pricing structure out and charge more for the big one in the first place.

The bigger cottage was £20 per night more than the smaller one. Smile

OP posts:
Greyrockin · 12/08/2024 13:26

So if it’s a fixed price for 2 people, then an extra £50pp per night, they could make another £200 per night if 6 people booked the cottage?

I could see how they might prefer to keep the cottage for a 6 person booking, but they should be clear in their policies if that’s the case.

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 12/08/2024 13:26

How bizarre, we go on two or three UK self-catering holidays per year, and I have never known any of the properties to charge per person staying. We often have an empty bedroom, because there's three adults and usually the only way you can get two double beds is if the property is set up for more than four people. Sometimes there's an extra charge for the dog. The only time I've ever seen a business not allowing people to hire accomodation that exceeds their needs was a music festival - which made perfect sense because they want their six-person glamping pods to have six admission-fee paying people in it, not two.

Fluufer · 12/08/2024 13:25

YANBU. They need to sort their pricing structure out and charge more for the big one in the first place.

Original poster
MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:24

Biffbaff · 12/08/2024 13:14

They need to change their pricing model then, to one per property rather than per guest at said property. They also should advertise that at peak times there is a minimum of X number of people. So YANBU when you booked it.

However I do think YABU for thinking that paying for a dog to stay there and a bottle of fizz means that you're spending extra money with them - they're providing extra services in exchange for that so no, not really.

If I were you I would cancel with these guys because they're being difficult and find another nice 6 person place which is priced transparently from the offset.

Yeah, I get that they're providing a service. What I mean is that I'm planning to spend an additional £95 on top of the cost they've asked for the cottage. I could just as easily not bring the dog, and buy my own bottle of prosecco from Morrisons for a fiver! Grin

OP posts:
Mindfulmeltdowns · 12/08/2024 13:23

YANBU to book the lodge and decline the pod, but they are also NBU to ask.

If this is an issue for them they need to review their pricing/booking policies going forward.

KreedKafer · 12/08/2024 13:22

Lovelysummerdays · 12/08/2024 13:09

I wonder if they've found people book it for 1 then turn up with 6 people

Oh, yes, I bet that's the case!

KreedKafer · 12/08/2024 13:21

Nobody's being unreasonable here.

You're not unreasonable to want to book it.

They are not unreasonable to suggest a smaller property if they're going to have to turn down parties of six and lose money on your booking. You are not unreasonable to say no thanks to the glamping pod, and I would be inclined to point out to them everything you've said about the extras you're planning to order. However, if they turn down your booking entirely, I can understand why from their point of view.

Whether you end up staying there or somewhere else, I hope you have a lovely, relaxing trip. A solo getaway is an absolute joy.

Getonwitit · 12/08/2024 13:16

Enjoy the lodge Flowers

Biffbaff · 12/08/2024 13:14

They need to change their pricing model then, to one per property rather than per guest at said property. They also should advertise that at peak times there is a minimum of X number of people. So YANBU when you booked it.

However I do think YABU for thinking that paying for a dog to stay there and a bottle of fizz means that you're spending extra money with them - they're providing extra services in exchange for that so no, not really.

If I were you I would cancel with these guys because they're being difficult and find another nice 6 person place which is priced transparently from the offset.

voiceofastar · 12/08/2024 13:13

YANBU.

What would one search for if they wanted to find something similar? 'somewhere remote with a good view, a hot tub, where I can just relax and recharge' sounds fantastic.

Original poster
MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:13

Lovelysummerdays · 12/08/2024 13:09

I wonder if they've found people book it for 1 then turn up with 6 people

I wondered this too. The default when you go to check availability and pricing is 1 guest, so maybe people forget to change this when they book?

OP posts:
Lovelysummerdays · 12/08/2024 13:09

I wonder if they've found people book it for 1 then turn up with 6 people

Sallyh87 · 12/08/2024 13:07

Enjoy your holiday! Sounds lovely.

LlynTegid · 12/08/2024 13:06

I would prefer the cottage to be a home for someone all year round. Until that is the case, then you are being reasonable.

Frasers · 12/08/2024 13:04

Suspect their pricing model works in low periods but less so in busy periods. Although I guess not many do this. Of course they wish to maximise their money in peak season. I’d let them know what else you’re going to spend.

Original poster
MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:02

Flossflower · 12/08/2024 12:58

I would imagine that the pods are not selling!
All the accommodation we look at seems to come priced per house/cottage.
The 2 of us frequently book accommodation for 4 or 6 people in Scotland because the weather can be terrible. We once booked what was really a bedsit for a week and it poured with rain all the time.

This cottage is in Scotland too Smile It also has a covered gazebo with a fire pit which was the selling point for me in October!!

OP posts:
MyveryownFlyingSaucer · 12/08/2024 13:01

Go for it.

We booked a beautiful house in Cornwall once that was supposed to be for 8 people but it was just DH and myself at that time.

It was fantastic. We booked it in the winter so we had this large house to drift about it, with log fires, lovely big baths and a huge kitchen. We each had our own luxury bathroom which was lovely.

Original poster
MaryRoze · 12/08/2024 13:01

Ineffable23 · 12/08/2024 12:54

I can understand offering a fixed increase per additional occupant, to cover the additional costs of changing multiple sets of sheets and probably a bit more work on the cleaning at the end. But charging extra per person per night is just a strange business model as it doesn't reflect the additional costs.

I've stayed somewhere before where the owner has asked me to only use one bedroom for sleeping when I was under occupying a 2 bed cottage. Presumably this was to save her having to change the sheets. I was absolutely fine with that.

OP posts: