Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hotel barman came to hotel room door

184 replies

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 20:23

I'm a bit shaken up.

I'm on a city break with my DD 6. It's a European city, just the two of us. It's been a few days of activities, then we arrive back to the hotel and eat there in the quiet hotel bar.

There is a very friendly barman. He can't do enough for us. We've been chatting for around an hour in the evening. My DD chats but is mainly unwinding with her colouring. I've had one glass of wine every evening and then gone to bed early. He's been a bit flirty, nothing outrageous but I'm slightly wary given I'm a woman travelling alone with my daughter.

There was a group of loud men hanging around, some but not all had their wives with them. They didn't speak English but it was obvious one was making unpleasant remarks at me and they all laughed.

Tonight as usual we went up to bed before 8pm. She then proceeded to get sick all over the bathroom. I put her back to bed and cleaned it up using all the towels. I then phoned reception to apologise for leaving the towels outside the door on the corridor and asked for clean ones. They were having trouble hearing me so I emailed too (relevant as I emailed the info email).

Reception then appeared with fresh towels. I explained about the dirfy towels and we agreed I should take them back inside and leave them on the balcony. All was dealt with.

I heard some of the loud bar people come up and was cussing silently that they were on my floor.

Then another knock on the door and nothing else. I walked over and said hello. It was the barman. I asked him what he wanted. He asked could he help. I said no, she's asleep, goodnight. He then said if we need anything to come down. I said goodnight.

I don't know if I'm overreacting but I'm shaking now. I can't see any reason why he wouldn't just phone the room. I don't like the fact he came and knocked without saying who he was. I could have opened the door and then being manipulated into a conversation on an empty corridor.

Am I being paranoid? It felt very off.

OP posts:
KnewYearKnewMe · 17/04/2025 22:29

@Goditsmemargaret same here - I just bought a copy of the book for my 20 year old DD who was talked into accepting something she wasn’t happy with recently….

far better to be thought rude than the alternative.

viques · 17/04/2025 22:26

Sparkling2006 · 17/04/2025 20:34

I’m over giving men the benefit of the doubt personally. There was no reason for him to come up to your room, the towel issue had been dealt with.

I think his concern might have been with the rowdy men if he knew which floor they were on.

ConnieSlow · 17/04/2025 22:26

Can’t imagine being so shaken up and first thing I think of is to write a long post on MN! Genuinely! I would either call reception or tell someone instead of a bunch of randoms who can’t help?
also what do you think he was hoping to do in your room knowing your child was there in with you?

Grammarnut · 17/04/2025 22:24

I clicked YANBU by accident. It sounds as if he was just being helpful. Perhaps he was passing on that floor?

Bingbopboomboomboombopbam · 17/04/2025 22:20

Given the context I think he was just checking in and making sure everything was okay. Depending on the country this might be habitual as well.

I can see where you’re coming from, though. When I was little, I was staying with my mother in a hotel we stayed at fairly regularly and during the night we saw someone (presumably the receptionist as he didn’t pick up our frantic calls) trying to get in. I don’t know if he thought we were asleep as I had the TV almost mute or what, but it gave us the scare of our lives. We checked out that same night.

OneWaryCat · 17/04/2025 22:20

I think some men don't fully appreciate what is intimidating to women because they don't have to worry themselves or have their guard up in the the same way. I can't imagine this man has ever worried by an unexpected knock on his door and that's the issue. He should have better training though. Glad all ok.

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 22:20

This post is ridiculous. Unbelievably ridiculous.

GreenFriedTomato · 17/04/2025 22:19

I missed that. Still, if it were in certain resorts a barman coming to your room would be a huge red flag. Only reception or housekeeping would be appropriate.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 17/04/2025 22:16

GreenFriedTomato · 17/04/2025 22:15

I guess she could have worded it better but she's not all wrong.
In Egypt for example, male hotel workers, barmen etc regularly approach female guests for sex/money/romance scams
It's big business.
Not saying this is the case here.
But in certain countries this would be the most likely scenario. I know I lived there.

The barman is English

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 22:16

LittlerCharlotte · 17/04/2025 22:14

Ah the children have come out to play I see ..

Nope. People who live in reality have come out to play.

GreenFriedTomato · 17/04/2025 22:15

ItGhoul · 17/04/2025 22:01

What the hell is this racist bollocks? ‘These foreign types’? Christ.

I guess she could have worded it better but she's not all wrong.
In Egypt for example, male hotel workers, barmen etc regularly approach female guests for sex/money/romance scams
It's big business.
Not saying this is the case here.
But in certain countries this would be the most likely scenario. I know I lived there.

Summertimeblahness · 17/04/2025 22:15

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 22:14

Your posts scream paranoia. Even the wives were laughing?! And they decided to pick on you whilst your 8 year old daughter was there? Sorry but it's farfetched.

You couldn't understand what he was saying, saw people laughing and assumed you were being targeted. Way overly paranoid.

You then assumed the kind hotel worker was out to get you even though you contacted reception twice because there was vomit everywhere and requested towels. So he very nicely called to see if everything was ok.

This is OTT. You shouldn't be travelling if you're that afraid.

She’s a lone female with an unwell child in a foreign country. What is wrong with you?

LittlerCharlotte · 17/04/2025 22:14

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 22:14

Your posts scream paranoia. Even the wives were laughing?! And they decided to pick on you whilst your 8 year old daughter was there? Sorry but it's farfetched.

You couldn't understand what he was saying, saw people laughing and assumed you were being targeted. Way overly paranoid.

You then assumed the kind hotel worker was out to get you even though you contacted reception twice because there was vomit everywhere and requested towels. So he very nicely called to see if everything was ok.

This is OTT. You shouldn't be travelling if you're that afraid.

Ah the children have come out to play I see ..

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 22:14

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 22:04

You are ridiculous. He was quite obviously making remarks at me. Leery men speak a universal language.

Your posts scream paranoia. Even the wives were laughing?! And they decided to pick on you whilst your 8 year old daughter was there? Sorry but it's farfetched.

You couldn't understand what he was saying, saw people laughing and assumed you were being targeted. Way overly paranoid.

You then assumed the kind hotel worker was out to get you even though you contacted reception twice because there was vomit everywhere and requested towels. So he very nicely called to see if everything was ok.

This is OTT. You shouldn't be travelling if you're that afraid.

Summertimeblahness · 17/04/2025 22:13

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 21:56

So paranoid.

How do you know one of the guests in the bar was openly making unpleasant remarks at you and child (and everyone including the wives laughing?). I think you see threats where there are none.

Abd it's obvious why there could be a knock on the door. You phoned and emailed reception to tell them your daughter had puked all over the bathroom floor. Obviously there was going to be interaction.

Don’t be a dick.

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 22:13

KnewYearKnewMe · 17/04/2025 22:10

The Gift of Fear is a great book, OP, and highlights how women in particular overlook their instincts about danger because we are socially conditioned to be polite.

whether or not there was any danger here, you felt uneasy, it shook you up and you didn’t allow your judgement to be overridden.

thats good. Much better to have ‘overeacted’ and cause minor offence than risk the alternative.

I fully agree. I've said for years I'm going to raise my daughter with attitude that you're better to be rude and wrong than find yourself in a dangerous spot.

OP posts:
LittlerCharlotte · 17/04/2025 22:12

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 22:07

Well the initial knock was accompanied by "reception" We had a conversation then the person left.

Then I heard loud men passing outside in the main corridor.

Brief silence.

Then a knock with no words.

I said "who's there?" He answered and we talked through the door. I kept the chair against it.

Ah sorry, I understand now!

I wouldn't have said anything had I knocked, in case I disturbed your little one..as a barman I suspect he isn't used to doing that but for a receptionist they'd be doing it a lot.

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 22:11

TheHerboriste · 17/04/2025 22:09

Word probably went around among the staff that the woman with the child had called down about some sickness. If you weren't being understood by the person on the other end of the phone, they probably asked the bar worker, who had successfully communicated with you, to go up and check. It doesn't sound sinister to me.

I think you're probably right

OP posts:
KnewYearKnewMe · 17/04/2025 22:10

The Gift of Fear is a great book, OP, and highlights how women in particular overlook their instincts about danger because we are socially conditioned to be polite.

whether or not there was any danger here, you felt uneasy, it shook you up and you didn’t allow your judgement to be overridden.

thats good. Much better to have ‘overeacted’ and cause minor offence than risk the alternative.

TheHerboriste · 17/04/2025 22:09

Word probably went around among the staff that the woman with the child had called down about some sickness. If you weren't being understood by the person on the other end of the phone, they probably asked the bar worker, who had successfully communicated with you, to go up and check. It doesn't sound sinister to me.

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 22:07

LittlerCharlotte · 17/04/2025 22:05

You said he didn't say who he was. But he wasn't going to bellow "it's me, Alfredo" while knocking at the door! I'm very confused but I think you're exhausted and stressed and hope your daughter feels better.

Well the initial knock was accompanied by "reception" We had a conversation then the person left.

Then I heard loud men passing outside in the main corridor.

Brief silence.

Then a knock with no words.

I said "who's there?" He answered and we talked through the door. I kept the chair against it.

OP posts:
ilovesushi · 17/04/2025 22:07

I think/ hope it is probably absolutely fine but I would be feeling unsettled by it too.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 17/04/2025 22:07

LittlerCharlotte · 17/04/2025 22:05

You said he didn't say who he was. But he wasn't going to bellow "it's me, Alfredo" while knocking at the door! I'm very confused but I think you're exhausted and stressed and hope your daughter feels better.

She explained what she meant, reception knocked on the door and said ‘it’s reception’ he knocked on the door and stayed silent and it unnerved her.

LittlerCharlotte · 17/04/2025 22:05

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 21:11

I did ask who it was. I never opened the door to him at all.

Reception knocked and said who they were at the same time.

Anyway the replies have reassured me. I am definitely feeling anxious due to my child being sick and we are away from her dad.

I feel bad now because, as I said, he couldn't do enough for us throughout the holiday. And I see the sense now of a gentle knock on the door. I also think the email probably got opened by him and he may not have even known reception arrived already with towels.

You said he didn't say who he was. But he wasn't going to bellow "it's me, Alfredo" while knocking at the door! I'm very confused but I think you're exhausted and stressed and hope your daughter feels better.

Goditsmemargaret · 17/04/2025 22:04

BoundaryGirl3939 · 17/04/2025 21:56

So paranoid.

How do you know one of the guests in the bar was openly making unpleasant remarks at you and child (and everyone including the wives laughing?). I think you see threats where there are none.

Abd it's obvious why there could be a knock on the door. You phoned and emailed reception to tell them your daughter had puked all over the bathroom floor. Obviously there was going to be interaction.

You are ridiculous. He was quite obviously making remarks at me. Leery men speak a universal language.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread