Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To burn the villa down

230 replies

Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 21:25

We’re staying in a villa in a hillside villa in Cyprus - DH (thank fucking god it was him and not me) went in to top our drinks up and a fucking tarantula was sat in the kitchen. He managed to catch it in the pool net but I am totally freaking out.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Original poster
Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 22:34

FamingolosForDays · 16/06/2025 22:30

Oh god. Please tell me they don't exist in Rhodes 🫨

Would you hate me if I said Huntsmen

OP posts:
Chocolateorange22 · 16/06/2025 22:33

Anyone else itching at the thought?

GTFOOH

Doorsways · 16/06/2025 22:30

I hate spiders, so naturally had to Google.
That large harmless one is scary as fxxk.
Not the better of it.
Huge, black and hairy.
The harmless bit is a moot point.

Original poster
Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 22:30

Slatterndisgrace · 16/06/2025 22:29

Thanks. I was imagining some brave soul shrugging and picking it up by hand.

Honestly OP, I really for you.

They can live up to 30 years apparently (as a pointless fact).

Show quote history

FFS

OP posts:
FamingolosForDays · 16/06/2025 22:30

Oh god. Please tell me they don't exist in Rhodes 🫨

Slatterndisgrace · 16/06/2025 22:30

TheBewleySisters · 16/06/2025 22:25

@Kinkyroots- street lamp packed with moths, bats, no no no - flying things are my ultimate nightmare. As if the tarantulas weren’t bad enough!

Imagine flying spiders.

Mobylome · 16/06/2025 22:30

For all those crodsing Cyprus off the list of desirable future holiday destinations, according to Wikipedia tatantulas also live in Spain, Portugal, Southern Italy and Turkey, as well as Cyprus.

(Aaaaaaaaaarggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!)

Original poster
Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 22:29

To reassure some people…I have spent a lot of time here - previously served in the RAF here - and this is the only time there has been this in accommodation I’ve been in. Don’t get me wrong, DH is still talking to me like I’m 5, trying to convince me it’s over, but it isn’t a usual occurrence.

OP posts:
Slatterndisgrace · 16/06/2025 22:29

UncomfortableSilence · 16/06/2025 22:24

They used some type of dustpan and brush thing that closed so once it was inside it was enclosed and couldn’t get out, or so DH says, I was too busy rocking on the balcony.

I guess if they are native they are used to it maybe and just put it back outside?

Show quote history

Thanks. I was imagining some brave soul shrugging and picking it up by hand.

Honestly OP, I really for you.

They can live up to 30 years apparently (as a pointless fact).

Thelnebriati · 16/06/2025 22:28

Would there be a market for a world map showing which countries have massive spiders?

NImumconfused · 16/06/2025 22:26

Oh god, we're going next week and DD is terrified of spiders. Bad choice, really bad choice.

Wheech · 16/06/2025 22:25

Your travel insurance should cover emergency accommodation and/or flights home in these circumstances, I believe. Any policy worth having would.

TheBewleySisters · 16/06/2025 22:25

@Kinkyroots- street lamp packed with moths, bats, no no no - flying things are my ultimate nightmare. As if the tarantulas weren’t bad enough!

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 16/06/2025 22:25

largeknitter · 16/06/2025 22:06

I have Cyprus on my list to visit but they can get to fuck now. I bet they don’t put Tarantulas on the bloody tourist website.

Yeah this is now on my You Shall Not Pass list.

lifeonmars100 · 16/06/2025 22:25

Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 21:58

You mean, like I did, hoping DH would say ‘oh no, didn’t look like that’. He said yes, that is what it was. Even described thefucking walk when I asked (so I could go into hysterics again).

Show quote history

oh god, I do not ever want to know about the walk! feel faint just trying thinking what it might be like

UncomfortableSilence · 16/06/2025 22:24

Slatterndisgrace · 16/06/2025 22:15

How did they remove it?

Show quote history

They used some type of dustpan and brush thing that closed so once it was inside it was enclosed and couldn’t get out, or so DH says, I was too busy rocking on the balcony.

I guess if they are native they are used to it maybe and just put it back outside?

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 16/06/2025 22:23

Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 22:07

‘All the tarantulas’. Prize for least helpful phrase so far.

Show quote history

Sorry!!!

Original poster
Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 22:22

Bikergran · 16/06/2025 22:21

You're in Cyprus. The tarantulas live there, you don't. Leave it alone, poor thing.

It’s left alone. Outside now and ran towards the nearest neighbours apparently.

OP posts:
Somethingsnapped · 16/06/2025 22:22

I'm not very keen on giant house spiders, but I actually quite like tarantulas. I held one once at one of those wildlife parks, that give you the opportunity to do it. The tarantula was kind of pawing at me, a bit like a cat when they're settling down on you. The keeper lady said they do that when they're getting comfy and wanting to sleep, so she took it away before it got too settled. I've had a soft spot for them ever since.

geekygardener · 16/06/2025 22:21

That’s my friend Nigel. I left him there by accident. Leave him be and he will find his way home.

I actually do have a toy tarantula called Nigel that I hide around the house, in the dc shoes etc because they find it funny. I have taken him on many holidays to surprise the dc by hiding him in the villa or hotel. I think one day he will get forgotten and someone like op will find him and freak out lol

To reassure you op, I don’t think spiders live in packs and a big one would eat a smaller one. So you are now safe having got rid of it.

Bikergran · 16/06/2025 22:21

You're in Cyprus. The tarantulas live there, you don't. Leave it alone, poor thing.

Original poster
Kinkyroots · 16/06/2025 22:21

TheBewleySisters · 16/06/2025 22:18

@kinkyroots- wait, you said GIANT BATS???

We only saw them one evening, they were honestly huge, but brilliant. Watched them buzzing a streetlight packed with moths for a couple of hours one night down near Lara Beach, another quiet little escape. No fucking spiders tho.

OP posts:
TheBewleySisters · 16/06/2025 22:18

@kinkyroots- wait, you said GIANT BATS???

Roomforapony · 16/06/2025 22:18

outerspacepotato · 16/06/2025 21:55

My kids used to try to fish for them. They're not aggressive, they're shy.

Now the jumping wolf spiders can be a handful.

What the actual FUCK!! Oh why did I click on this thread😳

Swipe left for the next trending thread