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Original poster

On holiday and they’ve taken the key and won’t answer their phone

286 replies

User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 12:50

On holiday with a family member. We don’t always see eye to eye, but I thought this trip might be a chance for a bit of a reset.

Today we decided to do different things.

Normally I’ve had the apartment key when we’ve gone out together, but I asked them to pop it in the key safe this time. For whatever reason, they didn’t — and with their phone switched off I can’t get hold of them.

I’m making the best of it with a quiet day to myself, but I can’t help feeling a bit upset. It’s left me feeling quite stuck, literally and figuratively. I can’t leave the apartment! I’d never want to make someone else feel like that.

Any advice on how to handle the rest of the trip without letting this sour everything?

OP posts:
Heronwatcher · 29/08/2025 17:18

User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 13:15

They’ve said it was “safer” for them to take the keys so they would have the option to return to the apartment. Whereas as I obviously don’t have that option…

Is this a joke! I’d have gone absolutely mental and told them to bring it back immediately or I would be going home and leaving their stuff in the street. Seriously this is abuse and you’re worried about letting it “sour” the holiday?

JamieCannister · 29/08/2025 17:16

User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 12:50

On holiday with a family member. We don’t always see eye to eye, but I thought this trip might be a chance for a bit of a reset.

Today we decided to do different things.

Normally I’ve had the apartment key when we’ve gone out together, but I asked them to pop it in the key safe this time. For whatever reason, they didn’t — and with their phone switched off I can’t get hold of them.

I’m making the best of it with a quiet day to myself, but I can’t help feeling a bit upset. It’s left me feeling quite stuck, literally and figuratively. I can’t leave the apartment! I’d never want to make someone else feel like that.

Any advice on how to handle the rest of the trip without letting this sour everything?

Why would you not want to sour everything?

PiggingBastardPigs · 29/08/2025 17:13

Londonmummy66 · 29/08/2025 16:56

Hola

Me is cleaner. Mr Owner tight and no pay for second key. He say I go round and give mine. I ignore message as he too tight to pay me last time I do this. I take bottle windowlene as pay. Now I stay home and admire my clean windows.

🤣🤣

strawlight · 29/08/2025 17:11

Londonmummy66 · 29/08/2025 16:56

Hola

Me is cleaner. Mr Owner tight and no pay for second key. He say I go round and give mine. I ignore message as he too tight to pay me last time I do this. I take bottle windowlene as pay. Now I stay home and admire my clean windows.

🤣🤣🤣

strawlight · 29/08/2025 17:11

PiggingBastardPigs · 29/08/2025 14:40

Yep, men-hating teachers!

Show quote history

Actually, the brother isn’t allowed to go on holidays with his sisters any more, after repeatedly knocking over their sandcastles in Torremolinos 1988.

Love, mum.

PiggingBastardPigs · 29/08/2025 17:08

Lotsofsnacks · 29/08/2025 17:04

Ha ha. Honestly if this thread is real, the sisters are a pair of numpties, who are better off never going on holiday together, ever again!! Just talk to each other instead of communicating by posting on mumsnet!!

Show quote history

I mean, if mediation is required, what better place than asking a load of faceless warriors!

It’s so real.

Lotsofsnacks · 29/08/2025 17:04

PiggingBastardPigs · 29/08/2025 14:07

😁

Show quote history

Ha ha. Honestly if this thread is real, the sisters are a pair of numpties, who are better off never going on holiday together, ever again!! Just talk to each other instead of communicating by posting on mumsnet!!

soupyspoon · 29/08/2025 17:03

Londonmummy66 · 29/08/2025 16:56

Hola

Me is cleaner. Mr Owner tight and no pay for second key. He say I go round and give mine. I ignore message as he too tight to pay me last time I do this. I take bottle windowlene as pay. Now I stay home and admire my clean windows.

😂

Londonmummy66 · 29/08/2025 16:56

Hola

Me is cleaner. Mr Owner tight and no pay for second key. He say I go round and give mine. I ignore message as he too tight to pay me last time I do this. I take bottle windowlene as pay. Now I stay home and admire my clean windows.

ohyesido · 29/08/2025 16:51

@Thefastandthecurious5 you left your sister in the apartment with the key in your pocket so she is basically trapped indoors on holiday? That’s a rotten trick to play, you should be ashamed

Topseyt123 · 29/08/2025 16:45

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

You sound like a complete dunderhead.

I'm not surprised that the two of you don't get on. I AM surprised that either of you thought taking a very badly planned holiday together was a good idea and could ever work.

Muffinmam · 29/08/2025 16:39

This trip would be over for me. How utterly selfish. Take your items and leave the door unlocked. Go and stay in a hotel.

legsekeven · 29/08/2025 16:38

Ratafia · 29/08/2025 16:29

I'm struggling to believe the owner went to all the trouble of installing a key safe only to tell guests not to use it.

Be fair. It could be a decretive key safe. Just there to look nice

valentinka31 · 29/08/2025 16:37

So why don't you just go out, and come back when they're back and you can get in?

Ratafia · 29/08/2025 16:36

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Did you discuss this with your sister? Why wouldn't you go back and give her the key when she wanted to go out?

I think I'd be pretty firm with the owner and tell them you had to have some means of being able to go out separately, therefore her choice was to supply another key or agree to the key safe being used.

Topseyt123 · 29/08/2025 16:32

A couple of issues:

  1. Why have you gone on holiday with someone you don't get on with and who does not appear to respect you much?

  2. Why on earth do you only have one key? When DH and I go away anywhere, either to a hotel or self-catering, we always ask to have enough keys/key cards to have one each. So we each have the freedom to come and go as we wish.

Is there a reception or concierge you can phone or visit to get another key or are you not in that type of accommodation?

This sounds very badly planned. You are probably with a very self absorbed person (your DH??) and it will never work. Don't go on holiday with them again.

Ratafia · 29/08/2025 16:29

I'm struggling to believe the owner went to all the trouble of installing a key safe only to tell guests not to use it.

Maddy70 · 29/08/2025 16:28

Leave a large window slightly open so you can enter if you need. Take your passport with you

YouMightThinkThat · 29/08/2025 16:24

I just want to know where the OP is now. Has the mad sister hog-tied her and gone out on the piss? Murdered her and hidden the body in the (unlockable) wardrobe? Sold her to camel traders?

I mean - it's not like they could be the same person is it so something's going on.

Bonjamin · 29/08/2025 16:11

I really need to know what the owner’s rationale for not leaving the key in the key safe was.

KoalaKoKo · 29/08/2025 16:09

Last person to leave takes the key - your sister has serious control issues. I would do as people suggest though and go and do something lovely with your day, bring a book and get back in when your sister gets home. No point in staying in all day!

rainbowstardrops · 29/08/2025 16:04

I agree, there was an almost identical post recently but that was the man who’d left his partner and children in the apartment because they’d had a snack and wasn’t ready for dinner, or some such shite.
It’s getting tedious

localnotail · 29/08/2025 16:02

You have several options OP:

  • leave and go stay somewhere else
  • call the owner for a second key
  • lock the door and leave taking you passport and other things, come back when they are back
But really, why are you putting up with this? Who tf is this person to treat you like this?
Starling7 · 29/08/2025 15:55

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Gosh, how do you feel about all the super aggressive advice the mums nutters are giving your sister about you?

Millytante · 29/08/2025 15:55

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I’m beginning to wonder if such bogus enquiries are attempts to research human behaviour for the purposes of a self-published book. Hoping to elicit other people’s similar experiences, plagiarism for the use of.
(Whereas surely only a blithering idiot would choose a holiday such as this as the ideal opportunity to put right a fractured family relationship.)