Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ski trip cost- are we subsidizing “host “ family

384 replies

Moknicker · 05/12/2025 02:58

Wanted to get a sense check on how a family has asked us to split costs for an upcoming ski trip

  • One family (2 adults + 2 kids) is going on the trip.
  • Four additional children (each from separate families) were invited to join. Our child is one of these - is friends with younger child. Kids are 17 and 15 year olds
  • Total people on the trip: 8
  • 4 from the host family.
  • 4 individual children

Shared costs:

  • Accommodation: 4k total
  • Ski lift pass: 7 at 300 each = 2100 ( mum is not skiing)
  • Total cost: 6100

The host family just told us the cost is 1640 for our son. I asked for the breakdown( we were only given total figure). It looks like they have added up the costs and divided by 5

Aibu to say this is not fair and our cost is around 1050( accommodation divided by 8 and we pay 300 for ski lift ) and we and the other kids should not be subsidizing the “host” family? And if we are then they should have told us beforehand?

Travel costs and other costs are covered individually.

OP posts:
Needspaceforlego · 06/12/2025 09:24

Calliopespa · 06/12/2025 09:11

If you click on the bookings though, you will see that over the holiday periods - which I am guessing is when these school age children will need to go - it quite quickly ramps the room rate up to over 400 and even up to 800 euros.

BUT full credit to you for that link because it does look a reasonable hotel option for the prices and we might actually look into it!

I'm also not sure from looking that it would meet everyone's notion of five star (albeit very nice). When "five star" hotel was mentioned I was thinking Carlton St Moritz, Suvretta House, Riffelalp, Zermatterhof etc!

Nonetheless, a good find from you! It looks really good.

Edited

Yeah but thats the cost of a room for 2 folk.

Calliopespa · 06/12/2025 09:11

HelmholtzWatson · 06/12/2025 08:47

Pretty easy to find something very decent in a top resort for less than £400 a night

Grand Hotel Belvedere, Wengen | Luxury Hotel in Swiss Alps

If you click on the bookings though, you will see that over the holiday periods - which I am guessing is when these school age children will need to go - it quite quickly ramps the room rate up to over 400 and even up to 800 euros.

BUT full credit to you for that link because it does look a reasonable hotel option for the prices and we might actually look into it!

I'm also not sure from looking that it would meet everyone's notion of five star (albeit very nice). When "five star" hotel was mentioned I was thinking Carlton St Moritz, Suvretta House, Riffelalp, Zermatterhof etc!

Nonetheless, a good find from you! It looks really good.

Maryberrysbouffant · 06/12/2025 08:49

I’d definitely want to know how they’d reached that figure. Please let us know when he gets back to you with the cost breakdown!

HelmholtzWatson · 06/12/2025 08:47

Calliopespa · 06/12/2025 08:34

Well you might get one night - two at a push. Switzerland is quite expensive. and you wouldn't get a five star for 400 a night. You could probably get a comfortable room though, so I see your overarching point.

Pretty easy to find something very decent in a top resort for less than £400 a night

Grand Hotel Belvedere, Wengen | Luxury Hotel in Swiss Alps

Grand Hotel Belvedere, Wengen | Beaumier Hotels & Resorts

Discover the Grand Hotel Belvedere in Wengen. Enjoy breathtaking views, elegant accommodations, and exceptional service in the Swiss Alps.

https://www.beaumier.com/en/properties/grand-hotel-belvedere/#reservation

Calliopespa · 06/12/2025 08:34

HelmholtzWatson · 06/12/2025 07:36

£1600 for 4 days skiing is insane. You should be getting a 5* hotel in Switzerland for that.

Well you might get one night - two at a push. Switzerland is quite expensive. and you wouldn't get a five star for 400 a night. You could probably get a comfortable room though, so I see your overarching point.

Needspaceforlego · 06/12/2025 08:02

HelmholtzWatson · 06/12/2025 07:36

£1600 for 4 days skiing is insane. You should be getting a 5* hotel in Switzerland for that.

Thats not even all the costs, ski hire and flights are seperate.

Depending on how far down the road they are I'd pull my kid out.

HelmholtzWatson · 06/12/2025 07:36

£1600 for 4 days skiing is insane. You should be getting a 5* hotel in Switzerland for that.

Workingwell · 06/12/2025 00:37

Animatic · 05/12/2025 19:56

7 seater means 7+ driver :)

Not usually, no.

oneinataxioneinacar · 06/12/2025 00:13

FastTurtle · 06/12/2025 00:04

They ski hanging onto a rope tied to the back of the 7 seater.
Obviously there’s an extra charge for this.

Edited
Grin
FastTurtle · 06/12/2025 00:04

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 21:07

I wonder what happens to the last person! Roof rack!

They ski hanging onto a rope tied to the back of the 7 seater.
Obviously there’s an extra charge for this.

Peclet · 06/12/2025 00:01

Want to know more about this- sadly no update.

does seem spendy!

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 21:07

User5306921 · 05/12/2025 21:06

No it means 7 passengers including the driver.

I wonder what happens to the last person! Roof rack!

User5306921 · 05/12/2025 21:06

Animatic · 05/12/2025 19:56

7 seater means 7+ driver :)

No it means 7 passengers including the driver.

NotReadyForChristmas2025 · 05/12/2025 20:20

Did you end up geting a breakdown?

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 20:00

FastTurtle · 05/12/2025 19:58

Maybe the 7 seater that fits 8 was really expensive.

😂

FastTurtle · 05/12/2025 19:58

Maybe the 7 seater that fits 8 was really expensive.

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 19:58

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 19:55

Really? I thought they typically have a 2/3/2 or 2/2/3 layout?

hang on you edited your post so my reply doesn’t make sense…!

I know OP mentioned the cost but how does OP know the cost? If the hosts shared the cost of the accommodation and the cost of the lift pass then it’s quite the Derren Brown mind trickery move to claim that their share of the cost is more than double what it should be!

Edited

I think its normally 2,3, 3.

But not a lot of room for luggage.

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 19:57

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 19:51

I hope this is the answer because I had a “haha eureka!” moment when I realised that the maths on this worked out 😄

It would make sense of the otherwise rather arbitrary £40

It was good thinking - and I suspect you are right.

I'm wondering if the "mathsy" parent said "it's x amount for the friends of dc" and the other parent is the one who conveyed the message onwards, thinking it was that amount each.

Animatic · 05/12/2025 19:56

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 19:55

Really? I thought they typically have a 2/3/2 or 2/2/3 layout?

hang on you edited your post so my reply doesn’t make sense…!

I know OP mentioned the cost but how does OP know the cost? If the hosts shared the cost of the accommodation and the cost of the lift pass then it’s quite the Derren Brown mind trickery move to claim that their share of the cost is more than double what it should be!

Edited

7 seater means 7+ driver :)

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 19:55

Animatic · 05/12/2025 19:51

The OP mentioned the cost

Edited

Really? I thought they typically have a 2/3/2 or 2/2/3 layout?

hang on you edited your post so my reply doesn’t make sense…!

I know OP mentioned the cost but how does OP know the cost? If the hosts shared the cost of the accommodation and the cost of the lift pass then it’s quite the Derren Brown mind trickery move to claim that their share of the cost is more than double what it should be!

Animatic · 05/12/2025 19:51

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 13:49

How do you know the cost of the accommodation - did they share that or are you assuming it's £4k?

Is the car just for the transfer or are they driving the whole way (either way how are 8 people fitting into a 7 seater, are they taking a second car?)

The OP mentioned the cost

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 19:51

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 19:08

Yes!

I hope this is the answer because I had a “haha eureka!” moment when I realised that the maths on this worked out 😄

It would make sense of the otherwise rather arbitrary £40

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 19:09

Franpie · 05/12/2025 17:36

Oh wow, ok so I take back what I said about £1,600 being about right. I thought that was for a week and maximum 2 to a room.

How are they renting a 7 seater when there will be 8 of them??

That's what I thought too - and I think it probably is about right in those circumstances, with food, hire etc.

Calliopespa · 05/12/2025 19:08

blastfurnace · 05/12/2025 14:56

OK here's a thought...

£4000 / 3 = £1333
add £300 = £1633 which rounds up to £1640.

Do you think they've just had a maths failure and divided the accommodation cost by the number of rooms rather than the number of guests?

Edited

Yes!

Newpensioner · 05/12/2025 19:01

ISpyNoPlumPie · 05/12/2025 13:47

Thank you for coming back OP and putting us all out of our misery!

Yes they are completely taking the piss. £1640 for a £300 ski pass and a third of one of three bedrooms. Maybe car hire too. They are 100% funding their trip using their kids friends. No need to clarify, just a “that’s more than we expected, Timmy can’t come”.

I agree. I have come across people like this myself in the past. Just say no.