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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think we should get the best room in a villa?

506 replies

hwange · 16/01/2026 07:28

We’re going away as a family to celebrate two birthdays: my husband’s 60th and our son’s 30th. There will be five adults: me, my husband, our two sons (30 and 28) and older son’s partner.

We’ve rented a five-bedroom holiday house. The plan is:

  • One room for me and my husband
  • One room for our older son and his girlfriend
  • One room for our younger son
  • Two smaller spare rooms

Everyone is paying an equal share, and our older son’s girlfriend organised the whole booking.

All the bedrooms are nice, but one is clearly the best (great view and a fancy bed), one is also very good, and one is more basic but has a small kitchen.

What’s the fairest way to decide who gets which room?

OP posts:
zurigo · 16/01/2026 08:01

I'm really interested to know why you think you should get the best room. You're not paying for everyone and you didn't organise it (both of which would be good reasons imo). So come on, let's hear why you think you deserve the best room.

Mistletoeiggi · 16/01/2026 08:01

The younger son is paying the same to celebrate your birthdays? He definitely seems to be the one getting the shitty end of this deal!

2thumbs · 16/01/2026 08:01

In your position, since the GF was the organiser, it would be a nice gesture to assume that she plus the older son get the better bedroom.

However, if I were the GF, I would probably assume that you would get the better bedroom, regardless of having organised.

But that’s me, I don’t care greatly about which bedroom I get, and I prefer opting for being nice.

parkezvous · 16/01/2026 08:00

In this situation I’d let the organiser decide. But if you were my parents I’d give you the best room. But if I were you I’d give my son and gf the room!

LeonMccogh · 16/01/2026 08:00

I don’t think this thread is going the way the OP expected… 🤭

Everanewbie · 16/01/2026 08:00

OP - why do you think you deserve the best room? If you were all to sit in front of a judge and put your case forward why you deserve the best room, what would be your case?

The subtext to this seems to be that you think because you're the oldest, its like a respect thing or something.

Summerbay23 · 16/01/2026 07:59

Yeah it’s not fair that your younger son is paying the same. Maybe if the rest of you pay for more meals out you could balance it out.

Organiser gets the best room, however if it was me I’d probably let my boyfriend’s older parents have the best room. But you should wait for them to suggest that especially as it’s an important birthday for them too.

BitOutOfPractice · 16/01/2026 07:59

Are you going to come back and tell us why you think you should get the best room op? Or are you going to ignore us because you don’t like the answers?

Organiser gets first dibs.

ConnieHeart · 16/01/2026 07:59

Absolutely no reason why you would get the best room

Owly11 · 16/01/2026 07:58

hwange · 16/01/2026 07:39

He actually said that’s fair enough, because he is getting his own room. If we were staying in a hotel, his room would cost more because you’d split the cost per room not per person.

Show quote history

Your younger son should pay one fifth not one third. He is just being polite/compliant. I actually cannot believe you expect him to pay one third (more than everyone else and subsidising everyone else) AND get the shitty room. Your sense of entitlement is off the charts. If he is paying more than everyone else then he should get the best room.

ElizabethsTailor · 16/01/2026 07:57

Every individual should be paying 1/5th.

Names in a hat to get the best room, including younger son. This still means you as a couple have a 2/5 chance of getting the best room.

PersephoneParlormaid · 16/01/2026 07:55

Why don’t you offer to pay more if you want the nicer room?

BlackCat14 · 16/01/2026 07:54

In your thread title you say you think you should get the best room. Can I ask why you think this?

Without a doubt, the organiser gets the best room. It’s a lot of work to research and sort things like this, best room should automatically go to her.

ThePoshUns · 16/01/2026 07:53

The organiser gets the best room if you’ve all paid the same. Why should you get it do you think?

Owly11 · 16/01/2026 07:53

She booked it so they get the best room.

BMW6 · 16/01/2026 07:53

Organiser gets first choice obviously!

Bobiverse · 16/01/2026 07:52

Why do you think you should get the best room? You’re not organising it and it’s your son’s birthday as well as your husband’s… difference is, his partner is organising it.

Toastythesnowman · 16/01/2026 07:52

Just sprint in there when you arrive and bagsy it first.

EmpressaurusKitty · 16/01/2026 07:51

If per person means dividing by 5 then yes, it’s reasonable for the younger son to get the smaller room - if it’s by 3 then it’s not fair.

Hotels are different, when we had a family weekend in a hotel everyone booked their own rooms.

NewPapaGuinea · 16/01/2026 07:50

Controversial (or not), should go on seniority. No way would I be bagging the best room over my parents. Just basic respect.

Divebar2021 · 16/01/2026 07:50

Well I think it’s inevitable the younger son gets a smaller room but I think he should be paying half the amount of you and your husband and his brother and his girlfriend. It doesn’t matter what he would pay in a hotel because you’re not in a hotel. I have this very scenario with a house and my husband and I are paying twice as much as my mum who is coming with us.

As to the best room if were the organiser I might offer it to my parents but if they don’t then I would suck it up. Finding these places and booking them is not an inconsequential amount of work to do.

MrTwisterHasABlister · 16/01/2026 07:49

hwange · 16/01/2026 07:39

He actually said that’s fair enough, because he is getting his own room. If we were staying in a hotel, his room would cost more because you’d split the cost per room not per person.

Show quote history

Not with my friends and family! So couples get to share the cost of a room and singles pay full price alone?!

Blimey.

I was going to say ‘pull rooms out of the hat’ but now I think it should go to the Organising Couple.

arethereanyleftatall · 16/01/2026 07:49

Defo defo the organiser.

there should be a perk for doing all the work

NoYourNameChanged · 16/01/2026 07:48

Thinking about it, regardless of your logic, I don’t think this is worth potentially souring what could be a nice family holiday. Your daughter in law has been very good to sort this and include everyone so maybe don’t sour the taste! We hear enough about difficult mil/dil relationships on here!

Unbelievable that the single brother is paying the same for a crappy room too 😅

PurpleThistle7 · 16/01/2026 07:48

This house sounds like it wasn’t a great choice really - too many of the wrong sort of rooms.