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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:
LemonLeaves · 16/01/2026 07:47

When I saw the title of your post, I was expecting to read that you and your H were paying the full cost of the rental. Or that you were doing all of the organising.

But you are all splitting the costs and your son's GF is doing all the organising legwork, so why would you think you should have the best room? Unless it's purely because you are the parents and older, and therefore think this entitles you to it?

IMO the organiser should get the best room. If she's feeling generous she could offer to draw straws with you for it, but really you should be encouraging her and your son to take it as a thank you for doing all the sorting out.

TiredTrainLady · 16/01/2026 07:47

Why do you deserve the best room op?

Namechangedasouting987 · 16/01/2026 07:45

Oh and try to be gracious about it. We stopped our holidays after c 15 years when the entitlment of my relatives got too much.

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 16/01/2026 07:45

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

noooo! Surely the rest of you aren’t that grabby?!
youre going to make him pay the same as a couple for a shitty room?!
the one “with the kitchen”. Is it a fully separate kitchen like a small apartment, or is the bed in the kitchen?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 16/01/2026 07:45

Organiser gets the best room. Why would you think it would be you when paying equally?

ZenNudist · 16/01/2026 07:45

I think where there is a significant difference between rooms there should be more paid by someone getting the master.

I agree that organiser gers the pick of rooms. I also think it's really important you choose rooms before you get there if you can. Otherwise agree that rooms will get divided out on arrival not just claimed by whoever.

Aa a goodwill gesture I'd get ahead of this and offer to pay a larger amount and say as its DH /DF 60th it would be nice for him to get the master suite.

ShodAndShadySenators · 16/01/2026 07:44

I can't imagine leaving someone else to do all the research and legwork then bagging the best room for myself. It would be far fairer to suggest DS1 and GF have it unless they don't care and offer it to you.

What doesn't sound fair is the bill being split equally and DS2 getting an inferior, "more basic", room (what's that about a small kitchen, not seen that in a holiday villa?). If the rooms are that different then is fair to divide the contributions so evenly?

Namechangedasouting987 · 16/01/2026 07:44

I organised a large family holiday annual for years for my extended family. Its an absolute ball ache.
Its also her bf (your son's) birthday.
They get the best room.

PurpleThistle7 · 16/01/2026 07:41

McSpoot · 16/01/2026 07:38

When you say "evenly" - by person or by room? Is the single brother going to get stuck with the basic room but paying more on a per person basis than the people staying in the nicer rooms?

Yes. This is my first question.

assuming it’s cost/5 then the choice is you or your son and your son wins for doing the work (well his girlfriend anyway)

if it’s cost/3 for each unit then everyone should have a chance at the good rooms

ChanceOfALifeLine · 16/01/2026 07:39

What’s your argument as to why you should get it? I assumed you were going to say that you’re paying more. Given that you’re splitting it equally (I assume that means 5 ways), the organiser should get the best room, as recognition that they’ve put more resources in to this holiday than anyone else.

stichguru · 16/01/2026 07:39

Obviously organiser gets first dibs then draw lots for the other 2

Original poster
hwange · 16/01/2026 07:39

edwinbear · 16/01/2026 07:35

Definitely older son’s gf who seems to be doing all the leg work. How does your younger son feel about paying the same share, but getting the shit room?

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.

OP posts:
NoYourNameChanged · 16/01/2026 07:38

Obviously the older son and his girlfriend get the best room. She organised it. Why on earth would you think otherwise?

Aluna · 16/01/2026 07:38

The organiser but if were me I would offer it to my parents.

McSpoot · 16/01/2026 07:38

When you say "evenly" - by person or by room? Is the single brother going to get stuck with the basic room but paying more on a per person basis than the people staying in the nicer rooms?

TheJoyousHiker · 16/01/2026 07:38

The organiser has first choice, especially since the villa cost is being split between you all.

SausageRoll2020 · 16/01/2026 07:37

If all paying equally then the best room goes to the organiser.

MyballsareSandy2015 · 16/01/2026 07:37

Older son and GF get best room

Tamtim · 16/01/2026 07:37

Organiser gets first dibs.

AutumnClouds · 16/01/2026 07:36

I would offer it to the older couple if I was organising in this situation but I’d want that to be appreciated as a generous gesture not demanded or taken for granted!

edwinbear · 16/01/2026 07:35

Definitely older son’s gf who seems to be doing all the leg work. How does your younger son feel about paying the same share, but getting the shit room?

pilates · 16/01/2026 07:34

Son’s gf for organising

ShetlandishMum · 16/01/2026 07:32

Offer to pay more if you want the best room?

Why should you be entiteled? You pay " an equal share, and our older son’s girlfriend organised the whole booking".

Tbh I think it goes to the girlfriend for doing the admin.

purpleygrey · 16/01/2026 07:32

Organiser gets best room.

curious as to why you think it should be yours ?

dancingthroughthelightningstrike · 16/01/2026 07:32

If everyone is paying an equal share then draw straws or rock paper scissors. Or the organizer picks their room.

Or weight the cost against the rooms.

Why do you think you should have the nicest room if you’re neither organizing or funding the trip.