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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:
DoYouThinkYouCouldTell · 16/01/2026 16:48

I think if you're upset by this, maybe don't go.

flatterlylatterly · 16/01/2026 16:38

elfendom1 · 16/01/2026 16:05

The Op simply asked: 'What’s the fairest way to decide who gets which room?'. She didn't demand anything. Maybe the organiser should have considered rooms of equal appeal if they want to split 5 ways.

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She did say 'Am I unreasonable to think we should get the best room in the villa'. She hasn't actually demanded it though.
I think that if one of the rooms was less comfortable it should go to the younger couple, unless they have a particular reason to find that a problem. Simply because people in their sixties are more likely to be suffering aches and pains and experiencing poor sleep than they were 30 years ago; the fact that sixty-somethings are still working doesn't mean they aren't feeling their age! No reason that being older should mean you need, or deserve, a nicer view or a four poster bed, which seems to be the difference here.

outerspacepotato · 16/01/2026 16:35

This is a significant 30th birthday gift trip for OP's son that his gf planned and has done all the work for. She was nice enough to invite OP and her husband along.

OP is coming off really entitled here to think she and her husband should get the nicest room. If it wasn't for gf, OP wouldn't be going at all.

flatterlylatterly · 16/01/2026 16:32

I'd get the two couples, each of which is celebrating a landmark birthday, to toss a coin for the best room. Not the single guy who will have plenty of room and in effect is paying less.

Christmaseree · 16/01/2026 16:28

PatchouliPrincess · 16/01/2026 15:50

40 used to be the big birthday when I was younger but I agree 50 is a big one.

I have absolutely no idea why people on here seem to think 30 is significant in any way though.

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Personally I think all the 0’s (with the exception of 20 due to 21 being a big one) are big ones, we are only going to have a maximum of 10 of them.

Gahr · 16/01/2026 16:28

FerriswheelsKissesandLilacs · 16/01/2026 15:57

The son is celebrating his 30th birthday.

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Indeed. I think it's more than kind of the OPs son to drag his parents along to his 30th. I wouldn't have done that in the first place!

MrsVBS · 16/01/2026 16:27

The person organising should definitely get the best room.

BlanketyBlankBlank · 16/01/2026 16:27

elfendom1 · 16/01/2026 16:05

The Op simply asked: 'What’s the fairest way to decide who gets which room?'. She didn't demand anything. Maybe the organiser should have considered rooms of equal appeal if they want to split 5 ways.

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No she didn’t! She thinks she should get the best room!

Gahr · 16/01/2026 16:26

elfendom1 · 16/01/2026 16:05

The Op simply asked: 'What’s the fairest way to decide who gets which room?'. She didn't demand anything. Maybe the organiser should have considered rooms of equal appeal if they want to split 5 ways.

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Read the title!

paradisecircus · 16/01/2026 16:20

How bad are the less good rooms? I wouldn't be wanting to make too much fuss about this.

Christmaseree · 16/01/2026 16:07

elfendom1 · 16/01/2026 16:05

The Op simply asked: 'What’s the fairest way to decide who gets which room?'. She didn't demand anything. Maybe the organiser should have considered rooms of equal appeal if they want to split 5 ways.

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The title does say she thinks she should get it.

elfendom1 · 16/01/2026 16:05

Gahr · 16/01/2026 08:32

Fair enough if you would give it. It doesn't mean that the older couple should expect it, that's cheeky. And it isn't the organisers here asking for advice, it's the one half of the 'older' couple. Personally, I barely consider 60 to be older. It is middle aged, most 60 year olds still work. There is no way that the OP can ask for this room without coming off like a diva.

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The Op simply asked: 'What’s the fairest way to decide who gets which room?'. She didn't demand anything. Maybe the organiser should have considered rooms of equal appeal if they want to split 5 ways.

AxolotlEars · 16/01/2026 16:00

Organiser or names in a hat

FerriswheelsKissesandLilacs · 16/01/2026 15:57

NewYearSameYou · 16/01/2026 15:56

Personally, I'd be surprised that your boys didn't want their parents to have it as they're celebrating a 60th birthday.

The son is celebrating his 30th birthday.

NewYearSameYou · 16/01/2026 15:56

Personally, I'd be surprised that your boys didn't want their parents to have it as they're celebrating a 60th birthday.

PatchouliPrincess · 16/01/2026 15:50

Christmaseree · 16/01/2026 15:46

I think 50 trumps 40.

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40 used to be the big birthday when I was younger but I agree 50 is a big one.

I have absolutely no idea why people on here seem to think 30 is significant in any way though.

Christmaseree · 16/01/2026 15:46

PatchouliPrincess · 16/01/2026 11:55

30 isn't really a significant birthday is it? 18, 21, 40, 60 are significant but not 30.

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I think 50 trumps 40.

Christmaseree · 16/01/2026 15:43

Organiser should get the best room and your youngest DS sounds more than R to be paying the same as the couples.

Gahr · 16/01/2026 15:42

DonnyBurrito · 16/01/2026 14:17

The organisers get the best room, and to be honest it sounds like the best bedroom is the most romantic. Let the younger couple have it, they'll make better use of it no doubt...

This too! OP is so selfish and entitled. No way should she get the good room.

IngridBergmannn · 16/01/2026 15:40

I'm surprised you, as parents, are not footing the bill, tbh. Hell would freeze over before my dad let my brother and me pay equal shares in this case, especially if it's one of our birthdays. It's a point of pride for him.

He'd pay, and then get the best room automatically, due to paying and seniority. If everyone pays equally, then the organiser gets the best room, obviously.

Poor girlfriend. She's going to spend her boyfriend's 30th with his parents, in an inferior room, paying an equal share, and after organising everything herself. Jeez.

FerriswheelsKissesandLilacs · 16/01/2026 15:36

Your son and his gf should get the best room. I'm a bit confused about why you think you deserve it.

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 16/01/2026 14:51

DonnyBurrito · 16/01/2026 14:17

The organisers get the best room, and to be honest it sounds like the best bedroom is the most romantic. Let the younger couple have it, they'll make better use of it no doubt...

This is a good point, if I was taking my partner away for his 30th, doing all the organising, and then kindly invited his parents, who were just fronting up and not contributing, then I’d want the lovely bedroom as part of the birthday gift to my partner, not give it to his parents, the ops asking a lot.

Sartre · 16/01/2026 14:49

Yes organiser gets the best room and since it’s your son and it’s his 30th, it’d be the nicest thing to do anyway!

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 16/01/2026 14:49

Damonna · 16/01/2026 14:15

I suppose I was speaking personally. I would give my parents the best room in recognition of everything they have done for me. I do appreciate that might not be the same for all families.

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Sure but the organisers parents are not coming,

user665178392470 · 16/01/2026 14:46

DH and i would expect the best room, but we’d be paying for everyone else’s holiday though!
If you're all paying individually, organiser has first dibs.