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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to use main bathroom on holiday despite en suite?

363 replies

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 11:18

Last Easter I went away with DH, Sister and BIL. We stayed in an castle apartment.
As I have IBS and other gut issues I insisted on having a bedroom with an en suit for my benefit and everyone else’s. This was fine, DH and I got the room with the little en-suite. On the first night we were watching a film in the living room and I got up to pop to toilet, I went into the main bathroom and they all started shouting that I should use my own bathroom. I laughed and said I’m only going for a wee and this was met with more shouting of “you have your own toilet”, DH then said “she does this at home too, claims ownership on one toilet then uses everyone else’s”

Anyway it went on and on, the whole 3 nights were spent with them trying to stop me using the main bathroom. I think it started as a joke but they were 100% being serious by the end of it.

Anyway we’re due to go back tomorrow, same place and already sister is dropping hints about whoever gets the en suite uses that exclusively.

Am I the one in the wrong here?? I’m only using main bathroom for peeing btw

OP posts:
PrincessHoneysuckle · 28/03/2026 15:32

ConstanzeMozart · 28/03/2026 15:29

she's said she isn't the only one who thinks this about the corridor.

Ok theyre all 9 then

Notsosweetcaroline · 28/03/2026 15:32

ConstanzeMozart · 28/03/2026 15:29

she's said she isn't the only one who thinks this about the corridor.

Then honestly they shouldn’t be travelling if they are too scared to traverse the hallway in the air b n b, I mean how big can it be, and I assume irs got lights.

SockFluffInTheBath · 28/03/2026 15:30

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 14:33

The en-suite doesn’t have a shower so we need to use the main bathroom anyway to shower.
we won’t be booking this place again as it’s just not worth the hassle. One of the other apartments has two en-suite and a main bathroom so we’ll get that one next time

Will you still claim solo use of an en-suite, but also use the main bathroom?

ConstanzeMozart · 28/03/2026 15:29

PrincessHoneysuckle · 28/03/2026 15:27

Spooky? Are you 9?

she's said she isn't the only one who thinks this about the corridor.

ConstanzeMozart · 28/03/2026 15:29

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 28/03/2026 13:39

That's you, though; not everybody will avoid snooping around and not everybody will be blase about their own toiletries and any other personal items being visible.

I don't know about this case in particular, but in similar circumstances, the couple could be TTC and DSis could be tracking her cycle and/or have pregnancy tests in there.

Even if it's 'just somebody having a wee', it can be very unwelcome and feel like them encroaching on your privacy, when they have their own designated personal toilet but still expect to use yours instead.

Well, it's not just me; other people on here are just as baffled by the thought of being horrified at someone else seeing your stuff.
When there's a non-ensuite bathroom that's closer to a living room/kitchen/room everyone uses, the practical and sensible thing is that the main bathroom is for everyone and the ensuite is an added benefit (or in this specific case, with the OP's health issues, more of a welcome and necessary thing).
Any time I've been on holiday with friends and there have been a mix of ensuites and non-ensuite bathrooms, this has been the deal.
I cannot believe so many presumably otherwise fairly normal and rational adults are getting their knickers in such a twist about which bathroom someone uses.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 28/03/2026 15:27

Spooky? Are you 9?

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 28/03/2026 15:17

Sartre · 28/03/2026 15:12

The way I see this is because you insisted on having the en-suite, the main bathroom became ‘their’ bathroom so their version of an en-suite meaning you should stick to your own. It’s a bit weird though I agree, I wouldn’t be arsed about someone peeing in ‘my’ designated bathroom.

The problem is @Sartre- the OP has been clear she would be annoyed at BIL or SIL using her bathroom, she said she only just tolerates her DH using it. So it’s a double standard, she expects other people to share their bathroom with her, she will not share her bathroom with them.

If she has made a song and dance about having to have her own special loo at home and on holiday, I can easily see why someone who otherwise would be happy to share would be annoyed at the OP’s behaviour.

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 28/03/2026 15:16

Even in my own home if we have guests I only use my ensuite and leave them to the bathroom. I would not go in there for any reason.

Why are you going again if it's so 'spooky'?

Sartre · 28/03/2026 15:12

The way I see this is because you insisted on having the en-suite, the main bathroom became ‘their’ bathroom so their version of an en-suite meaning you should stick to your own. It’s a bit weird though I agree, I wouldn’t be arsed about someone peeing in ‘my’ designated bathroom.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 28/03/2026 15:12

TulipCat · 28/03/2026 15:10

With all the drip feeds, it sounds like this rental place is just unsuitable for everyone. Next time get one with two full bathrooms, one for each couple so nobody needs to go into the other bathroom at all. Oh, and no creepy corridors full of scary monsters....

THREE full bathrooms - as OP doesn't even want to share hers with her own DH.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 28/03/2026 15:10

I think it's very easy for people to have needs that others don't have, but then also take huge advantage of them over and above what their needs actually are.

For example, if several of you were living somewhere with a very small two-shelf shared fridge, somebody who needs insulin would deserve absolute priority to ensure that there is always space available in the fridge for that at all times: this is completely reasonable.

However, if that person then claimed that, because they needed space for their insulin, that meant that one of the shelves was theirs exclusively - for as much of their own milk, butter, ham, or whatever that they wanted to buy and store there alongside the insulin, with everybody else forced to share the other shelf... that's kind of what's happening here; except that OP would also be wanting to move somebody else's milk out to make room for her to keep some cold cans of pop on their shelf.

TulipCat · 28/03/2026 15:10

With all the drip feeds, it sounds like this rental place is just unsuitable for everyone. Next time get one with two full bathrooms, one for each couple so nobody needs to go into the other bathroom at all. Oh, and no creepy corridors full of scary monsters....

BlueMum16 · 28/03/2026 15:09

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 14:15

I prefer him not to but I don’t stop him. It’s just easier for it to be a one person toilet

Easier for who? you?
YABU and very selfish.

rainbowstardrops · 28/03/2026 15:09

I clicked you are not being unreasonable by mistake and can’t change it on my phone.
Spooky or not, you requested an en-suite, so the other couple get the main bathroom. Simple.

Butchyrestingface · 28/03/2026 15:05

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 14:15

I prefer him not to but I don’t stop him. It’s just easier for it to be a one person toilet

This makes you even more unreasonable in my view. There are 4 of you and 2 bathrooms. But. you want to have one all to yourself, for the other three people to have to share AND you get to use that bathroom too whenever you choose.

Drpawpawspaw · 28/03/2026 15:03

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 11:24

I was only using it for weeing and the apartment is spooky, the main bathroom is next to the living room. The en-suite is in the bedroom at the far end of a dark spooky corridor. I know it sounds daft but I’m not the only one freaked out by that corridor

Oh FFS get a grip. Use the toilet you demanded to have, even if you are weeing. Perhaps they don’t want to share a loo either?

WutheringTights · 28/03/2026 15:02

WhatAMarvelousTune · 28/03/2026 11:33

I think if you have two couples and two bathrooms, you split them. You insisted on the en suite, so that’s yours. The other couple has the main bathroom.

ETA - If I was in the other couple, I wouldn’t have made a thing of it though.

Edited

Came on to say this. If there are two couples and two bathrooms, it isn’t en-suite and main, it’s yours and theirs. You’re using their bathroom, as well as having one for your exclusive use. That isn’t fair when you’re sharing accommodation.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 28/03/2026 15:01

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 28/03/2026 14:52

OK @AliceNotInChains- if you do go for the other rental with 3 bathrooms for 2 couples and then reserve one bathroom just for yourself, will you a) accept by reserving a bathroom just for yourself you would be rude to use the other ones and b) offer to pay more/the difference in price ?

And where does this leave OP's DH? The other couple will have their private en-suite, OP will demand exclusive rights (or nigh on) to their private en-suite; so he's the only one left without his own bathroom and having a shared one as his only option.

Gloriia · 28/03/2026 14:55

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 14:15

I prefer him not to but I don’t stop him. It’s just easier for it to be a one person toilet

You prefer him not to, why?

Agree with others think others are a bit fatigued by the toilet situation, use your ensuite and let dh use it too.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 28/03/2026 14:54

Dooodaaaaadooo · 28/03/2026 14:14

HNRTFT but cannot understand the mentality of someone moaning about a person having a piss in any loo anywhere !

Fantastic! PM me your home address and I'll be over at some point tomorrow whenever I have a full bladder!

manateeplushie · 28/03/2026 14:53

This is one of many such cases where it's a complete non-issue that the majority of people in the real world wouldn't bat an eyelid at. But online, people take way too seriously and act as if you're the most entitled, unreasonable person alive.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 28/03/2026 14:52

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 14:15

I prefer him not to but I don’t stop him. It’s just easier for it to be a one person toilet

I think this is the main problem. You seem to have a classic case of main character syndrome, whereby you seem to centre your own needs but can't really think from anybody else's point of view.

How on earth is is 'easier' for him to be in a bedroom with an en-suite toilet that he's strongly discouraged from/resented for using?

Just because you're the only one in the group with IBS and gut issues, that doesn't mean that the other three don't need to use a toilet/bathroom regularly - and they don't want to be made to feel like they're being allowed to use it as a favour granted by you.

To be honest, I strongly wonder if this is the only thing that they get annoyed about - when you centre your own comforts and preferences, as though they're all that matter, and seem to have very little regard for theirs. Maybe your insisting on having your own toilet but then still using theirs is the final straw for them.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 28/03/2026 14:52

OK @AliceNotInChains- if you do go for the other rental with 3 bathrooms for 2 couples and then reserve one bathroom just for yourself, will you a) accept by reserving a bathroom just for yourself you would be rude to use the other ones and b) offer to pay more/the difference in price ?

lessglittermoremud · 28/03/2026 14:43

When we’ve gone away with my sister and BIL we look for somewhere with 2 bathrooms and then the bathrooms are assigned to each couple, I don’t use the other bathroom for anything my entire stay. The only ones that switch between the bathrooms are the kids, who are free to use either…

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 28/03/2026 14:39

AliceNotInChains · 28/03/2026 14:15

I prefer him not to but I don’t stop him. It’s just easier for it to be a one person toilet

Sorry but this makes you sound like a proper entitled princess.
Of course they only have an issue with you using the main bathroom, you're the one insisting on your own bathroom so why the fuck should you get to use the one you've dictated that every one else uses?