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Original poster

Would you follow this rule?

314 replies

Knickerbockergrolia · 03/04/2026 11:44

Staying at a holiday house, the rules mention 'no food or drink to be taken upstairs' - would you follow it?

YABU - I'm on holiday, I'm having a cup of tea in bed and I'm old enough not to make a mess

YANBU - rules are rules, I'll do as I'm told

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 03/04/2026 12:51

99victoria · 03/04/2026 12:00

No I wouldn't. I like to have a cup of coffee in bed before I get up and start the day. I've been doing it for years and never managed to have a disastrous accident!

To be honest - I don't tend to read the rules if there are loads of them. You wouldn't know about silly rules like this before you booked - owners tend to put them in handbooks for you to read when you arrive. No hotel I have ever stayed in has told me I can't have food or drink in my bedroom

Exactly. In fact hotels give you a hospitality tray and offer room service. No way would I give up my tea in bed, especially on holiday.

DisforDarkChocolate · 03/04/2026 12:50

Tea in bed but nothing else, I don't generally eat upstairs anyway.

SarahAndQuack · 03/04/2026 12:50

I would, but I'd also leave a note in the visitor's book saying it wasn't exactly hospitable (I love a cup of tea in bed in the morning).

We had a holiday once where we discovered tons of silly rules once we got there - stuff like not leaving anything to dry on the draining board as it was wooden and might mark (so, um, it's not a suitable draining board then, is it?), not using the mugs on this shelf because they were for display (when it meant there weren't enough for the number of people staying), not putting washing on the rotary drier because it spoiled the view for people in the other holiday cottage ... it was really bloody irritating. People need to think about what's going to make guests want to come back.

Sartre · 03/04/2026 12:49

I wouldn’t follow it. For starters I have to have my coffee in bed, I’m not human until I’ve sat calmly with my coffee. Also need a glass of water at night. I wouldn’t eat upstairs.

Makemineacosmo · 03/04/2026 12:48

I would follow it. If I'm getting up to make myself a cup of tea, I'm just as happy under a throw on the sofa to drink it as I would be in bed. I take a lidded bottle of water to bed with me.

I have no objection to respecting the rules of a house I have rented.

Boustany · 03/04/2026 12:47

JumpingPumpkin · 03/04/2026 12:43

Oh god, you can just imagine the parents swearing as their child throws a massive tantrum after being promised their favourite dvd after boring journey/sightseeing/in bad weather/early morning etc. Confused

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I know- awful!

1000StrawberryLollies · 03/04/2026 12:46

I wouldn't ever take food upstairs in my own house anyway. Rarely have a cup of tea in bed, so I probably wouldn't break that rule. Dh probably would though!

MyTrivia · 03/04/2026 12:45

I would follow it - it’s just basic respect. Nobody needs to.

sakura06 · 03/04/2026 12:45

I voted the wrong way! I don’t think YABU to have a cup of tea upstairs!

JumpingPumpkin · 03/04/2026 12:45

Is this a private Airbnb rental or through an agency? It seems a bit unprofessional unless the bedrooms have antique furniture/carpets that need special protection.

Myfridgeiscool · 03/04/2026 12:44

If it was clearly listed at point of booking I would not book it.
A cuppa in bed is the best start to any day, especially when you’re on holiday.
I hate places with lists of rules, avoid them.
I don’t mind stripping the bed but when there’s a list of chores I get annoyed. I’m paying for a holiday.

Laura95167 · 03/04/2026 12:44

Knickerbockergrolia · 03/04/2026 11:44

Staying at a holiday house, the rules mention 'no food or drink to be taken upstairs' - would you follow it?

YABU - I'm on holiday, I'm having a cup of tea in bed and I'm old enough not to make a mess

YANBU - rules are rules, I'll do as I'm told

Seems a reasonable rule to me. I wouldnt have food upstairs at home apart from water.

I might break the rule if I needed a bottle of water upstairs but thats it

ILoveDaffodills · 03/04/2026 12:44

Fends · 03/04/2026 12:06

I have water through the night so no I wouldn’t follow the rule

It wouldn't even occur to me that they meant water too!

I always (even at home) use a bottle anyway (because I'm not fond of sharing with bugs!)

MaidOfSteel · 03/04/2026 12:43

TheBlueKoala · 03/04/2026 12:06

Me too. Except drinking water or having a mint I can't see why people would like to eat in bed. Unless they change the sheets every day?

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What about people who are bedbound sometimes? They can’t be left to starve or go thirsty.

I would ignore the rule, OP. I wake up often during the night with a raging thirst so I always have my insulated bottle by the bed.

If you’re renting out second (even third, fourth, fifth….) homes like this, you have to accept a degree of risk is involved. I’d be insulted at being treated like a child and wouldn’t give my money to someone so petty.

CinnamonBuns67 · 03/04/2026 12:43

I'd take a glass of or a bottled water to bed but would otherwise follow the rules.

JumpingPumpkin · 03/04/2026 12:43

Boustany · 03/04/2026 12:34

I don't eat in bed but I might have a cup of tea. Other people are different. The point is that, if you're letting to the general public, you need to expand your idea of "the norm" beyond just what you personally do.

This thread is reminding me of my late MIL who was advised by her holiday letting agent to buy a DVD player for her holiday let. She did this and advertised the cottage as having a TV and DVD player, despite the fact that the TV was so ancient you couldn't actually connect it to the DVD player, then when someone complained she was baffled- what sort of person goes on holiday to watch DVDS? 😂

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Oh god, you can just imagine the parents swearing as their child throws a massive tantrum after being promised their favourite dvd after boring journey/sightseeing/in bad weather/early morning etc. Confused

JMSA · 03/04/2026 12:41

If on my own, I wouldn’t follow it. I know how neurotically careful I am.
If I was in company, I would follow it and expect them to do the same, as I can’t vouch for them!

JLou08 · 03/04/2026 12:40

No, I wouldn't follow it. I'm paying for a holiday home, I want to enjoy my holiday there and if that involves eating and drinking upstairs, I'd eat and drink upstairs.

TittyGajillions · 03/04/2026 12:40

I don't take food and drinks upstairs in my own house so I wouldn't do it in someone else's.

ILoveDaffodills · 03/04/2026 12:40

Chickadiddy · 03/04/2026 12:01

I would have no problem following it because the idea of eating or drinking in bed makes me boak. 🤢

🤣🤣🤣

🙄🙄🙄

ILoveDaffodills · 03/04/2026 12:38

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 03/04/2026 11:58

No I would not they would have to tear my 4 or 5 am-ish take-it-back-to-bed tea out of my cold dead hands. ☕️

👍🏻😊

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/04/2026 12:37

I like a cup of tea or coffee in bed - I take a cup of tea up with me when I go to bed, too. So I would ignore that rule. I don’t shell out ££££ for an Airbnb to be denied my usual comforts.

Blushingm · 03/04/2026 12:36

That’s quite reasonable - food and drink spills can cause damage to beds and bedding etc

ILoveDaffodills · 03/04/2026 12:36

applescentedcandle · 03/04/2026 11:53

I would respect the rule except for a glass of water which I'd be careful with.

I imagine they've had to deal with a lot of mess before making that rule!

Other peoples inability to behave like capable adults isn't me.

CrickeyJane · 03/04/2026 12:35

I'd hope that rule was obvious before booking. I don't take food upstairs but I do have a cup of tea. I wouldn't book it. If expect more rules as well and an unreasonable leaving policy as well. It doesn't sound holiday friendly or relaxing .

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