Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
averylongtimeago · 04/04/2026 22:35

We run a holiday let- how on earth do they intend to police that rule?
Most people manage to not make a mess- but some do. Red wine split all over the stairs wall (tripped on the way upstairs) , cocopops, sticky sweets, yogurt in, on and under the bed (I blame the parents) , “accidents” and I don’t mean from babies (thank god for waterproof mattress protection) , half eaten sandwiches/chips/pizza under the pillow - It all comes out in the wash, I grumble when it happens, but for every grotty changeover there are 10 that are left pretty decent.

This, btw, is why I allow 10-4 to clean. Repainting, scrubbing off dried weetabix, ect all takes time!

TheBigFatMermaid · 04/04/2026 22:08

I always have a drink beside my bed. I'm in stage 3 CKD, need to drink a LOT to ensure I stay infection free but cannot drink large amounts at once,so have to sip constantly. No, the rules do not over ride my medical need. I'm not sure I'd have obeyed prior to this anyway.

GivesYourHosieryaFright · 04/04/2026 22:05

Pricelessadvice · 04/04/2026 21:54

Am I the only person who doesn’t like having a cuppa in bed??

No. I don't either.

If you can be arsed to go downstairs to make a drink (I can't bring myself to call it a "cuppa"), why would you take it upstairs?

Obviously there are people who do it regularly, but no one in my extended family does, so it's a bit of a mystery to me.

Pricelessadvice · 04/04/2026 21:54

Am I the only person who doesn’t like having a cuppa in bed??

Flamingosrule · 04/04/2026 21:51

I would most certainly have my morning cuppa in bed while on holiday
As an ex air bnb host, I wouldn’t expect anyone not to take a cuppa upstairs .. I’m guessing this one may have had red wine or blackcurrant juice spilt .. and there are people that will eat a curry in bed and leave plates up there until morning .. which festers for ages 🤢

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 04/04/2026 21:08

If I had the kids with me I would follow it, but if it was just me and DH/adults I might have a coffee in bed or a wine while I get ready (white wine of course, red is asking for trouble). I wouldn’t go out my way to break it though.

WhosMadeline · 04/04/2026 20:21

I would enjoy a delicious cup of tea in bed there every day.
they have obviously had an issue before with kids smearing pizza over bedsheets or something and are covering themselves for that kind of thing in the future (grounds to keep a deposit).
Nobody stops me having a tea in bed daily.

BIossomtoes · 04/04/2026 20:11

MrMucker · 04/04/2026 18:31

So many saying yeah, I'll follow the rules which I think are reasonable. Why don't you just say "I don't respect rules"?

Because it wouldn’t be true. I respect sensible rules which I can see exist for a good reason. I disregard rules that don’t fit that description.

SnippySnappy · 04/04/2026 20:00

Amkal · 04/04/2026 19:48

You could take the drink in a closed bottle and the snack in a sealed bag/box. That’s very different from actively taking open stuff upstairs to eat.

That would be fair enough, but that’s not the wording the OP suggests

bridgetreilly · 04/04/2026 19:49

TrashHeap · 04/04/2026 11:43

How would you feel if someone came into your home and ignored a rule, even if they found it ridiculous?

It’s a commercial property, not someone’s home.

bridgetreilly · 04/04/2026 19:48

I wouldn’t eat a full cooked breakfast in my bed, but I would certainly have a cup of tea.

Amkal · 04/04/2026 19:48

You could take the drink in a closed bottle and the snack in a sealed bag/box. That’s very different from actively taking open stuff upstairs to eat.

Amkal · 04/04/2026 19:47

SnippySnappy · 04/04/2026 19:11

Husband has type 1 diabetes and sometimes has hypoglycaemia in the night. This requires a sugary drink or snack (jelly babies or similar) at the bedside, to treat.
So there's no way we could stick to this rule even if we wanted to.

Obviously takeaway boxes etc are a different scenario.

Y

Cherryicecreamx · 04/04/2026 19:19

I understand food. Those pesky crumbs get everywhere 😅 I find breakfast in bed sounds nice until it comes down to it!
I'm not sure I could resist a cup of tea tho! Although it would be sods law that would be the time it would spill 🫣

SnippySnappy · 04/04/2026 19:11

Husband has type 1 diabetes and sometimes has hypoglycaemia in the night. This requires a sugary drink or snack (jelly babies or similar) at the bedside, to treat.
So there's no way we could stick to this rule even if we wanted to.

Obviously takeaway boxes etc are a different scenario.

Flamingojune · 04/04/2026 18:35

Flushitdown · 04/04/2026 18:32

I wouldn't have booked a holiday cottage with that rule. But if I turned up and found it had that rule then I'd ignore it - I don't take food upstairs but do enjoy a morning cup of tea in bed. And I need a glass of water in the night.

Agree. Its a rudiculous rule.

Flushitdown · 04/04/2026 18:32

I wouldn't have booked a holiday cottage with that rule. But if I turned up and found it had that rule then I'd ignore it - I don't take food upstairs but do enjoy a morning cup of tea in bed. And I need a glass of water in the night.

MrMucker · 04/04/2026 18:31

So many saying yeah, I'll follow the rules which I think are reasonable. Why don't you just say "I don't respect rules"?

Flamingojune · 04/04/2026 16:29

TrashHeap · 04/04/2026 11:43

How would you feel if someone came into your home and ignored a rule, even if they found it ridiculous?

I havent got any rules but if i did, If i wasn't there how would i know?

Rileysp · 04/04/2026 15:40

GivesYourHosieryaFright · 03/04/2026 22:25

We brought our daughter up to eat at the dining table. She has never expressed a wish to eat a meal in bed.

Why do people drink tea in bed? If you're awake, why wouldn't you get up to drink your tea? You can just as easily (probably more easily) drink tea sitting in a chair.

Because that’s what people want to do.

why does this require an explanation?

Besafeeatcake · 04/04/2026 12:52

Itsmetheflamingo · 04/04/2026 12:45

so after you’d paid out money you’d follow whatever unreasonable rule the owners stipulated, even if it took away everyday expected pleasure from the holiday?

if so, you’re a right mug.

No need to call people names. I’m not a mug but respect the rules in someone else house like a reasonable person.

Itsmetheflamingo · 04/04/2026 12:45

Besafeeatcake · 04/04/2026 11:44

So you rented a house with rules and now because you don’t like them you aren’t going to follow them?

Simple don’t rent next time and yes respect someone else’s rules in their house - that is what hotels are for if you don’t like it.

Entitled behaviour to do whatever you want.

so after you’d paid out money you’d follow whatever unreasonable rule the owners stipulated, even if it took away everyday expected pleasure from the holiday?

if so, you’re a right mug.

Besafeeatcake · 04/04/2026 11:44

So you rented a house with rules and now because you don’t like them you aren’t going to follow them?

Simple don’t rent next time and yes respect someone else’s rules in their house - that is what hotels are for if you don’t like it.

Entitled behaviour to do whatever you want.

TrashHeap · 04/04/2026 11:43

How would you feel if someone came into your home and ignored a rule, even if they found it ridiculous?

JumpingPumpkin · 04/04/2026 11:41

stayawayfromthattrapdoor · 04/04/2026 09:46

I think it’s a bit of a daft rule to impose in a holiday let.

Firstly it feels overbearing - people want to relax on holiday and petty rules set the wrong tone.

Most people the worst that is going to happen is a few crumbs - well you’re hoovering and changing the bedl linen between guests so no big deal.

Actual damage (curry stains on carpet etc) should be covered in a damage deposit.

And probably the biggest factor: people most likely to do stupid stuff like eat curry in bed and make a mess are also the same people who are likely to totally ignore house rules.

Basically you’re probably pissing off the reasonable majority of guests who are careful and doing almost nothing to stop the careless, don’t-give-a-damn guests behaving badly.

This. Petty rules always annoy the sensible the most. Better to just deal with those who actually misbehave.