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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sharing room on a work trip

137 replies

HandsFaceTeeth · 30/05/2026 19:38

I’m going on a work trip that involves an overnight stay. On the original request form, I said I did not want to share a room and would happily pay the difference to have my own room. A recent email said that attendees would be sharing twin rooms in the hotel. I do not know anyone else attending. AIBU to not want to share a room with a stranger? I don’t even share a room when I go away with good friends!

OP posts:
Tink3rbell30 · 31/05/2026 00:09

I don't think it's the absolute outrage that some comments seem to think it is. It's just somewhere to sleep really. If everyone moans about it then the company might alter it to single rooms though.

SomeoneSomewhereOnThisWorld · 31/05/2026 00:08

Years ago I worked for a company (500+ people) who once every couple of years organised company conferences, and they wanted us to share (team spirit, team cohesion....) A lot of the younger colleagues were up for it, however it was not obligatory, just voluntary, they managed to get enough people sharing by advertising/propaganda/peer pressure.
I do understand it is easier (and cheaper) to book 250 twin rooms, compared to 500 singles. Wonder whether management was leading by example?

Aluna · 31/05/2026 00:03

HandsFaceTeeth · 30/05/2026 19:53

I’d like to add that the company is a huge, profitable multinational organisation. Other colleagues have raised their eyebrows at my insistence on a single room, saying that it’s just the way these trips work.

Do they at least expect colleagues to be same gender? What happens if uneven numbers? Trans?

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 23:51

hahabahbag · 30/05/2026 22:17

We always did at work, was a condition on going on nice trips, typically we only needed for instance 3 staff really for an exhibition but we would allow 6 to go all expenses paid including entertaining budget the compromise is sharing. It’s not that I liked it but my direct colleague and would have been one of other. And by good trips I mean Las Vegas, San Francisco, various European cities. Hotels were always really expensive due to the conference happening

When I was younger I happily shared with colleagues. But wouldn't anymore. I wouldn't like to inflict my post menopause over heating, naked sleeping, snoring on anyine 🤣🤣

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 23:44

HandsFaceTeeth · 30/05/2026 19:53

I’d like to add that the company is a huge, profitable multinational organisation. Other colleagues have raised their eyebrows at my insistence on a single room, saying that it’s just the way these trips work.

They could rates as many eyebrows as they want, my answer these days would be no fucking way. Own room or I'm not going!

BIossomtoes · 30/05/2026 23:42

I wouldn’t engage with any of this. I’d book a Travelodge and pay for it myself.

CloudPop · 30/05/2026 23:41

HandsFaceTeeth · 30/05/2026 19:53

I’d like to add that the company is a huge, profitable multinational organisation. Other colleagues have raised their eyebrows at my insistence on a single room, saying that it’s just the way these trips work.

no It absolutely is not how these things work. I’ve bed shared a room in my entire (long ) working life and have never been asked to. Absolute hard 💯 no

StrictlyCoffee · 30/05/2026 23:39

An absolute hard no from me. I wouldn’t be going.

FoldThreePiece · 30/05/2026 23:38

No, I was forced into this situation when I was younger, with a total stranger sharing a hotel room at a conference ( female)

I was in bed when she waltzed in with a load of people.

The men that I knew, who I had travelled with, had gone off to a nightclub, so I was left alone all night.

I was not happy, with a group of strangers walking into the room, she was not a nice person .

I would refuse to accept this situation now

In fact this happened twice to me, the second time, my room mate and I were spending a few days together, and she was much nicer, but still, grown women who had never met before, and very little privacy.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 30/05/2026 23:38

TooOrangey · 30/05/2026 19:48

There is absolutely no chance I’d agree to this.

Me neither
email them back and say it’s not acceptable and that you won’t be going unless they can guarantee you your own room and you want an email confirmation from the hotel for said room booking with your name on it stating SINGLE OCCUPANCY

BlueMum16 · 30/05/2026 23:36

No way. No how.

There was a similar thread a while ago.

Either single rooms or I would not be going. I also wouldn't be paying extra to achieve this.

fashionqueen0123 · 30/05/2026 23:31

FlowerSticker · 30/05/2026 22:02

Loads of people have never been in hotels... And loads of people haven't had family holidays in hotels, there are many other choices for family accommodation.

Of course but to never have ever been in one once as she mentioned holidays/trips.
We don’t often stay in them for a whole holiday but we’ve had many a stay in one for a road trip, airport, visiting family etc

DurinsBane · 30/05/2026 23:06

FlowerSticker · 30/05/2026 22:57

I mean, millions of people have heir 3 year old sleeping in a different room to them. Like in their house. :)

Yes, but the poster said while on a trip, so it was clear I wasn’t talking about at home.
I have already said I was mistaken to assume she meant a hotel rather than a villa or other holiday home accommodation

FlowerSticker · 30/05/2026 22:57

DurinsBane · 30/05/2026 22:53

Millions don’t in hotels. But you are right, I assumed a hotel when it could be a villa etc

I mean, millions of people have heir 3 year old sleeping in a different room to them. Like in their house. :)

DurinsBane · 30/05/2026 22:53

FlowerSticker · 30/05/2026 22:00

Millions of people do this every day.... ?

It's not like PP said the 3 year old would be in their own hotel room. She only said she wouldn't share a room with them. So presumably they would go to places like holiday apartments or cottages or caravans or whatever, a d the children sleep in their own room. Not have them sleeping in Room 432, whilst she sleeps in room 138.

Millions don’t in hotels. But you are right, I assumed a hotel when it could be a villa etc

Cleanornotclean · 30/05/2026 22:26

I can’t see how any big firm would allow this with people you work daily with let alone strangers which is why @HandsFaceTeeth has said she will speak to her HR

No firm would accept liability for this

ChocolateCinderToffee · 30/05/2026 22:26

Not a chance. You need privacy to wind down, fart when you want, scratch yourself and wander around in your underwear. Or at least I do. I dislike even sharing a room with a friend.

LovelyBranches · 30/05/2026 22:26

My team regularly have to do overnighters. I have worked there for 14 years. Nobody shares a room and nobody should have to.

PurpleThistle7 · 30/05/2026 22:25

Zero chance. I’d die on this hill

dewne · 30/05/2026 22:24

This has come up before. Exactly this thread.

TeenLifeMum · 30/05/2026 22:23

Years ago I worked for the daily mail group and they wouldn’t let dh and I share a room (we were only dating at that point) for a training course. We had a room each but only used one 😂). I will not ever share a room with a colleague - that’s so unacceptable unless you’re in a relationship.

FortyFacedFuckers · 30/05/2026 22:21

Other than my partner or child I would never share a room not even with my best friend of 30 years or my sister never mind a colleague

Chilly80 · 30/05/2026 22:20

Nope completely inappropriate

hahabahbag · 30/05/2026 22:17

We always did at work, was a condition on going on nice trips, typically we only needed for instance 3 staff really for an exhibition but we would allow 6 to go all expenses paid including entertaining budget the compromise is sharing. It’s not that I liked it but my direct colleague and would have been one of other. And by good trips I mean Las Vegas, San Francisco, various European cities. Hotels were always really expensive due to the conference happening

WallaceinAnderland · 30/05/2026 22:14

No, no, hell no.

And they can't make you.