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Original poster

Wwyd: holiday accommodation issue

57 replies

CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 15:47

Just arrived, after a long journey, to our holiday let in an amazing place. Two children, extremely tired, now asleep (we're in Asia). The villa is 3 bedrooms. We were prepared to not use one, as the kids can get a bit anxious in a new place, so probably best in the same room. However, all of the rooms lead to the outside, with only one exit each and the only lock is a key. Tonight we're going to move one child into another bedroom and each sleep with one child. I can't not lock any doors - we're in an unknown country and anyone could get over the wall and into the garden.

I've checked the listing and it doesn't mention this setup at all. It's listed as suitable for families.

Also, the listing has breakfast provided. Apparently it is not provided. We chose it over other properties because we didn't want the hassle of finding breakfast each morning.

I'm tempted to see if we can cancel for the rest of our stay tomorrow. DH has notions of moving a mattress onto a floor and us all being in one room. But I've paid for an amazing villa holiday! What should we do?

OP posts:
Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:22

Mine aren't tiny. I'm not overly worried about them walking into the pool at night. I'm worried about leaving them in an unlocked building separate from us.

OP posts:
Griffalo123 · 16/12/2019 16:23

I’m imagining your children are young and not 14+!

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:24

Sent the screenshot. They claim air b n b must have changed it without telling them. 'sorry for any inconvenience'.

OP posts:

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Holidays
OlaEliza · 16/12/2019 16:25

I'd see if I could cancel in the morning and get another air b&b.

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:25

Both primary age

OP posts:
OlaEliza · 16/12/2019 16:25

Although depends how old the DC are.

lyingwanker · 16/12/2019 16:26

I would HATE that setup and feel exactly the same as you. Even with my 12 year olds I wouldn't be overly keen on that setup let alone my 2 preschoolers!

charm8ed · 16/12/2019 16:27

I’d try and cancel too and look for something more suitable , interconnecting rooms in a hotel perhaps?

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:27

Not preschool, 8 and 10

OP posts:
Clymene · 16/12/2019 16:30

I would hate that too. Either you lol them in or they lock themselves in. Either is a fire risk.

Lochroy · 16/12/2019 16:34

I now see what you mean from the diagram. I would be onto air bnb pronto. Breakfast is the least of your worries, but given you have a screen shot, you should easily be able to get a part refund.

It might be typical for the area (I disagree btw) but that is not suitable for families.

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:38

Tonight we'll have one child each. But I do resent paying lots of money. DH not at all keen to complain.

OP posts:
Butterflyflower1234 · 16/12/2019 16:42

There must be some form of lock on the external doors. If there isn't then it'll speak volumes as to the safety of the area.

It sounds like you don't travel often and are an anxious person. Such a shame as you're in a beautiful country and you'll miss out on the experience.

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:46

The external door is a tall gate, with a padlock. We travel loads. As expats, travel is really our reason for living abroad. our kids have visited more than 20 countries. I'm just not happy about the children being locked in and away from us and unable to escape in an emergency or not having any lock to the outdoors and being away from us. I'm not at all anxious usually.

OP posts:
Santasy · 16/12/2019 16:47

As a host Airbnb tell you to provide breakfast. It really ticks me off when hosts dont provide breakfast. The BnB is Bed and Breakfast ffs!

I'd be really annoyed about both your issues and wouldn't be happy with my (older than yours) children in those conditions.

leckford · 16/12/2019 16:49

Possibly it would have been better to stay in a hotel? Not keen on Airbnb especially somewhere so far away from the UK

Hepsibar · 16/12/2019 16:50

Trip adviser here you come.

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:53

We've stayed in some amazing places through air b n b in the past, in loads of different countries. Never encountered this issue, never had cause to complain.

OP posts:
nononever · 16/12/2019 16:55

Could the children not sleep upstairs? Even temporarily until you find somewhere more suitable.

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 16:57

Upstairs has the same problem - stairs go from outside, so external lock with key on that door.

OP posts:
GingleJangleScarecrow · 16/12/2019 16:58

As a host Airbnb tell you to provide breakfast. It really ticks me off when hosts dont provide breakfast. The BnB is Bed and Breakfast ffs!

AirBnB has moved on a lot. Yes they have kept the original name, but many of the properties on there are private villas/holiday homes for rent and they absolutely do not require the hosts to provide breakfast.

I appreciate that it was actually specified in this case and the OP has every right to complain, but it definitely is not the case that breakfast is included for every property that is advertised.

Turnipsorswede · 16/12/2019 17:00

Fire would be my biggest concern. It's not much of a holiday if the patents have to share with the DC.
It's poor show of them not to offer breakfast as advertised.
Are the Airbnb owners or an agency? They might have more suitable properties.

Clymene · 16/12/2019 17:00

I used to sleep in the converted garage when I was a teenager. We lived in a very safe area but even so, I was nervous about having an outdoor door right onto the room. It's psychological I think.

I don't even really like it in hotels come to think of it!

Original poster
CobbleDePook · 16/12/2019 17:01

As far as I can gather, the owner lives in a different country.

OP posts:
Lulualla · 16/12/2019 17:02

I stayed inna villa with that sort of layout in the Maldives. I had taken baby monitors with me and my kids were 6 and 8, so I just locked the doors and used the monitors. If they needed out, they were told to talk through the monitor. It was fine.