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Boyfriend doesn't want me sharing a bed with Bestfriend on trip

445 replies

okiedokieokayy · 26/07/2026 21:47

My best friend of around 8 years (we met at uni) has been living abroad for over two years and is finally coming back to the UK next month. I've been so excited to see her. To mark the occasion and make sure we actually get proper quality time together, we booked a little countryside retreat about 4 hours from where I live. Logistics also played a part, as she's coming from visiting family and then jetting off again, so this was the easiest way to make it work. We've had this trip planned for about four months. She made the booking and I was more than happy for her to sort it.
For context, my friend and I have shared a bed completely platonically loads of times over the years. Drunkenly crashing at uni, travelling together as broke backpackers, visiting each other in different cities. It's just never been a thing. So when she booked the room it genuinely didn't occur to me to ask about the bed situation. I'd have been fine with sharing or a twin, it just wasn't a question that entered my head.
It only came up when I was chatting to my boyfriend of nearly two and a half years about the trip. Not the first conversation we've had about it, like I said I've been excited, but this time the topic of rooms came up. He'd assumed we had separate rooms and when I said no, it's one room with a double, his whole mood changed. He said he wasn't comfortable with me sharing a bed with her. I should mention here that my friend happens to be a lesbian, and he knows this. When I asked why it was suddenly an issue, he said it "just feels different" and that he wouldn't share a bed with someone who could potentially be attracted to him, so he didn't see why I would. I tried to explain that we've shared beds plenty of times before, that she's basically family to me, and that she has never once, in eight years, shown even a hint of interest in me like that. He wasn't having it.
He then asked me to at least check if the hotel had twin rooms. I did check, to keep the peace, and there aren't any available. His response was that I need to book a separate room. It's a lot of money and honestly I'm not sure I can afford it, especially for something I don't think is necessary.
The bit that's really bothering me is that I mentioned it to my friend. I told her what he'd said and after some conversation I floated the idea that maybe I should just book the separate room. She went quiet for a second and then said "erm, yeah, okay, if that's what you think's best." There was a definite tone in her voice, like she was holding something back and trying not to cause drama. And now I feel awful. I can't work out if I'm more upset that my boyfriend doesn't seem to trust my judgement, or worried that she's hurt by the inference, because let's be honest, the implication is that because she's gay she can't be trusted to share a bed with a friend, which feels really unfair on her.
I know some people here will use the "what if she was a guy" or "would you be okay with your boyfriend sharing a bed with a straight female friend" argument, and I get why, but I'm honestly not sure it's the same thing. This is someone I've known for nearly a decade with zero history or hint of anything romantic. I don't know how I feel and I don't know what to do. Do I pay for a room I can't really afford to keep my boyfriend happy, or hold my ground and risk a row? And is it unreasonable of me to feel a bit insulted on my friend's behalf?

OP posts:
CamillaMcCauley · Yesterday 08:25

Tryagain26 · Yesterday 08:23

I honestly don't understand why you find it hard to believe that not everyone sees everyone else as a sex partner!

This, omg! Do people not have any sincerely platonic friendships?!

DaysOfWild · Yesterday 08:26

marbIecake · Yesterday 08:11

No, it's okay - it's an interesting question!

For me, if my husband were sharing a bed with an attractive straight woman, then yes, I'd feel very uncomfortable with it, and I wouldn't be ok with it. I know he'd feel exactly the same if the situation were reversed.

It's not because I don't trust him; it's about respect for our relationship. I also don't really understand why anyone would need to share a bed in that situation.

Why not get separate rooms, or have one person sleep on the floor if there isn't another bed available?

Context is also important here - how do they know each other? have they ever dated? etc this would also influence my opinion on it

Than you for indulging me!

"It's not because I don't trust him; it's about respect for our relationship. I also don't really understand why anyone would need to share a bed in that situation."

This is exactly it for me but it applies in all scenarios!

Why doesn't this apply to him sharing with others is my question? What is the difference for you? Respectfully (honestly!) is it the jealousy of comparison / the thought that your husband might be thinking about what he'd do if be weren't in a relationship with you while lying next to her, if you see what I mean? But then why wouldn't that aplly to him sharing a bed with a really attractive lesbian? The only difference I can see between the two (sharing with attractive lesbian vs sharing with attractive heterosexual woman) is the possibility that something might actually conceivably happen between them?

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:27

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:23

The problem is the inconsistency.. they'd never be ok with him sleeping in bed with his gay best friend. They'd say he's undercover.

And where has OP said this?

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:28

RunsABit · Yesterday 08:24

Don't be so deliberately misleading, the two are different scenarios. It is common for girls to share a bed during sleepovers and this can extend to womanhood where friendships are established and trust exists, whereas I don't know of any situations where friends have said their sons share a bed with a friend during sleepovers. Perhaps this is due to society norms, ingrained perceptions or a lack of understanding but that is not the issue here, the point being that the OP had absolutely no problem with it until her bf objected. That she had no worries shows she was comfortable with it.
I would suggest it is your discomfort and lack of understanding/ experience that is the problem, not the OP's warm and trusting friendship with an old friend.

These are adult women, not "girls". The reason people dont encourage young boys and men to share a bed is because they are aware they may sexually experiment and even though there is nothing wrong with being gay, early sexual experimentation can be damaging irrespective of sex.

They let young girls and women do it because they don't care if they do sexually experiment as pregnancy isnt a risk. Many lesbians will report this difference in supervision meant they were having a lot of sex with female friends at childhood sleepovers.

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:28

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:27

And where has OP said this?

The general tone of the replies would be that he's secretly gay.

CamillaMcCauley · Yesterday 08:29

VointofPiew · Yesterday 07:56

Yeah. If ny boyfriend told me that him and his female best friend just like sharing a bed, and there is nothing in it, I'd think it foolish to assume that is all that's going on.

I'm going to be honest here, I've had lesbian friends, especially when I was younger, that tried to make things difficult for me and boyfriends because they crushed on me, or had some sort of envy for the fact I had "easy" straight relationships.

The lesbian crushing on the straight girl BFF is a whole thing. As is the whole thing where some lesbians feel they have to do everything to constantly talk down heterosexual relationships and male partners as if talking about how much more empathetic a female partner would be will prompt straight women to find other women sexually attractive. (https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AyA8QpGfy/)

I also know of women who are "pillow princesses" and will receive sexual attention from other women, but don't think it's really "gay" (or cheating) because they don't "give".

I'm getting those vibes here.

No idea where you’re getting those vibes from! That’s a pretty active fantasy layer to apply to the OP’s post.

Not saying that the situations you cited never happen but the whole point of the OP is that she feels really confident that’s not the case with her and her longtime friend.

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:31

CamillaMcCauley · Yesterday 08:29

No idea where you’re getting those vibes from! That’s a pretty active fantasy layer to apply to the OP’s post.

Not saying that the situations you cited never happen but the whole point of the OP is that she feels really confident that’s not the case with her and her longtime friend.

I'm sure many men would say the same to their partners if they were planning to share a bed with a friend.

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:33

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:28

The general tone of the replies would be that he's secretly gay.

You’ve lost me now! Anyone help me out here…??

DaysOfWild · Yesterday 08:33

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:22

I do think some people are being deliberately obtuse. Not being attracted to blonde men isn’t the same as not being gay. I am not attracted to blonde men as it happens, but I did go on a date with one a while back. He wasn’t my usual type, but I do fancy men and he had something about him. I would have had sex with him too. This is unusual for me as perfectly against type.

There is zero chance of me sleeping with a woman. None whatsoever. Nothing against lesbians. I think women are gloriously attractive. I wouldn’t ever sleep with/kiss one though.

This is ridiculous comparison and I think sometimes people make some obtuse black and white point and then dig in hard when people push back.

I can see you won’t change your view. That’s fine. You’re obviously in camp boyfriend. Most other people on here think he’s being a twat though. Thankfully OP is going to apologise to her friend, as she should. I hope they can move past this silly interlude.

Also boyfriend’s behaviour smacks of immaturity and insecurity. OP should consider if she wants a controlling man child in her life.

Where does this leave the poor bisexuals, then? Are they the only ones for whom there is no bed sharing loophole?! 😆

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:34

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:28

These are adult women, not "girls". The reason people dont encourage young boys and men to share a bed is because they are aware they may sexually experiment and even though there is nothing wrong with being gay, early sexual experimentation can be damaging irrespective of sex.

They let young girls and women do it because they don't care if they do sexually experiment as pregnancy isnt a risk. Many lesbians will report this difference in supervision meant they were having a lot of sex with female friends at childhood sleepovers.

And by your rationale for not minding girls sharing a bed (they can’t make each other pregnant), but they do discourage boys from bed sharing… please explain how two boys could make each other pregnant.

Screamingabdabz · Yesterday 08:35

I feel sorry for the boyfriend being called ‘controlling’ when he’s probably just questioning, as I would, why two grown adult friends have to share a bed. Her sexuality is irrelevant. Presumably you are not young skint uni students anymore?

I’ve shared beds with my grown adult dds when we’ve been away and hotel availability has only allowed one bed, but ideally we’d all prefer our own. Sharing a bed for four nights with another grown adult ‘friend’ is odd and I’d be questioning it too.

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:36

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:33

You’ve lost me now! Anyone help me out here…??

If a man wanted to share a bed on holiday with his gay best friend, the posters here would say he's gay. They say men are gay for the most random things.

Nobodycares · Yesterday 08:37

lessglittermoremud · Yesterday 08:14

That’s not a like for like situation though is it?! Like for like would be him sharing a bed with his male friend who also happens to be gay or with his best friend who is female but a lesbian.

OP hope you can sort things out with your best friend, your boyfriend has basically said that your friend is some sort of predator that can’t be trusted to sleep next to.
I could see his point more (only slightly though!) if you were bi or if your best friend was a heterosexual male because sometimes things happen, but his argument is based on her sexual orientation which is completely different to yours!

Edited

Yep. It's like for like.

Question stands.

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:38

BustyLaRoux · Yesterday 08:34

And by your rationale for not minding girls sharing a bed (they can’t make each other pregnant), but they do discourage boys from bed sharing… please explain how two boys could make each other pregnant.

I didnt think I'd have to explain that generally, there is far more homophobia towards men than women. Being a lesbian has never been illegal. Women were never jailed for having sex with each other.

RunsABit · Yesterday 08:41

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:28

These are adult women, not "girls". The reason people dont encourage young boys and men to share a bed is because they are aware they may sexually experiment and even though there is nothing wrong with being gay, early sexual experimentation can be damaging irrespective of sex.

They let young girls and women do it because they don't care if they do sexually experiment as pregnancy isnt a risk. Many lesbians will report this difference in supervision meant they were having a lot of sex with female friends at childhood sleepovers.

They are adult women who have a long-established friendship. Again I repeat, the OP herself had no issue with sharing a bed. That she chose in her original post to not make her friend being a lesbian the first thing to mention about her shows that she has a respectful and understanding view of her friend, She sees her as female friend first and foremost, with her sexuality being incidental which is exactly how a confident and mature person would describe a good friend who happens to be gay.

You on the other hand, display a wildly skewed knowledge of gay women which you seem to have gained from the 'many lesbians' who select Special You to 'crush on' and with whom to share their intimate histories.

BunnyLake · Yesterday 08:41

If he was your husband and not boyfriend would that have made a difference to the accommodation arrangements?

lazyarse123 · Yesterday 08:41

Coldiron · 26/07/2026 22:07

If he’s not controlling in any other way then I wouldn’t die on this particular hill. Relationships involve compromise and I don’t think he’s being wildly unreasonable.

Of course he's being unreasonable. He obviously is judging op and her friend by his low standards.
If he doesn't trust his gf there's no point in being together.

VointofPiew · Yesterday 08:42

RunsABit · Yesterday 08:41

They are adult women who have a long-established friendship. Again I repeat, the OP herself had no issue with sharing a bed. That she chose in her original post to not make her friend being a lesbian the first thing to mention about her shows that she has a respectful and understanding view of her friend, She sees her as female friend first and foremost, with her sexuality being incidental which is exactly how a confident and mature person would describe a good friend who happens to be gay.

You on the other hand, display a wildly skewed knowledge of gay women which you seem to have gained from the 'many lesbians' who select Special You to 'crush on' and with whom to share their intimate histories.

I'm sure a man in that situation would have no problem sharing a bed, either!

changedusernameforthis1 · Yesterday 08:43

I think I'm torn but because of personal experience - my ex (female) had a male friend who was gay and they'd been friends since early school years.
Whenever she visited home, she'd stay at his and they always shared his bedroom.
I never thought anything of it.

Turns out they slept together on one of those visits and never told me. It all kicked off - she was upset, I was heartbroken, he was saying he's definitely gay but was just drunk and it was a bit of fun.

Obviously you know that's not going to happen in your case, but your boyfriend doesn't. Has he been hurt in the past or have any other reasons for trust issues?

FoldItIn · Yesterday 08:44

AliasGracie · Yesterday 05:50

I think it's odd that you always share
a bed on every trip . Sometimes it's easier for convenience or cost, especially when you're young , but always? That's odd. I wouldn't be happy with my OH sharing a bed with a gay friend every time they go away. Why would your gay friend book a double bed rather than a twin ? Or separate rooms?

Do what you want to but it is odd.

Is it? If I go away with a friend, any friend, we always book one room? I thought that was perfectly normal with someone you are comfortable going away with. Why would you spend more when you don't have to?
My SIL has just booked us 2 nights somewhere last minute and she just booked one room with a king, it wasn't even a question.
I am pretty sure she doesn't want to shag me but I could be wrong 🤔

Mnetcurious · Yesterday 08:46

Malvasylvestris · 26/07/2026 23:36

I wouldn't be comfortable with my husband sharing a bed with someone who is attracted to males, so it's a no from me.

Even if it was a gay man and your husband is not attracted to men? Because that’s the situation here.

Nobodycares · Yesterday 08:52

FoldItIn · Yesterday 08:44

Is it? If I go away with a friend, any friend, we always book one room? I thought that was perfectly normal with someone you are comfortable going away with. Why would you spend more when you don't have to?
My SIL has just booked us 2 nights somewhere last minute and she just booked one room with a king, it wasn't even a question.
I am pretty sure she doesn't want to shag me but I could be wrong 🤔

I always book one room with my female bff. Never one bed, of course, because it's standard to book two beds unless you're a couple.

So, again if OP would be fine with her boyfriend sharing a bed with an attractive heterosexual platonic female friend she should go for it.

WinterBlues26 · Yesterday 08:53

There was a definite tone in her voice, like she was holding something back and trying not to cause drama

I suspect she was trying to be diplomatic and not tell you your boyfriend is being a bit of a controlling twat. Does he often tell you what to do or is he just weird about women sharing the same bed?

My vote is ditch the bf, keep the friend. He's not a keeper imo.

Mnetcurious · Yesterday 08:54

nevernotmaybe · 26/07/2026 23:59

As long as that holds up if he shares a bed with a woman, then that's fine.

The straight male partner sharing a bed with a straight female friend is different because they might be attracted to each other due to their sexuality.

The op, who is a straight woman, sharing a bed with a gay woman will not be attracted to her friend because that’s not her sexuality.

SylvanMoon · Yesterday 08:57

As an adult I've only ever shared beds with men I was sleeping with. Only twice: once, when I was caught out in a city with nowhere to stay and no money, did I share a hotel room double bed with my sister-in-law; and once with my mother when she thought she was dying (she was, but just not that night). And now, even when I'm travelling with my DH, we prefer to book twin beds! I'd be miffed if my own sister had booked a hotel room to share with a double bed, especially if there was an option to get one with twin beds.