On holiday with friends; another family has turned up. Not sure what to make of it!

[Unomum21]

Help me process this dear mumsnetters!
On holiday with my family, 2 kids and my oh, we've booked with our friends who have a similar set up. We've done holidays together most years for over a decade, my best friend is the mum.
So, we arrived together from another campsite yesterday, to find my friends, neighbors/friends are here, not really a problem per se but a bit awkward?

My friend is a a bit embarrassed and said when they asked where they were going in holiday, they just said oh sounds great we can meet you there. And couldn't really say err no, with other friends.

Turns out theyve booked the same arrival and leave date as all of us, so not just crossing over.

They seem keen to find out about our meal arrangements and what time we plan to be at the beach etc. so far kept it vague and said hello when we've seen them. Now asking about tomorrow, but we've all planned to go out for the day as it's my husband's birthday so going for a long lunch and walk round etc.

I'm a bit perplexed about what's happening 😂 and what to do about it really. Never met them before, they seem nice enough, but everyone is feeling a bit awkward.

What do we think to this then?! 😂 I'll enjoy reading your comments over wine later 😘

Oh I’d hate this. Did your friend KNOW they’d actually booked and if so why on earth didn’t she mention it before?!

Agree with the poster who said you should go off and do something without your friend, and let her spend time with the other family as punishment.

Another vote for really doesn’t seem that bad. Obviously depending on the family. If they’re people you dislike or they’re going to palm their kids off on you the whole time or drink all your wine without bringing anything to the party then that’s very annoying. But if they’re basically fine people you and your kids can get along with then I’d treat it as the more the merrier. I’d be concerned that my friend had felt too awkward to talk to me about it in advance and be keen to make her feel at ease. It’s a bit odd but unless there’s something else to make it unpleasant I’d just go with the flow.

It doesn't really matter if YOU wouldn't really have a problem with it, because it isn't YOU we're talking about, is it.

I predict this is closer to the truth

We actually went aboard. Top notch villa. And invited their teen ds.. cost them the price of a passport for 2 weeks away ...
Him and my ds were so bloody awful we sent them home on a plane after a week!
Took me 3 months to get the air fair back. No apology for his contribution to a shit first week.
Never spoke to her again.

Did you post on here at the time because if so I remember it!

I agree with this to an extent….but it’s the entitlement and the pushiness that would get my back up.

And once somebody has annoyed me like that, it’s hard for me to see past it.

If I were in this situation, I would feel similar to the OP. Whereas, if these people were there just by sheer coincidence, I would undoubtedly have much more time for them.

You could just say lightly to your good friend….”I quite understand, if you want to spend time with Janice and the kids, honestly, we are quite happy to just run around and do our own thing, so please don’t feel under pressure to be with us……”

Then your friend knows you want a bit of distance (from the interlopers) and your friend can choose how she spends her time accordingly.

If it were me, in these situations and where my time is valuable, I have defined plans (that I have made up)…”yes, we are heading off at 8 a.m. to drive to xyz, thinking of making a full day of it” (knowing they surface at 9.30).

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

It is not your friends' fault but at the same time her nieghbours were not aware of the etticate.

Just think, the holday can be saved if you and your friend are upbeat and as positive about it.

Dynamics change really quickly when new people show up and you just need to steer the holiday to a positive place.

I feel sorry for them, I’m not sure your friend is giving you the full story here…

Well, you're all there now, so make the most of it. I find camping very casual. You could suggest a pot-luck dinner, where you all make something and bring it over to the new family's site, or your friend's site, since they are the family in common.

Hopefully all the kids get along.

I’d go home tbh. They’re clearly going to invite themselves to whatever, wherever you go as already demonstrated. Like shite would I spend multiple days of my holiday with strangers. Nope! I’d rather we went home and had a few days together at home with my partner & child.

OP quite literally asked for opinions!

Yep, I agree and I’m actually really surprised at how many people are backing up the OP by saying how bad it is. In my experience camping is generally casual and the more the merrier. Kids usually enjoy having a bigger crowd to muck about with too.

No they won’t! People like this will say “Oh where you going, we fancy a meal out” or even “That’s a great idea! What time?”

Update; we've come to the bar area, friends husband said he's really annoyed that they've imposed themselves, he asked my friend (my bf) have you arranged anything with them tonight, she said no. I was there when they asked about evening plans, friend kept it vague and said, well let's stay in touch, but no firm plans made. We've arrived in bar area, they were there. But odd, they didn't buy a drink, the husband went off home early. Wife then goes loudly 'we were here waiting for you' this where we said to meet. So we're all here except the husband 😂

It's not really bad and they seem nice. My friends husband thinks they have really imposed. I think bf probably wasn't very direct and they've taken advantage of that really.

Urgh. This is your friend’s problem. She created so she needs to respond to it. I’d head off with my family each day/evening and leave them all to it.

I know, but we don't live near each other so I don't want to miss out on our time together really.

From reading this it sounds like they have massively misinterpreted the situation which makes me think your friend’s communication is at fault here. They clearly think they are on holiday with you! And they don’t sound like bad people - not their fault they aren’t especially wanted! I feel a bit bad for them really

Poor people. Your friend must have acted like she wanted them there, and is now backing off from them because she has sensed that you are awkward and pissed off.
Trust me, if they are nice, normal people, they will NOT have rocked up without encouragement.

Absolutely this.
What a horrible situation. It reads like high school bitchiness.

Sounds like my ex neighbours in particular the wife. Not on this level but if I was going somewhere for coffee with other school mums she would randomly turn up. Also when me and dd would go shopping she'd be there too as dd may have let it slip at school to her ds. I was super nice and let it happen for a while even though my boundaries felt violated.

In the end I had to be quite firm and never let on my plans. I also had to ignore her a bit as I was so creeped out by it. She eventually left me alone

How awful for those people. They must feel mortified.