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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Paying for other people's holidays

141 replies

woodstonobserver · 26/08/2010 21:22

I was going on holiday next week to a Spain to a villa that sleeps six with my daughter, a girlfriend and her daughter. Girls only, no blokes allowed!

Holiday was all paid for, but due to family difficulties my girlfriend and her daughter pulled out last week.

Phoned up holiday company and was told that it would cost £30 to change the name on the ticket and that extra tickets were £250. Was told it might be more nearer the time.

Didn't want to be by myself with my daughter on holiday so offered "free" tickets to another girlfriend and her daughter. Her daughter then wanted to bring her boyfriend, age 14, and his mum wanted to come along as well.

So suddenly we had six people, two of whom I have only met a couple of times. Told them the holiday company needed passport details before accepting bookings, and that the extra flights would need to be paid for. The boyfriend needed to get a passport. Finally got all the details and phoned holiday company.

They told me it was now £275 to change a name on a ticket and extra flights were now £500. So suddenly it would cost £550 to change 2 names and £1000 to buy two extra tickets, total £1550.

Told the holiday company to forget it and told my friend we had left it too late. I planned to go by myself with my daughter, bit sad I know, but not worth paying those prices.

Since then been subjected to a torrent of abuse to the effect that I had promised them a holiday and that I now had to provide them with said holiday no matter how much it cost.

My reply to my friend was that whilst I might be able to pay for her and daughter, I most certainly was not going to pay for her daughter's boyfriend and his mum!

Major row taking place tonight! Why should I pay for my friend's daughters's boyfriend and his mum?

Why can't his dad pay?

Am I being unreasonable?

Amy xx

OP posts:
Tippychoocks · 27/08/2010 19:34

What did you do? Did the BF's dad pay up?
Have we scared you away?

mumbar · 27/08/2010 19:35

I'd ring the travel agency FFS £275 to change the name - I worked in travel for 8 years and its NEVER been more than £30.

You offered friend a free holiday which by the sounds of it (got a bit lost) you are happy to pay name change for friend and dd. You do not need to pay for boyfriend and his mum or extra flight to return.

Yes shes being cheeky about her dd being left with you but I think in this case pick you battles Wink

Summerbird73 · 27/08/2010 19:45

what is happening then? i hope she isnt going with you

woodstonobserver · 28/08/2010 08:25

Just an update, the other dad couldn't / didn't pay up, second mother's DD refused to travel without her boyfriend etc. etc. so I am going with just my DD.

Had a reasonably frank exchange with second mother about her DD behaving like a spoilt brat and inviting these "random strangers to overcrowd the villa" (my exact words) and second mother did have the grace to apologise for the things she said on Thursday.

First mother just called to say that she wished she could have come but she's just got too many problems right now.

Been up all night packing and just off to the airport, full of trepidation about the week ahead. Am very worried about simple things like how will I get through customs with DD, handbaggage and two cases etc. and then find the transport to villa etc. but will be strong for my DD's sake.

Thanks again for all the help and advice. xx

OP posts:
DameGladys · 28/08/2010 08:28

Well done!!!

Trolley for cases etc.

Taxi for transport.

Easy!

Take a print out of the address so you can just show it to the taxi driver. And ask how much it will be before you leave the airport.

You'll have a brilliant time.

LoveBeingInBed · 28/08/2010 08:34

Hope you have a brill time and dont forget to send them a postcard Grin

wukter · 28/08/2010 08:49

You will have a lovely calm time with your DD.
Enjoy!

And at least your friend did apologise.

mumbar · 28/08/2010 09:36

You'll be fine I took ds then 5 away in April for a week got stuck due to volcanic ash and got a coach home which took 4 days - guess what I loved it and survived to post this tale Grin

LittleMissHissyFit · 28/08/2010 12:55

Hooray! Always so glad when it works out! you will be so much happier having stood up for yourself!

bet the holiday is FAB.... send us a postcard?

Grin
cornsillky · 28/08/2010 12:58

have a great time - it's their loss

gtamom · 28/08/2010 14:46

Well done! .

You will have a great mother daughter trip! Maybe it will the first of many annual ones you will take in the future!
(I loved it when my mom and I vacationed together)

Summerbird73 · 28/08/2010 15:32

and a happy ending hoorah! Grin

{summerbird wipes away a happy tear}

soopermum1 · 28/08/2010 22:41

I've just come back from Majorca with DH and DS (6) and I honestly think I'd have had a good time if it had just been me and DS. There's so many things to do in the daytime and at nighttime it's easy just to have a meal with your DD, sitting outside, watching the world go by. At your DDs age she'll be keen to play with other kids so you'll probably get chatting to people all the time. Hope you have a great time, as people have said here, it'll be liberating doing it yourself and so much easier the next time you do it.

Tippychoocks · 29/08/2010 10:58

Yay! Have a lovely time. You will have so much fun.

SugarMousePink · 29/08/2010 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alicet · 15/09/2010 18:44

I'd be interested in an update as to how your week away went and if your friend has grovelled sufficiently?! Smile

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