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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain about rats outside country hotel?

69 replies

zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:35

I've just got back from a three night stay in a travel lodge in a rural location. The hotel was fine but for me the stay was made uncomfortable by rats running around outside.

Driving up to the hotel drive on the first night I stopped the car because I thought there was a rabbit in front of it - it was a big rat just sitting there. In the two minutes or so that it took tpo drive to the the hotel carpark two more rats ran across our path, the second just as we were walking into the hotel (running!)about a metre from the door. In fact every time we left the hotel in the morning and came back in the evening we saw at least a couple of rats running in the car park.

The dcs thought it was hilarious but it wasn't fun pulling into the carpark especially at night.

I mentioned the rats to the receptionist who looked at me as though I was mad and asked me what I expected form a hotel in a field with a farm not too far away....

So would I be unreasonable to complain to the head office. Laughing aside, I did feel really uncomfortable whilst I was there at the thought of the rat population partying outside.

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 26/12/2011 17:37

YABU what do you expect the hotel to do about it? Rats are everywhere, esp. at this time of year when they're out and about looking for warmth and food.

Crabapple99 · 26/12/2011 17:37

I doubt it had anything to do with the hotel, central London can be very much like this, if there are no catts or foxes around.

whackamole · 26/12/2011 17:38

It's called wildlife.

YABU and slightly daft to not expect to see animals of all descriptions near a country hotel. I expect the cute squirrels which are essentially rats didn't offend you quite so much?

fivegomadindorset · 26/12/2011 17:38

YABU

Original poster
zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:39

But so near the hotel? I've stayed in loads of rural locations and never seen so many of them.

OP posts:
Original poster
zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:40

I didn't see squirrels - maybe the rats ate them Grin

OP posts:
OldMacEIEIO · 26/12/2011 17:41

look at it from their point of view. fatty

thenightsky · 26/12/2011 17:41

Apparently you are never more than 10 feet from a rat.

hiddenhome · 26/12/2011 17:41

It's winter. They always make their foraging closer to humankind during winter. We only ever get rats in our garden during the winter. They're just cold, miserable, hungry and looking to slightly improve their miserable existence.

MrsCampbellBlack · 26/12/2011 17:42

Well its pretty unusual - normally hotels have those little rat trap boxes dotted around to keep the population under control.

I live rurally and seriously would call in pest control if there were lots of rats running round outside.

Original poster
zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:43

Well I would have thought that Mrs CB, tbh

OP posts:
GiserableMitt · 26/12/2011 17:43

YABU.
It's a bit like staying in a seaside hotel and complaining about the seagulls filthy little fuckers flying around.

Maybe not pleasant to see, but part of the animal world and as long as they're not in the hotel then not a problem.

yellowraincoat · 26/12/2011 17:45

What did you think was going to happen if you were near a rat? That it would suddenly go crazy and bite you?

There are rats in the countryside.

Original poster
zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:45

Really? You would expect to see rats running around a carpark every time you're there? Really?

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 26/12/2011 17:46

They won't hurt you. We were outside one day and one almost ran over my foot Hmm They're frightened of people and just looking for random feeding opportunities. You shouldn't worry about it.

MissFenella · 26/12/2011 17:49

If it was a putrid shit hole complain. If it was lovely and clean and the wildlife lived outside not in, I don't see the issue.

Rudolfsgottarednose · 26/12/2011 17:50

Part of the rat problem is the banning of hunting with dogs (i understand why there was a blanket ban).

My DP and his friend had working Terriers and used to be 'hired' to do a cull a few times a year. It was better than putting down poison or using Mixamotosis in the rabbit polulation.

yellowraincoat · 26/12/2011 17:51

If the rats were there because there were bags of over-flowing rubbish everywhere or rotting bodies, yes I would complain.

If the rats were there because it was the countryside and there are rats in the countryside, I wouldn't complain.

Original poster
zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:51

Yes a couple of terriers would have had the time of their lives out there

OP posts:
vjg13 · 26/12/2011 17:52

I would complain too and would have found it unpleasant. We got the odd rat in our garden as we have hens but I would get pest control if I saw them as you have described.

unfitmother · 26/12/2011 17:52

YABU

TheSecondComing · 26/12/2011 17:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OldMacEIEIO · 26/12/2011 17:55

yuk.
typical poster who looks at the cuddly wuddly polar bears, pandas, pen gwins, zee bras . etc

and says coo eee.

till one of the fckers gets close. typical gobshite

Original poster
zookeeper · 26/12/2011 17:59

Oh FFS. I can confirm that I didn't see any polar bears, etc. Just one poster spoiling for a fight. [hmmm]

OP posts:
lljkk · 26/12/2011 18:00

yanbu. I am amazed the hotel didn't thank you for letting them know. Can't get rid of them in countryside, but nobody wants them near property/investment. If they are that bold & visible they must have a nest quite near the hotel entrance, which is very worrying to any property owner with half-sense.

DH found a rat hole near where we park the car & is trying to assess what we can do; we live on edge of countryside & are used to seeing them. I spotted one in neighbour's drive the other eve. I like rats, btw, have had them as pets, I don't find them repulsive the way some folk do, but wild ones do enormous damage. I wouldn't happily tolerate a wild colony on or near my buildings, except maybe derelict ones.

I expect the receptionist was shocked & embarrassed, not meaning to just dismiss you.

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