Friends inviting other friends on joint holiday

[CrashGater]

Name changed as I'm a regular and this could be identifying.

We have never been on holiday with friends before because essentially we are quite antisocial and like to do our own stuff. This year we agreed to go on holiday with some close friends. We have two DC (1 and 3) they have one DC (1). We've been friends about 15 years.

We agreed to go to Spain. They left all the research to me and kept asking if I had found somewhere to book yet. I did say suggestions welcome but nobody made any. I got a recommendation from somebody of this small apartment complex in a quiet area. The place isn't easily found online, but another set of friends had been there and said it was fantastic. Five apartments around a shared pool.

Shared with friends, all agreed and we booked an apartment and they booked an apartment.

My DH saw the H in the other couple tonight (let's call him Ian) who said by complete coincidence that another couple (and their two year old) that they know (lets call them Tim and Sue) have by complete chance booked an apartment in the same complex on the same dates.

We have only met Tim and Sue once and weren't that keen on them. My DH said oh had you mentioned it to them as odd they would even find that apartment complex and Ian played dumb and said what are the chances, pure coincidence. DH laughed and said are you sure you hadn't mentioned it and Ian said no.

I think bullshit they have invited another family without consulting us. They are quite good friends with them. If they had asked we would have most likely said fine but it feels a bit sprung upon us.

I'm miffed. We wouldn't choose to go on holiday with Tim and Sue as we don't know them well.

AIBU? What can we do?

Is it possible that the people who recommended it to you, also recommended it to Tim and Sue??

Coincidences do happen, all the time. We went to Spain once, and a family from the next street who we saw in passing but never really talked to were in the same apartment block,. We got on OK and became friends for a while after, (a year or so,) until the family moved 200 miles south.

I have also had occasions where I have bumped into someone from my workplace at a village pub 25 miles away when neither of us mentioned we were going.

My niece went backpacking across America several years ago, and met a penpal of hers who she had lost touch with 10 years before. The girl had no idea my niece was going there, and she was in a state 300 miles away on holiday when she met my niece.

I have loads more examples.

So coincidences do happen.

However, from what the OP says, what has happened here, isn't a coincidence. I think the OP's friends and their friends planned it for sure.

I literally bloody loathe arranging something with someone, and someone else turns up who you didn't know was coming, and who you don't know, or don't like. Whether it's a shopping trip, a day trip, a meal out, or whatever. I bloody hate it!

If i was the OP I would still go though, as it is separate apartments.

It's 50/50. It could not be as obscure as you think- sometimes just using a different search engine brings different stuff up. However, I think it's unlikely in this case I must say. That said, it's possible and you can't rant at them without looking like loons. At least you all have separate apartments.

You can't rule out coincidence. Worked out the week before my brother and I were holidaying in the same town in northern France one December, same weekend. We were coming from the U.K. and his family from south east France. Complete coincidence.

As long as you have your own space, I would say go with the flow, tbh. You don't need to get stuck with either of the couples if it doesn't suit you.