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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday Pool Dilemma: Please help me get a grip.

178 replies

RoadToRivendell · 05/08/2018 17:14

We're on holiday at a veeery nice villa in Italy.

Some days after I booked it in May, when I will still within my cancellation terms, I noticed that it said 'shared' pool in the description. I emailed the agent, expressed concern, and asked for clarification. They said I would be sharing it with two people, so fine. We proceeded.

This week, we were completely dismayed to find a family of four join at the pool - two adults, two smallish children - which we could have coped with, but 1. it's a pretty small pool, like what you'd have in the garden of a very nice house; and 2. THE FATHER DID NOT RETURN OUR HELLOS, so we sat in awkward silence.

A subtle tug of war ensues, and we gather they've left as they bring their luggage to the pool yesterday (WTF) and get changed in the bushes for what we presume is a trip to the airport.

This morning, we turn up at the pool at around 11am to find that all six sunloungers have towels on them. Overnight, a second family has arrived, and the original family is still inexplicably here! (I saw the children, who are lovely, in two of the 'reserved' sunloungers this morning!).

I sent my kids down to fold the towels and get stuck in at around noon (still, no one in sight - and all 6 chairs are reserved). Family number 2 turned up some time later, and they are lovely and exchanged hellos as you might expect so I can cope with this setup - we were actually all trying to very politely ensure the other had sufficient sunloungers at various points through the afternoon.

Would I be unreasonable to demand a good chunk of change back from this rental place?

OP posts:
serbska · 06/08/2018 10:46

I'd be super annoyed. For £5k a week even in peak season you should expect a private pool.

Cindie943811A · 06/08/2018 10:53

Could the Uber agent have believed the two sharing the pool were the elderly landlords? That they know nothing a bout any of the other lets?
Good luck sorting it out

origamiwarrior · 06/08/2018 10:55

Yes, sounds like the OP's agency was lead to believe by the matriarch/patriarch that the pool is only shared with them. Hence agency said 2 people. Matriarch/patriarch/son have booked out other villas on the basis that they can use pool too. All families pissed off, and matriarch/patriarch getting it in the neck from at least one agency. Doubt it can be sorted out on site (they can't suddenly stop the other families from using the pool if they booked it as shared pool, anymore than they could stop the OP) so it will need to be sorted out via compensation after the holiday - agency broke their contract with OP so will compensate OP (and agent will claim compensation from matriarch/patriarch).

NoLeslie · 06/08/2018 11:08

I'd be utterly pissed off too. Mostly with the rude blanking people who've made some sort of cock up into a horrible atmosphere.

OP have you considered going down to the pool naked? Or could you persuade any one with you to? Could you embarrass the other families away????

serbska · 06/08/2018 11:10

Could you embarrass the other families away

They have been conned just like the OP so that is kinda horrible really

RebootYourEngine · 06/08/2018 11:13

This would annoy me.

It sounds like a mess so I doubt it will be a quick fix.

NoLeslie · 06/08/2018 11:18

Not really serbska seeing as they have blanked the OP!

StoatOfManyColours · 06/08/2018 11:23

I wonder whether the other families also thought they were only sharing with two people and they are being hostile because they're furious.

What language do the other two families speak? Why is family 1 still there?

I suspect if I were one of them and didn't speak English I'd come across as hostile too. I would be furious and really upset that my holiday had been spoiled. Blush

NewUserNameTime · 06/08/2018 11:33

How are things today?

Gromance02 · 06/08/2018 12:22

YANBU OP. I definitely think for 5k you should have a private pool. We are paying c2.5k for 8 of us and have a private pool. I think something is definitely awry here.

SavvySaver24 · 06/08/2018 12:35

100% NOT on. I would be demanding a sizeable refund. The point is you clarified this in an email and have it in writing that it says TWO PEOPLE. Two people does NOT mean two famalies.

Original poster
RoadToRivendell · 06/08/2018 12:39

Hi All.

Today, we saw Family 1. They are English.

I saw Family 2 yesterday, but not today - I presume they are sightseeing. They are English, and they are not friends with Family 1.

I am so baffled. In addition, two other guests have now turned up!

Escalation team is working on it, I know the family who lives here is upset that we've reported this and they live below us, it's all a giant clusterfuck and I want to leave early, which we might do.

I am so grateful for everyone's support, but honestly this thread is making me nervous as a cat because I think it's too identifying (I know, I am slipping into a pit of paranoia) and I've asked MN to have it deleted.

I would so appreciate it if you lovely people could let this thread die so that it isn't picked up by the DM or god forbid that Family 1 Mother is on MN.

Thanks everyone. Flowers

OP posts:
CharltonLido73 · 06/08/2018 13:01

Do come back and let us know how it gets resolved.
Good luck!

Arcadia · 06/08/2018 14:07

Nooo don't get the thread deleted!!!

Ignoramusgiganticus · 06/08/2018 14:12

TBH you've not said anything that the rest of us (and probably family one) wouldn't feel too. It wouldn't matter if they saw it.

But I'll shut up now. Sorry.

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/08/2018 17:00

Why on Earth is it too identifying? Only to the people you’re sharing with. The likelihood of them reading it is not high.

EscapeTheCastle · 06/08/2018 17:09

Please update us in disguise when you can.

petrolpump28 · 06/08/2018 18:48

omg if ever ever in my life I was privileged enough to stay in a place in a beautiful country I would thank the good Lord above and enjoy.

JacquesHammer · 06/08/2018 18:51

omg if ever ever in my life I was privileged enough to stay in a place in a beautiful country I would thank the good Lord above and enjoy

Even if you were paying for something you weren’t receiving?

More fool you!

Bluelady · 06/08/2018 18:56

If you'd paid £5k for somethIng you didn't get? Don't think so.

petrolpump28 · 06/08/2018 19:01

actually, I would take photos and get on with my 5 k plus air fares plus food plus car hire holiday and think I was supremly lucky.

ForalltheSaints · 06/08/2018 19:02

Perhaps the silent English family have made the error of thinking you voted for Trump, without realising most US voters did not.

The agent has misled you, and perhaps the other English family, so your gripe should be with the agent, no-one else.

ADishBestEatenCold · 07/08/2018 16:18

" I think it's too identifying (I know, I am slipping into a pit of paranoia) and I've asked MN to have it deleted."

Identifying of what? The villa? Your family, to the other pool users at the villa in Italy? Your family, to wider family and friends at home or in the US?

The only thing I think you should be worried about being identified as, is the person who paid £5000 per week for a holiday villa with shared facilities!

(Am sitting looking at an 8 bed/8 bath; with private pool, private gym, private sauna, private everything; luxury villa, which comes with a cook and a maid, for under £5000 per week Smile).

Don't delete the thread. I want to know if you get your money back!

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/08/2018 21:40

Well as it hasn’t been deleted, can we have an update please?

aimees75 · 07/08/2018 22:00

Yep that sounds like a familiar Italian holiday story. Over priced and too many people. Hope you can sort this OP. I'd be annoyed too about sharing after spending 5k.