Advise me oh wise ones, holiday woes, not sure who's cheeky (is it us?)

[RebeccaWrongDaily]

My sister has a holiday home overseas.She offered it to us for no charge (they use ours regularly) for ten days at the end of May beginning of June.
We have booked flights.
Chatting to her earlier this evening, she's said to me that some friends of hers (who I also know well, well enough to attend their wedding) are going to come over for a week while we're there.
This couple are going through severe marital woes, one has had an affair, the other is throwing themselves into the bottle.
They also have very small children (two toddlers) Neither parent is particularly attentive at the best of times. My DH has a tendency to be a helicopter parent. The villa has a pool without a fence. My children are pre-teen and 9.
I have clear visions of us spending the middle week listening to the parents bicker / have make up sex whilst we collectively stop their children from drowning and pick up the slack of early mornings etc.
Would you still go? Would you book somewhere else? Would you challenge your sister?
We stand to lose about 2k if we just don't go, and then would want to book elsewhere by the way which would be an additional cost. Are we cheeky fuckers for expecting sole use of the house?

Good point, I'd be worried that they leave before you do and you end up tidying their rooms as well as the communal areas.

Can't believe she even thought it was ok. Are the other family paying her ?

I think it would be nice if they’d book a hotel for Sat/Sun night at least, giving you the whole weekend, just as you’ll be giving them space most of the week.

You’ll end up feeding them on Sat when they arrive, I betcha. God, how annoying!

My daughter was 5, not quite confident in the water, when we stayed in a villa with an unfenced pool and we'd just got her out and armbands off when she got distracted and jumped back in. I had to jump in with my trainers on and pull her out, it was more than awful, she's 25 now and I still feel sick remembering it. I think that couple are mental for considering a holiday there

Sorry OP but you know where you stand now...in future you will know what not to do! If you have to cross with this couple I suggest you do not move from your sunbed regardless of what happens..their kids they look after them not you...they want lunch they make it...they argue tell them to shut the f**k up you dont want to hear it....and finally ..your sis is an idiot! Take earphones and a good book and do your own thing...

I couldn't do this to my DH actually. He is a helicopter Dad too (but not a happy one - just a bit anxious) and on a holiday to France one year ended up being a life guarding for everyone's else's kids for days on end; round the pool and in the sea. We also ended up taking other people's kids as tag alongs on day trips which was never reciprocated. I'm afraid once bitten twice shy. You could plan massive day-long excursions from early AM til late then eat dinner out, just use the house to crash out in each night. Also don't share your agenda - keep it loose so they can't gate crash.

I would also be tempted to leave on Friday afternoon and spend Friday to sun elsewhere - maybe closer to the airport? Then you won’t need to clean up after them or be expected to babysit so they can have a last night out together.

Book somewhere else for the END of your holidays. Otherwise you will spend the last day of your holiday cleaning not just your own stuff but your sisters friends areas as well.

I'd extend the stay at Ibis so you don't end up being the cleaners for the other family.
Well you know where you stand with your sister, I don't think your holiday home will be availible when she wants it next time.

Yes please do keep us updated.

You are only going to get 3 days on your own .I would still go you have booked the flights and find alternative accommodation and under no circumstances every let your sister used your home again
I would also tell her way

I understand you have booked the Ibis for three nights, I hope you have booked & able to cancel if necessary, the couple may have separated by the end of May as they are going through such a horrendous time.
Good luck

Can you use it as a base and do some nice day trips out?

I would hate that! Those kids will be up super early making a racket. (I know, I have 2 young early risers of my own!) and i wonder how the couple will react when they're trying to get them to bed? They'll go to bed earlier than your dc. Holidays with toddlers are hard work. You'll have to watch where you put your hot drinks, your dc's stuff... will this couple get drunk and start arguing?? Omg nooooo way!

I'm not sure I would've booked just 3 nights in the middle. You'll be packing and unpacking for the whole holiday?!

Pack, get there, unpack.
Pack for hotel, unpack.
Pack for villa, unpack.
Pack for home, unpack.

As well as having to clean up after them all!

Sod that! I'd try to find somewhere for the Sat to Sat at least.

It's a bit of a mess, OP - what a shame, I bet you were all looking forward to the holiday.

If I couldn't find alternative accommodation for the whole time I'd be tempted not to go (a pain with the expensive flights though). Perhaps you can find somewhere at short notice when you are over there? 3 nights in an Ibis is not what you were expecting when you booked the flights.

This is very weird of your sister. There's nothing wrong with a shared holiday per se, but all parties have to be aware of and have agreed to it!

Concensus seems that it was wrong to double book this place- however, when the others arrive can you sit down and explain some "rules" or book a few day trips when they are there or both. Explain to your sister how uncomforable she made you feel and expect an apology. Hey WTF go and enjoy your holiday, older and wiser.

How disappointing! Hope you get to have some fun anyway.

Hell no. I often stay at small hotels where there are less than 10 rooms. Just because this a 7 bed villa rather than a hotel, they're still strangers to you and it doesn't mean you should want to interact with the other guests or look after their bloody kids.

Is there no way you can contact the other family directly and make them feel awkward enough to cancel their own trip ?
I’d be fucking furious over this op.

I would cancel Ibis and book air bnb for whole trip. It is really out of order. Better to show her it's not acceptable or she will try it again.

Make sure when you get back you tell her "It's not going to work, this swapping houses thing"

You've given her a heads up she won't be taking the piss using your house again.

There's fuck all chance she'd ever be using my holiday house again. I'd book an air bnb for the whole time.

My worry would be that the other family expect you to host and be in charge as the house belongs to your sister. General cooking, cleaning, clearing up will be left to you.

Also they arrive after you and the house will all be set up and aired by yourself. I bet they use your food and chilled drinks for a few days until they go shopping. They then bugger of back home leaving you to strip beds and empty bins etc.