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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie about my location to the holiday accommodation?

409 replies

Rae34 · 21/09/2020 23:45

I am single and live alone so this period has been very difficult. I have also worked from home since March and have been very careful with who I see and where I go. Just took my temperature there & normal. About 99% sure I am virus free.

Anyway I had booked 3 days in a cottage by the seaside, about 2 hours drive. I am an artist and have been so looking forward to finishing my project and getting some breathing space before what lies before us in the next season.

The booking.com accommodation has just been in touch asking where I am coming from because I am in a restricted area they will not accommodate me any longer. Well sadly I am in such an area. AIBU to tell a white lie and say I'm coming from the next city over (which is not affected)?

I have been so, so careful and was so looking forward to a short break. Also doubt I'd get a refund and it wasn't cheap.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 22/09/2020 14:24

Nicola sturgeon is announcing new Scottish restrictions now.

SockYarn · 22/09/2020 14:41

Nothing in the briefing about not travelling for holidays, whether in Scotland or England. Just a warning about planning overseas travel for the school holidays.

So you're free to go OP and have a lovely time.

AldiAisleofCrap · 22/09/2020 15:29

So you're free to go OP and have a lovely time
No the rules of booking.com . say she can’t go.

lyralalala · 22/09/2020 15:34

@AldiAisleofCrap

So you're free to go OP and have a lovely time No the rules of booking.com . say she can’t go.
Booking.com will have to be offering refunds to people if they are going to change their rules after people have booked
DustyLoafer · 22/09/2020 15:36

I've contacted our cottage owner for this weekend (England) and he is quite happy for our booking to go ahead. He is following the government guidelines.

Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 16:10

Where does it say that @AldiAisleofCrap ?

I am going to email them in an hour when I finish work.

OP posts:
SuperPixie247 · 22/09/2020 16:44

I'm curious. There is no law saying dogs can't go into holiday lets. But if someone has a rule saying no pets, do you take your dog anyway because its not law? No, you follow the holiday let owners rules.

BrazenlyDefying · 22/09/2020 16:48

But @SuperPixie247 if you book a cottage which says they will accept dogs, and then a few weeks before you are due to travel with your pooch they change the rules to say you can't come at all with the dog and refuse a refund, you'd be a bit pissed off, wouldn't you?

lyralalala · 22/09/2020 17:04

@SuperPixie247

I'm curious. There is no law saying dogs can't go into holiday lets. But if someone has a rule saying no pets, do you take your dog anyway because its not law? No, you follow the holiday let owners rules.
Presumably they'd have that fact advertised at the time of booking though...

If you booked a cottage and then they decided to ban people from the town you lived in, even though there is no legal restriction on people leaving your town, AND stated they wouldn't refund you then you'd be pretty pissed off

That's the position the OP is in. There was no rule in place on the site for people from her area when she booked.

Scarlettpixie · 22/09/2020 17:37

The rules apply to you. We are having to put up with tighter restrictions because of all of the times when people think the rules don't apply to them. YABU.

PurpleDaisies · 22/09/2020 17:40

There is no rule against this in the op’s area @Scarlettpixie

We’ve established that earlier in the thread.

TantieTowie · 22/09/2020 18:16

@Scarlettpixie

The rules apply to you. We are having to put up with tighter restrictions because of all of the times when people think the rules don't apply to them. YABU.
The actual rules apply to you - and to us all. But random made-up rules don't. We could all make up rules in that case
stella47 · 22/09/2020 18:46

Rae34 I'm in a lockdown area, and our advice this week was that we can leave the area as long as stick to usual guidelines of not mixing households, no groups of more than 6, follow local guidelines. So by that you would be OK to go.
Though of course who knows what other announcements the govt might make in the meantime! Hope you have a good break and get to enjoy peace for doing your art. xx

Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 19:04

I've contacted them and been honest. Also linked to the source above. I'm.expecting them to cancel but we will see.

OP posts:
lyralalala · 22/09/2020 19:08

Probably not much help OP, but just in case they come back to you - Loch Tay Highland Lodges have the link to the legal clarification given to the ASSC Scotland from the Scottish Government.

The ban does not extend to commercial accommodation businesses, only private homes. Self catering accommodation is a public indoor space and therefore the same rules apply - you can meet with one other household only and in groups of no more than six people. Children under 12 do not count toward the total (of six people or two households)

Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 19:13

Update - they replied and said it will be absolutely fine for me to still come. So why on earth did they contact me last night saying they couldnt accommodate me? I'm perplexed.

They just want to know about check in time now.

OP posts:
BrazenlyDefying · 22/09/2020 19:15

Awesome. Have a LOVELY time. And if you're heading to the coast, and are going to be anywhere near Anstruther, I recommend the Anstruther Fish Bar.

lyralalala · 22/09/2020 19:15

@Rae34

Update - they replied and said it will be absolutely fine for me to still come. So why on earth did they contact me last night saying they couldnt accommodate me? I'm perplexed.

They just want to know about check in time now.

Sounds like they reacted to the rumours that people in the areas already locked down weren't going to be allowed to go further than 5 miles from home.
lyralalala · 22/09/2020 19:16

Or maybe their legal people said "Erm... Nope..."

enjoy your break!

Frazzled2207 · 22/09/2020 19:17

Good! Enjoy

Original poster
Rae34 · 22/09/2020 19:41

Thanks all. Really relieved to be honest. It's going to be a lovely sunny weekend there. And the last I'll see of the sea for quite some time!

So glad it has worked out.

OP posts:
eatsleepread · 22/09/2020 21:05

I'd go.

saraclara · 23/09/2020 08:03

That's great news, OP. Have a lovely time!

GabsAlot · 23/09/2020 12:25

good outcome looks like they realised they would be out of pocket if they cancelled-have fun

Cantfindafreeusername · 23/09/2020 17:37

@Rae34 if you are an artist and travelling to a venue to work, surely that’s travelling to work and therefore allowed?