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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:
SockYarn · 22/09/2020 09:05

To be honest, @Higgeldypiggeldy35 if someone told me there was a 99.99% chance of something, I'n be more than happy to take those odds. Even if they ARE underestimating and say there are currently 10,000 cases in Scotland, that's still 99.8% of people who don't have it! 100,000 cases would be 98.2% of the population who don't have it!

There appears to be this general perception that loads of people have got it, go into your local Asda and there will be at least a handful of contaminated people, it's risky out there. The facts are that the overwhelming majority of people don't have it. Even at the height of the pandemic in March, the overwhelming majority of the population didn't have it. Of course the OP doesn't know for sure. But come on, it's vanishingly unlikely.

Lily193 · 22/09/2020 09:07

Your hosts at the cottage deserve to know and be allowed to control what level of risk they're taking, as they'll be cleaning it after you. If you lie, you're taking away their control as regards to that.

For me, this is what it comes down to. Please don't place anyone in that position.

TryAnotherNickname · 22/09/2020 09:10

Totally disagree - the hosts at the cottage are running a business. They are acting like they’re hosting a guest in their house which is not right and they are massively overreaching professional boundaries. OP is not breaking any laws until she invites 6 more people into the house

GoldfishParade · 22/09/2020 09:14

"Hosts at the cottage" - making it sound really fey? They are business people.

TantieTowie · 22/09/2020 09:16

@DustyLoafer

According to Gov UK website if you are travelling to or from a local lockdown area you are still ok to stay in self catering accommodation as long as under 6 people and not mixing households.
OP, if you can find this reference on the website and send them a link, then surely the onus is on the provider to refund you if they are deciding not to take risks. Then you can find somewhere else to stay – you'd think there would be plenty of space available. Family members of mine are currently on holiday in self-catering accommodation from a local lockdown area – and there is no rule to say they can't be.
DM0uze · 22/09/2020 09:18

I stayed in a hotel last week
It was full of contractors who must have been working away from home
Masks were worn
The only question reception asked was were we British

My point is that people are not only on holiday, but also away for business purposes

itssquidstella · 22/09/2020 09:18

I'd go.

TryAnotherNickname · 22/09/2020 09:21

@Rae34 I’d be most concerned by the owner’s ability to keep their beak out of your holiday once you’re there if they are being this unprofessional in the run up. Their requirement to clean properly and take appropriate precautions when doing so is bugger all To do with where you’re travelling from. I’d guess they’ll be dropping by to check out what you’re doing when you’re there - maybe see if you can get a refund and rebook with someone who realises they’re running a business and not actually doing you a favour

Frazzled2207 · 22/09/2020 09:23

@PurpleDaisies

These are the rules for east Dunbartonshire.

www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-measures/pages/east-dunbartonshire/

It specifically says you are allowed to travel out of the the area and holidays with your own household in self catering accommodation are allowed.

if these are the rules where you live I think you point these out to the accommodation owner and go.

If they are really arsy about it then they absolutely should offer a refund.

ptumbi · 22/09/2020 09:23

OFFS - shall we apply some Critical Thinking here?

OP has said that she's seen no one for weeks, if not months. She is vanishingly unlikely to have Covid.

If (as she said) she takes her own food, goes in her own car and then uses pay-at-pump if she gets petrol - she is vanishingly unlikely to infect anyone (with a virus she doesnt have)

If she then spends 3 days in a seaside cottage, not seeing/mixing with anyone, walking on the beach (alone) - she is vanishingly unlikely to infect anyone (with a virus she doesn't have)

She is actually more likely to 'catch it' from the cottage - and that is also vanishingly unlikely, if it's been cleaned beforehand, and the virus doesn't seem to linger/be viable on surfaces.

I'd go. And I wouldn't think twice - I'd make my own mind up.

PrivateD00r · 22/09/2020 09:25

Urgh it is tricky. I think pretty much everyone had their holiday cancelled this year op so it probably isn't a shock? Personally, booking a holiday is the last thing on my mind! However if your MH is so fragile that you feel everything rests on this break, why not contact them and explain what you have said here? Obviously it would be foolish to tell lies!

I am not being derogatory about your MH by the way, I also feel my MH is suffering after never having had problems before, so I fully understand.

foreverandalways · 22/09/2020 09:27

Are you seriously asking this question...😡...be a responsible adult, be careful and also be true to yourself

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 22/09/2020 09:27

@sockyarn and it's an attitude like that with everyone thinking it's worth the risk that will mean the numbers will spiral. Or should we just let the virus run through the population and kill off the most vulnerable. I'm fed up of arguing this with you as you've obviously decided you'll do what you want to do and sod everyone else. OP do what you want but the owners have a right to choose who they let stay in their cottage. They may have medical conditions that put them more at risk. But I think you've already decided your situation is more important than anyone elses.

Eckhart · 22/09/2020 09:29

Even at the height of the pandemic in March, the overwhelming majority of the population didn't have it

But still, people got sick and died. That's ok though?

Hodgewell1 · 22/09/2020 09:30

As an alternative could you book an online retreat? Sharpham Trust do some great ones. That way you could have a break from routine and build up energy stores for the winter months.

Whammyyammy · 22/09/2020 09:33

Lying is lying, no matter how you dress it up.

emilyfrost · 22/09/2020 09:34

YABVU. None of the extra information about your mental health, the test, who you’ve (not) been seeing is relevant.

The fact of the matter is you’re in a restricted area, and they don’t want anyone from a restricted area. That’s all that matters.

blue25 · 22/09/2020 09:34

You’re not above the law. This is affecting pretty much everyone’s mental health. It doesn’t give you the right to do what you want and ignore the rules!

ceeveebee · 22/09/2020 09:35

Assume then higgledypiggledy that you aren’t leaving your house at all? Because every time you go out there is a very slight risk you might come 2m within someone carrying the COVID? Or are you just being sensible and following the guidelines, which is what OP is actually proposing to do?

ceeveebee · 22/09/2020 09:35

@blue25

You’re not above the law. This is affecting pretty much everyone’s mental health. It doesn’t give you the right to do what you want and ignore the rules!
THERE IS NO RULE!!!
WanderingMilly · 22/09/2020 09:38

Normally I'm absolutely honest but in this situation, I would say a white lie is fine. You need the break, you've been careful and are alone, it will be OK, you aren't putting anyone in danger in this instance. Enjoy the break!

TantieTowie · 22/09/2020 09:38

This is the page with details of what local lockdown restrictions are: www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-restrictions-areas-with-an-outbreak-of-coronavirus-covid-19

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 22/09/2020 09:39

@TantieTowie Op lives in Scotland

RealityExistsInTheHumanMind · 22/09/2020 09:41

I would go. There is no lawful or logical reason why not.

saraclara · 22/09/2020 09:43

@blue25

You’re not above the law. This is affecting pretty much everyone’s mental health. It doesn’t give you the right to do what you want and ignore the rules!
Again, OP is NOT breaking any rules! She is abiding by all government rules and guidance. This had been pointed out over and over again in this thread.

This is purely a random request from the property owners who want to have their cake and eat it. They want her not to come but won't refund her money. THEY are breaking the rules in my opinion.