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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave an Airbnb because of spiders

30 replies

Spidersinmyhair · 14/09/2021 00:04

The host thinks I'm sound asleep in the room next to her but I actually left in the night and have booked into a hotel across town.

I have a strong and irrational fear of harvestmen spiders. I arrived late at night, brushed my teeth, said goodnight, then just as I was preparing for bed I realised that there were harvestmen all over the ceilings, walls and next to the nightstands. Maybe about 9-10 of them at a glance in a very small room with a narrow bed, but probably a lot more hiding. I have a very strong reaction to them; they make my skin crawl and give me extreme anxiety. There's no way I could sleep in the same room as them. Not a chance. I know they're harmless but it's not about that.

Was I being unreasonable to leave in the middle of the night without saying anything? I don't think I had a choice...
I also have to explain myself in the morning as she'll wake up and realise I'm not there.

OP posts:
youvegottenminuteslynn · 14/09/2021 00:11

That many spiders would have me considering leaving and I'm not even arachnophobic. I can't imagine how anxiety and inducing and on edge it would feel for someone who is.

Fraine · 14/09/2021 00:12

Crikey, I came on to say YABU, but I think 9-10 would be too much for me, especially as they’re on the ceiling too and I wouldn’t be able to catch and release them from there!

You should try and get a refund, that’s way too many spiders.

Welcometomyhouse · 14/09/2021 00:13

Bloody hell, my skins itching just thinking about it. Why were there so many spiders? Confused

SnarkyBag · 14/09/2021 00:14

We left a holiday cottage after 2 nights into a weeks stay because of spiders so no YANBU!

gardeninggirl68 · 14/09/2021 00:17

The hotel may well be harbouring them as well though?

You won't realise when they appear, they could appear at anytime. That's their nature

Original poster
Spidersinmyhair · 14/09/2021 00:17

Not meaning to drip feed but I also counted about 5 or 6 live mosquitos on the walls around the bed. If it was a case of catching one or two spiders in a glass and throwing them out of the window then I might have stayed, but there were too many to deal with and the mosquitos on top.

OP posts:
Winecheesesleep · 14/09/2021 00:20

YANBU. I did a course at Bristol zoo which helped loads with my spider fear but that would be too much for me, I find those types of spiders particularly bad. Unusual for so many of them to be inside (it's camping where I've struggled with them), Id mention it to them and see if they can work out why.

Original poster
Spidersinmyhair · 14/09/2021 00:21

@Welcometomyhouse

Bloody hell, my skins itching just thinking about it. Why were there so many spiders? Confused
The house was quite 'closed in' by greenery so maybe it's because of that. Or maybe she didn't like to kill them? The rest of the house looked clean but there were cobwebs on the ceiling so maybe she just wasn't doing the ceilings and walls?
OP posts:
Elouera · 14/09/2021 00:22

Surely with such a phobia, you would have mentioned this to the host before going, to check the room???

Obviously contact the host tomorrow and explain.

Iluvfriends · 14/09/2021 00:23

I would be the same. I cant sleep if there are any in my bedroom and i have to see them being caught and put outside or i couldn't settle.
I always check under my covers at night too. One morning while on a caravan holiday i had got out of bed, threw back the duvet and there was a great big spider sitting there, must have spent the night in bed with me....eurgh.....my skins crawling thinking about it.

Original poster
Spidersinmyhair · 14/09/2021 00:30

@Elouera

Surely with such a phobia, you would have mentioned this to the host before going, to check the room???

Obviously contact the host tomorrow and explain.

It didn't occur to me to be honest. But it will now. I think I just assumed that if you're letting a room for Airbnb then you would ensure it's as clean and spider-free as possible. Surely it's more on the host not to assume that everyone is perfectly ok sleeping in a room with loads of spiders?
OP posts:
merrymelody · 14/09/2021 00:44

YANBU! My dad liked to tell me about how the spiders used to "snuggle up" to him and my grandparents when they were sleeping. Apparently those spiders were attracted to body heat. This was in Florida though.Shock

Hullbilly · 14/09/2021 00:49

Those ones don't bother me. It's the big ones I'm afraid of, with the fangs.

NumberTheory · 14/09/2021 01:04

If you can't sleep, it's not unreasonable to leave and find somewhere you can sleep.

Are you in the UK? I think that is an unreasonably large number of bugs in the UK and would probably be expecting some sort of apology/refund but possibly not in some countries, especially if it's cheaper accommodation.

starfishmummy · 14/09/2021 01:24

The hotel may well be harbouring them as well though

But a hotel will normally have night staff who can be bribed to deal with them unless they have a phobia too

merrymelody · 14/09/2021 01:33

Another thing: spiders tend to proliferate in homes that aren't cleaned regularly and well. Definitely complain and request a refund.

Booknooks · 14/09/2021 01:35

I'd message her in the morning so she doesn't worry you've dissapeared, I'd also say why as well to be honest.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 14/09/2021 02:15

@merrymelody

And your source for this is?

merrymelody · 14/09/2021 02:30

My cleaner Smile

astoundedgoat · 14/09/2021 02:30

That would be too many for me too, and I’m not bothered by spiders particularly.

GammyLeg · 14/09/2021 03:12

@merrymelody

Another thing: spiders tend to proliferate in homes that aren't cleaned regularly and well. Definitely complain and request a refund.
We get a lot of spiders, it's because we're in the bush. We are perfectly clean thank you!!!

OP, you're not unreasonable! Even though we get quite a few spiders as I said, nine in one room is a bit rich.

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 14/09/2021 03:43

YANBU

It sounds like the windows were left open but it's likely they were there a while and then owner would know unless it's a while since anyone's been in

Had to reluctantly Google what's a harvestman is

1forAll74 · 14/09/2021 03:55

You may have offended the spiders now by leaving.!

Pikamoo · 14/09/2021 04:22

YANBU! The mosquitos as well 🤢🤢🤢

I don't mind the spindly spiders but so many of them in the bedroom would be a definitely nope. I'd just send her a message saying why you left. I'd also leave an honest review so that others know to be aware of the issue.

As a minimum she should have hoovered and sprayed mosquito spray before you arrived.

twinningatlife · 14/09/2021 05:31

Isnt it spider mating season at the moment - sure there was something in the news the other day that due to the warm weather we'd see a lot more spiders in our home - nothing to do with cleanliness but that many spiders is.......terrifying