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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not want to leave my nine year old children alone overnight in room separated from the main accommodation?

207 replies

Loveabathtub · 13/04/2022 15:29

Would love your thoughts on this matter. My partner and I booked a tailor made holiday to Cambodia with a travel agent that claims to be a experts in its field. It cost a small fortune. We made some specific requests, interconnecting rooms or a two bedroom suite, so the children (9 year old twins) could sleep together and we could get some privacy in the room next door. All was fine until we hit the beach resort where we had been booked into a two bedroom villa for nine nights. The second bedroom was totally detached from the main part of the villa. You actually had to go out of the front door, through the garden and around the swimming pool to get to it. Whilst it was only a stones throw away from the main part of the villa, I just wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my children in a separate building overnight, let alone for nine nights. AIBU as when I spoke to the travel agent to try and rectify the situation, he didn't seem to understand the problem? 😧 In fact he made me feel like I was the one with the problem. I have drawn a diagram to explain better and attach a photo. Would welcome your thoughts on the matter.

AIBU to not want to leave my nine year old children alone overnight in room separated from the main accommodation?
AIBU to not want to leave my nine year old children alone overnight in room separated from the main accommodation?
OP posts:
OhPullThemUpBrenda · 13/04/2022 16:35

I wouldn't give a flying fuck what the TA thought. Its not what you booked. Tell them to get you the accommodation you booked
Take a video and photos of it. They can take it up with the resort
I'd be really cross at how dismissive they were too. Their opinion of what's acceptable isn't valad when it comes to my kids safety

WonderfulYou · 13/04/2022 16:35

I’ve NRTFT but I definitely wouldn’t do this.

If for any reason you have to go and can’t get other accommodation, then my only suggestion would be for her to sleep in the living room and you sleep in bedroom 1.

bigbluebus · 13/04/2022 16:38

Definitely not acceptable - especially as the travel agent would have known the age of the children.

Original poster
Loveabathtub · 13/04/2022 16:38

@gogohm

Yanbu but I suspect the issue is that the hotel has allocated you a different room to what your travel agent booked - or it might be what the hotel considers to be interconnecting rooms
No, it was definitely the room the agent had booked. The agent himself had been out in Cambodia just a week before, allegedly checking all accommodation they were selling post Covid.
OP posts:
Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:39

What a cop out OP

I am a single parent

I can guarantee that I would have been moved to alternative suitable accommodation at their cost. Guarantee it.

C152 · 13/04/2022 16:39

YANBU. Asking children that young to stay in a room so far away from you is totally unacceptable. I'm really shocked an experienced travel agent would suggest that...all I can imagine is that they may be experienced in the area rather than in family holidays.

alorslanon · 13/04/2022 16:41

Fuck no, I'm REALLY laid back about stuff like that, and I wouldn't be happy with it for my 8 and 9 yos.

Original poster
Loveabathtub · 13/04/2022 16:41

@NewBrownMouse

I would be very uncomfortable with that, you won't hear any noises such a shouts or doors opening that you would in same building. Your children also have to go outside if they have any issue which needs you to fix, this could be at night in the dark. Anyone could be hanging around on the beach or they could decide to go for a wander and you wouldn't know.
This exactly. Anyone could be walking along the beach
OP posts:
Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:42

Who booked it? You are your partner?

Madcats · 13/04/2022 16:43

My DD is nearly 15. With that sort of set up (so accessible from the beach) I would have shared a room with her. If we were in a City hotel with security/card entry to access the building I might have asked her whether she wanted a room to herself.

9 years olds? No way!

It does look lovely, but I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of your holiday.

OctopusSay · 13/04/2022 16:44

I'd be more concerned about the sea than the pool (which is also a concern). I can well see a couple of 9yos on holiday deciding to have an adventure and midnight swim. No matter how well behaved your children are there's always a first time.

No. I'm the kind of lax parent who would leave 9yos in a hotel room to go to the bar for an hour, but not this.

Original poster
Loveabathtub · 13/04/2022 16:47

@MrsOvertonsWindow

Would publicity work OP? If you're there and need a quick resolution? This is the type of thing the press would pick up in an instant.
Thank you. We have left the resort now. It was so stressful at the time. The travel agent was beyond useless. A company called Audley Travel, it is the first time we had ever booked with them. They seemed impressive whilst booking but then clearly washed their hands of the whole affair.
OP posts:
Batinhernightdress · 13/04/2022 16:49

@Heythere13

What a cop out OP

I am a single parent

I can guarantee that I would have been moved to alternative suitable accommodation at their cost. Guarantee it.

Bollocks
Pennox · 13/04/2022 16:49

@Georgeskitchen

No way and definitely not in a foreign country
She was in a different room on the ground floor away from her parents bedroom on a higher floor in actual fact.
Original poster
Loveabathtub · 13/04/2022 16:49

@Inklingpot

Is it Kep?
No, it is a place called Koh Russey. In the right situation it could be quite charming.
OP posts:
GoodJanetBadJanet · 13/04/2022 16:50

Not a chance would I let that set up occur.
I'd rather not go.
YANBU

Pennox · 13/04/2022 16:50

sorry quoted wrong post - that should have been to the person puzzling over why we would all be reminded of the Nora Quoirin case.

user1466167893 · 13/04/2022 16:51

OP I am glad you are sorted but Audley Travel is a very reputable firm and is not cheap! You need to make sure that you make it very clear that this accomodation was not acceptable, you need a refund for your additional costs and you wanted to try and stop this being a scenario for others travelling with children. I was actually looking to book a holiday with them. I'll certainly have second thoughts now!

2bazookas · 13/04/2022 16:51

I would not be happy with that. Tell the company rep right away and say they need to arrange the accommodation you paid for.

JuneOsborne · 13/04/2022 16:51

I guess it depends on how much the travel agent wants a good review (or how much he wants to avoid a negative review) as to how he approaches fixing this for you. I'd want a refund on all of the nights you were booked into the unsuitable accommodation as the minimum.

Original poster
Loveabathtub · 13/04/2022 16:52

@Heythere13

Who booked it? You are your partner?
I booked a tailor made tour with 9 nights beach at the end. I was very specific about what type of accommodation we needed.
OP posts:
Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:52

Yes honestly.

Trust me when I say that as a single parent - there’s a lot of times over the years when crisis appears such as this.
And I just can’t relate to what’s happened here ever being the outcome for me as beats no resemblance to the times when similar crises has occurred.

Heythere13 · 13/04/2022 16:53

Upwards of £10k?

Catfox1 · 13/04/2022 16:54

I’m a terrible mother and this would horrify me

JustSaying101 · 13/04/2022 17:00

Absolutely not. Suggest one parent with each child or all stay together. In the meantime, get a refund or try need to transfer you to suitable accommodation.

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