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

[Loveabathtub]

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.

My child is 9 and there is no way I would be comfortable with that. If you are already there I would have them in the same room/building or sleep one parent with each. I know it's not ideal but it would completly ruin the holiday for me with children totally separated like that because I wouldn't be able to relax nevermind sleep.

No - they might as well be staying in another villa. Not safe for DC of 9.

It’s a no from me. The minimum age is allow that would probably be about 12/13. 9 is just too young. Either bring them to yours or one parent in each room with one twin. Definitely ask for compensation.

I would find if say a couple 16/17 year olds but not 9 no
Its like being in two apartments really

I'd sleep in one room with one 9 year old and have my husband in the other, if there is no way of getting money back etc. But yes, this is poor from the travel agent. I'd certainly be raising this. I am thinking the agent doesn't have children.

I am a very lazy/relaxed/lax parent usually but absolutely no way would I be happy with this. I would want a change of accommodation or a partial refund the inconvenience of having to split the adults up or re-jog the accommodation.

Do demand a refund, they have placed your family in a potentially dangerous situation.
If they refuse, take it to ABTA.

Hard no from me as well. I actually wouldn't be happy with that for my 16 year old on his own.

Sorry you had all this hassle on your holiday, the travel agent sounds dreadful.

Have you paid by credit card?

I always pay by credit card for this reason.

Lodge a complaint with the credit card company if you have.

Not a chance in hell I would leave a child i a separate room.

Their not understand your problem is deliberate.

Of course they understand, they just dont want to accommodate you.

**Why didn’t you?

“Can’t imagine spending an eye watering amount and not spending ten mins checking out the accom on TA”

Two reasons mainly - I was working full time in the run up to the hols (really long hours) and my husband had spent hours on the phone to them advising exactly what we wanted. Plus, we spent £18k on a trip to Scotland so we thought for that kind of money, everywhere would be nice. We looked on the hotel website and the photos looked nice (deceptive photographs). However, part of Audley’s promise is that they’ve personally visited hotels and can vouch for them.

There’s no way I’d be happy with that. Definitely pushing with the agent and ask to be moved!

@Duchess379

Absolutely not. Madeline McCann springs to mind. 😲

Quite. And all sorts of other issues too, it's very close to the sea. Not a chance in hell that this is acceptable, in fact I'm surprised the hotel would allow it.

@Loveabathtub I’d speak to someone up the food chain. Audley, pride themselves on being top end (and suitably expensive).

We had an issue with a trip of ours and they fell over themselves to sort it.

In what world would you isolate 2 young children. TOTALLY unacceptable and they bloody well know that. Not fit for purpose and very bad PR…. put it this way, my trip in the summer is now going to get another look. Twitter the fuck out of it.

@usernameinthetown you're an idiot.

As you've had to change your holiday at your expense despite their evidently dangerous practice child safeguarding wise, I'd make some speedy overtures to them OP:
Their website had phone numbers (plus they're on Trust Pilot). And they have a twitter account:
twitter.com/audleytravel?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Two words:

Madeline McCann

What an unkind comment User.

Why didn't you take a child each and enjoy the holiday? Is your partner not their parent?

No! Don’t do it, you’ll never relax and you’ll never forgive yourself is something happened.

Strongly worded letter to the CEO required. Bypass the useless agent. Threaten going to the press, negative reviews etc? You were entitled to better service than this.

Yanbu. However if they cannot rectify then I’d have a parent per child in each bedroom.

I’d just send them a link to this thread - verdict is basically unanimous that almost no-one would be comfortable with their children sleeping in a set up like that.

You don’t pay top dollar for a bespoke service and then expect that. It suggests they either don’t actually know the accommodation or have no idea at all about what families need.

I wouldn’t be happy with it but that is how a lot of those villas are designed so I presume some people are or perhaps they have a nanny in with the kids. Might be better to look for a hotel suite