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.

I wouldn’t want to be in a separate building on my own and I’m an adult!

We have also had a less-than-good experience with Audley

We now use Turquiose and they are absolutely brilliant at understanding what is needed for a family holiday, albeit their hotels are a bit more conventional than Audley

But they absolutely go through extra mile to make it as stress free as possible to travel with children, including things like arranging for pools to be fenced off in villas

www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk/

@BungleandGeorge the market will mainly be Asian residents ( both expat and local) and most would probably bring a helper as a babysitter and she would sleep in the room with the children. Also I think people who live in Asia are more aware that this layout is common so would question the exact layout.

But this is why this agent is clearly a bit shit as this is the kind of inside info you’re paying them for.

Should add I have had dc in separate building but only when the whole villa is self contained so there’s only one entrance to the compound and that can be locked at night.

Good grief no, I have anxiety just thinking about that set up and the potential dangers.
If you can’t change it you’ll have to take a twin each, but it’s really unacceptable as I’m sure it’s not the holiday you envisaged and I would be creating hell about it, or cancelling if you can.

@Harridan1981

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

No, my partner is not their father. Besides, my twins are very close and would not like being separated from one another. Hence, I am always very specific about the rooms being interconnecting.

That makes sense. I hoped that question wouldn't come across as some sort of dig, but it explains why you wouldn't want to have a child each!

They definitely didn't deliver.

You are definitely not being unreasonable.

On holiday I am generally in a room with our son and DH in the other. Or we are all in together.

I’m glad you got some resolution and I hope you are compensated as the accommodation wasn’t remotely suitable for a family.

Absolutely not. Not under any pressure circumstances.

"Two words:
Madeline McCann"

I was thinking Nora Quoirin's.

No I'd not have been happy with that sleeping arrangement at that age.
Now 16 year old DS would probably love having his own teen cave !

Did you speak to the hotel to see what they could do for you? Alternative room or put an extra bed in the lounge/ bedroom? Sleep on the sofa? Luxury hotels in Asia usually bend over backwards for you. Not ideal and I’d still complain but I’d have made do rather than leave even if it meant me or the kids sleeping on the sofa

Im quite chilled. But no way!

Goodness me no.

My Ds is 9 and the other one 13 and is still say absolutely not!

Not in a million years!!

Each take a child and swap throughout the holiday maybe? Or if there's pull out sofa bed you'll stay together in the main building and forgo your privacy.

I would be so so angry at the agent.

No way is that acceptable accommodation for a young family!!

We had a similar layout with a 2-bed villa in Phuket. With in-laws in the 2nd bedroom, so that's the only time such a set up works 😆

I would be furious. Had they actually been to the hotel- just asking as I've had a quick look on the hotels own website and the 2 bedroom villa does not mention that one bedroom is separate and there is no floor plan (I only looked quickly so could be wrong). We always book 2 bed villas so could easily have ended up there as it's not clear at all. I'm definitely going to get a floor plan before I book now!

I wouldn't be ok with this. A sensible 13 plus yes but 9 years old? No way. Definitely push for a refund as the rooms weren't adjoining as requested.

I wouldn't have left though, I probably would've brought mattresses into the lounge and had them sleep on the floor or something.

Another person here who is normally totally laid back but absolutely no way is that acceptable. Straight away poor Nora Quoirin came to my mind.

You need to make a complaint in writing to them detailing all information including a copy of any promises in writing. Also highlight any costs you incurred ncluding change of hotel, transportation, phone calls. Threaten taking them to ABTA and the press. They have 28 days to reply.

This is totally unsuitable for children on their own and I would highlight exactly the risks it posed.

I'm quite relaxed but I wouldn't have accepted this either. Glad you got yourself sorted and hope you manage to get some money back.

I'm not a parent but I'd say not acceptable until the kid is like 16/17. Just in case.

Absolutely not

They will know what you mean when you are telling them this isn’t what you want or expect

.

We live in Asia. this has happened many times with us - is pretty standard in Asia. We just take a child each per room, but it is annoying. Just the way accommodation often is this side of the world. Never used an agent though, so it's different if you've made a specific request.