Friend cancelled holiday last minute..

[Sortyourlifeout]

Hi all.

I've been let down AGAIN. I genuinely don't know if I am being unreasonable here.

Meant to be going to the Lake District with a friend tomorrow, for 2 nights. Apartment booked and paid for; was waiting for friends half of payment.

She sent a text yesterday morning saying that she has a family commitment that she can't get out of so she's not coming. She asked for my bank details and has sent money to cover the apartment (including my half). Obviously I'm really very upset.

AIBU to go anyway?

@Iwantthepenthouse ahh yes! My poor comprehension sorry! Thanks for politely pointing out my mistake - unlike others posters who obviously never make a mistake 😂😂

Funnily enough, that crossed my mind as well.

@Sortyourlifeout have a look at aira force waterfall, lovely walk.
Ullswater is also lovely for a walk, can take the boat and stop off at different stops. The inn on the lake is lovely for food and drinks.

could come along to Keswick which is a lovely town. With some lovely walks and places to eat and drink.

id look at booking a spa day- ladore falls, applby manor, daffodil hotel are all lovely and not too far from Penrith.

go have a lovely time. Food,films,books no distractions x

I'd go by myself and not give half the money back. I'd take it as a compensation for the last minute change. Solo holiday is very different from a holiday with a friend.

Get there early, get the keys first.

@Tinkerbyebye read again. The friend who cancelled transferred the full cost of the accommodation to the OP so paying for the OP too.

Can I come with you? 😅

Go on your own, lovely, for a few days.

Ullswater is down from Penrith, where Wordsworth saw the daffodils, which will be out now!

Go on a the steamer that runs from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding and back, or from Glenridding on the steamer to Aira Force waterfall, NT Tea shop in the Aira Force car park.

Are you into serious fell walking, a bit of a light hike, or sightseeing?

Stock up on great food (lovely cooked ready meals) from Booths in Keswick.

Yeah, it's a good point. I'd message her saying you'll be going anyway and confirming you've sent her half the costs back.

Don't refund her. Go anyway. The cost of her flakiness is nice and easy to calculate this time

People are so harsh on here, she's cancelled and paid for all of it so obviously feels guilty, and it's only a 2 night trip. It's a shame but I'd forgive my friend for this as long as she was really apologetic. I'd go still but give half the money back.

Definitely go! A short holiday by yourself can be absolutely amazing. She’s given you the money because she knows she’s the one in the wrong so don’t give it back.

That just sends the message that you want to keep being a doormat

I disagree. Giving her her half of the money back seems fair to me - the OP would have been paying her own half anyway.

I'd definitely go.

I'd only keep half the money unless it was now costing more to travel.

OP doesn’t need to send half back to go on the holiday.

Presumably the booking is in her name.

I agree OP should message her she is going anyway.

Another saying go! If the family commitment was a genuine unexpected emergency, I’d say give her your half back. If it’s something she’s choosing to prioritise over her plans with you, do not pay it back.

Go.
If you aren't a confident walker on your own get on google/FB and you'll find walks for any ability.

If you are near Penrith then Ullswater is a must. Some beautiful walks or just potter about. Pooley Bridge or Glenridding. You can get a boat there on the lake
Keswick is great. You can get to the lake and do a good walk. Shops. Boats. Cat Bells walk. The old railway track walk to Threlkeld.

The other half is compensation for OP.

The booking is non refundable. The friend has forfeited her half.

Because the friend paid all the cost. It's reasonable for her to pay only half the cost so it is reasonable to give half back.
Also if the husband is controlling and stopping her doing things don't be so quick to bin her. Maybe she needs a friend outside her marriage.
But definitely go on your own. Two days is a great time to see a few things, read a good book and generally relax and do what you want to do.

I wouldn’t give her any money back. Barring some kind of emergency, it’s really shitty to cancel a holiday with a friend (especially as it was due to be just the two of you, not quite as bad if there were a few of you going away) at short notice. OP didn’t sign up to a solo holiday and may well not enjoy herself as much going alone as she would have done if she went with the friend. Eg maybe they’d planned to eat out and OP may not feel comfortable eating dinner at a restaurant alone. It’s not the same.

Paying for the full cost of the holiday is the very least that the friend can do and OP should use it towards doing something lovely/getting really nice food whilst away.

If the friend had booked and cancelled, she wouldn’t be getting her money back.

So why would she get a refund from OP for her half?

OP could have booked a cheaper place for herself as a solo traveller.

And what about the sharing of the petrol?

I certainly wouldn't have booked a 12 hour round-trip on my because I can't afford that in petrol for a start! I'm now either lumbered with it or I don't go.

Exactly!

Go and enjoy the break 🙂

Estimate what you'd have spent if you'd been able to share the expenses with your friend, then return anything that's left over. Have a great time, OP!