Holiday let with inadequate curtains, AIBU?

[MyMarmite]

We’ve paid £1,000 for 7 nights in a holiday let. The master bedroom has no curtains or blinds in about 4ft of window and so I am awake early as it’s bright. diagram attached.

it’s an awkward window but I still think it’s unreasonable not to cover it if you’re letting it. This is a professional holiday let.

There are 2 other double bedrooms but dh is in one of them and they are 2 floors down, deliberately, as I snore. So I can’t use the other one as then he won’t sleep because of my snoring.

I’d rather go home than not sleep all week. It’s 2.5 hours away. AIBU?

🤣 at nobody under 76 has curtains

You do realise that lots of people snore and not everyone snorer, in fact the minority, have sleep apnea, dont scare monger.

Really? I’m 46 and all the rooms bar the bathroom have curtains in my house. They all have blinds too. It helps retain warmth in the winter as well as block the sun and keep cool in the summer.

Third is quite quite bonkers. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people have curtains 🤣.

I've seen some batshit uses of the word "entitled" around here in my time, but I think that one may be the winner for the most insane.

If you can review the property put it in your comments. The owners will put up curtains after that so at least others will be able to sleep. Can you reach the area? If so tape some cloth or cardboard over the window area.

@CabernetSauvignon what because it’s too hard to get a bloody eye mask and easier to come on mn and moan about it 🤣

oh and op I’m not the one suggesting you climb up and use tin foil! Get a grip.

I'm 36 and don't know anyone who doesn't have curtains?! Ive yet to find a 'blackout blind' that doesnt let light in at the sides!

I came to say this, it saved our sanity in a holiday net with only net curtains. The foils blocks everything (unlike bin bags which let in the light).

I don’t have curtains either on back bedrooms living room, dining room or kitchen so that we can enjoy the view. I use an eye mask. Stepping away from easily solved problem thread.

I have been known to be harsh…. But not this harsh! 🤣🤣🤣 I hope you got some sleep x

I hate people that post ridiculous things like this. Five hours sleep might be ok for you, but for the vast majority it is not.

I would contact the owners but say if they can't do something you'll use foil as a temporary fix. Just so they're aware and not blindsided by a potentially bad review!

Also @SayOrPay - I bought and put up not only curtains but NET curtains at a mere 40 years of age last week. As I nose round my street I see most have curtains and are not pensioners...

Id get black bin liners and brown parcel tape and tape the window up so its dark in the room.

I wouldn’t bother with asking the owner to do anything and would just make a temporary solution.

But I’d probably knock off a star or two on my review, as not having curtains over a bedroom window is a serious deficiency.

God I hate eye masks. Can imagine sleeping in one for a whole night, I’d find it more comfortable to just put a jumper over my eyes. I’m always shocked at the amount of people who have a suck it up and don’t complain attitude to everything. You’re not making life easier for yourself you’re making it easier for piss takers who deliver substandard services (and this can be applied macro to the governance of the country!)

I can't believe the people saying don't make a fuss or find a way to bodge something together yourself and make-do, when you've paid a large amount of money for decent, fit-for-purpose accommodation.

Why stop at making your own curtain substitutes? What about if they don't bother to supply a front door; should you just be resourceful and uncomplaining and seek out an old pallet, to make your own? If they don't give you a cooker, just forage for some firewood and an abandoned Tesco trolley and 'simply' construct an alternative?!

I used to handle claims for compensation for shit holidays. If something is not to your satisfaction, you should report right away. Unless it's something very major, you're not really justified in abandoning a holiday and wanting all your money back. Because a holiday is still worth something even if one element of it is not enjoyable. You also shouldn't put up with something then complain at the end - because you've had the holiday and not given the accommodation owner a chance to sort the problem out.

Bodging a window covering is not that hard - wet newspaper will do it. OP is already using leave, paid to travel etc. Nothing wrong with making the best of a bad job.

I still keep coming back to this thread to chuckle- @SayOrPay stating that no one had curtains that she knows (under 76 😆) and every other poster- of course we have curtains!!!!

Glad they helped out OP, hope you got sleep!

This thread is chef’s kiss. My favourites:

• Simply get up and chill with coffee at FIVE AM on holiday
• Go to bed at 9pm, holidays are not for having an evening
• Scale the walls like spider-man to affix various kitchen goods to the window (the tin foil specifically for roasting chicken was a great detail)
• My curtains are bad and there’s light in my bedroom so why should OP expect anything different
• The beleaguered MIL who knows no one with a drill and a spirit level to stick up a curtain pole
• New builds aren’t designed to have curtains
• Simply train yourself to sleep with your hands over your eyes like you’re watching a horror film
• Most people don’t close their eyes properly and thus can’t wear eye masks
• The entire block of flats where everyone gets dressed in the dark
• Simply cure your sleep apnea instantly instead of worrying about curtains
• “Entitled”
• 76

SayOrPay

"You can't expect the rooms to be furnished to your taste. You should have looked at the photos.
Personally, I don't know anyone who has curtains who isn't over the age of 76. It's not considered the thing to have in your house.
Buy an eye mask like they used to give out on aeroplanes"

This might be the most bonkers thing I've ever read on mumsnet, nay, the internet 😂

Agreed! Fair enough not having curtains, but I've otherwise never seen a house that doesn't then have blinds on the bedroom windows if not curtains.

Where do these people get dressed for bed, or in the mornings, especially when it's dark. I saw a lady on my road getting dressed with her blinds open one winter's morning as I drove past. She was upstairs, yet I still got a full view of her in her bra!

You wouldn't go to a hotel and expect anything less than full blackout curtains, so a holiday let should be similar.

Lots of people want darkness to sleep. If you are happy with light, then you can leave the curtains open, but if you need dark, no curtains is not helpful.

The speed at which the housekeeper arranged a resolution would suggest that this is not the first time this has happened!

I don't think that poster was entirely genuine.

I would contact the letting agent your used if you can. Alternatively, you can use kitchen foil for the windows. We’ve done this for our children when we stayed somewhere and the curtains are very thin.
You wet the windows before hand with a sponge and then the foil will stick immediately and make it go dark. To remove just take it off and and wipe the window.

• Scale the walls like spider-man to affix various kitchen goods to the window (the tin foil specifically for roasting chicken was a great detail)

Oh this is a good point. I therefore amend my earlier post - let the owners know they need to resolve the situation for you, probably with ladders!

Lol I know! Having to get up earlier and earlier due to getting dressed in the dark. Bet they love the winter 🤣🤣🤣🤣