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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Holiday let with inadequate curtains, AIBU?

316 replies

MyMarmite · 08/05/2023 08:00

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?

Holiday let with inadequate curtains, AIBU?
OP posts:
Guiltridden12345 · 08/05/2023 08:35

You are so nbu. We once had a lovely, high end holiday place in Cornwall with curtains but NO BLINDS ON VELUX WINDOWS in bedrooms. I mean wtaf? Amazing place otherwise but it was summer and we all woke up naturally at bloody 5am!! Owner said it was by design. No other holidayers in reviews seemed to mind?! Weord.

Amazon - next day delivery blackout eye masks. We did this and it really helped. Difficult for small kids though. And do feed back to owner and pls review so others are forwarned.

Mortimercat · 08/05/2023 08:36

dudsville · 08/05/2023 08:06

It's weird to have a bedroom without curtains! Either ask the owners or get an eye mask.

It does have curtains, it is an unclear diagram but it is just the top bit that doesn’t have curtains because of the unusual shape.

OP I think you are being a bit daft, it is 8am, I have curtains in my bedroom but it has been light in here for hours because they are not blackout curtains and the sun rises at about 5am at the moment.

MissHavershamReturns · 08/05/2023 08:37

@SayOrPay that’s odd because everyone I know has curtains - I’m in my 40s and friends are late 30s to early 50s!

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 08/05/2023 08:38

This happened to me in an Airbnb once. In Australia in summer when it's super bright and sunny, I didn't sleep a wink and the owners weren't helpful at all. Thankfully it was only a short stay, but when I politely pointed out the lack of curtains in my review they didn't publish it! One of the reasons I don't do Airbnb any more!

AuntieJune · 08/05/2023 08:38

As pp have said, don't go home. Email to complain now. Cover windows with something and get an eye mask.

NetZeroZealot · 08/05/2023 08:40

This is why I always travel with an eye mask.

It's a bad oversight by the holiday let. Decent hotels provide proper blackout curtains, even Premier Inns.

I would make sure you tell them OP and mention it in your online review. It would put me off booking a place.

In the meantime see what you can fashion out of a towel or clothes or paper to cover the gap. But you shouldn't have to do this.

onthefence23 · 08/05/2023 08:40

SayOrPay · 08/05/2023 08:03

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.

Wait what?! You don't know anyone with curtains?? I'm amazed by this and need to now more Grin they surely have some window covering though. How do you get dressed without flashing the neighbhours if not

anniewaitsforthelasttime · 08/05/2023 08:41

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect shielding from bright sun at this time of year in UK in a bedroom, I would struggle with this. I came to suggest tinfoil too, I know you said it's high but how about Dh on a chair or check for a step ladder. If that's not manageable I think it's reasonable to ask for help with a solution if it's ruining your break. (Such as them bringing a stepladder/groblind/tinfoil). Other thing that might help though... can you create a screen or block of some kind between the window and bed. I do this when staying at my in-laws at height of summer by opening a fitted wardrobe door next to the bed so we don't get sunrise through the (inadequate) blind. Or a blanket between 2 dining chairs next to bed,. It won't make the whole room dark but could stop it being so intense as to wake you.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/05/2023 08:41

@SayOrPay , curtains are not considered ‘the thing’ by whom? By you, or by whichever vacuous ‘influencers’ you follow?

Viviennemary · 08/05/2023 08:41

This is really annoying. I agree with putying up bin bags. Ridiculous that you should have to though. Or get an eye mask.

YouCould · 08/05/2023 08:42

I couldn't sleep without blinds or curtains either. Even a teeny chink of light annoys me

thenewaveragebear1983 · 08/05/2023 08:42

Tin foil is my go-to in a holiday let/ caravan holiday for window coverage. Pretty much every time we use one we end up having to cover bright light from Somewhere. Last year it was a 2x 1 meter skylight in the bedroom with no blinds on it 🤷‍♀️

TimesRwo · 08/05/2023 08:42

Just come back from a holiday let which had a similar issue. The windows had shutters, but the was a door with a window which led to the swimming pool from the bedroom, and the door didn’t have any blinds nor did any of the many windows around the swimming pool. We bought a gro blind and covered the window up.

MovingandStressed · 08/05/2023 08:42

Ohalpro · 08/05/2023 08:10

Tin foil is amazing for this situation. Stick it to the window with a bit of water and some tape at the edges. Let the holiday company know what you are doing and why.

this 👆🏻

onthefence23 · 08/05/2023 08:43

Op I hope you get sorted!!

Now very invested in SayorPays reply. We're also in our thirties and all our friends and family have curtains 😂

wildfirewonder · 08/05/2023 08:44

At the moment sunrise is only about 5:30am, this is not early enough to ruin my holiday as it is dark after normal adult bed time just now.

Yes, complain, but try to make the best of your holiday anyway. I can sleep in a tent in June so maybe I am not getting the issue. I would put my hand over my eyes and go back to sleep.

Sissynova · 08/05/2023 08:45

YABU because there are at least 3 double bedrooms so you can’t really use this as a reason for your holiday being ruined. You’re just being difficult by not moving rooms.

junebirthdaygirl · 08/05/2023 08:45

I think it's whatever you are used to. We sleep upstairs in a dormer, have 2 velux windows, one normal window and a glass door to a balcony..all with no curtains or blinds and we sleep fine and don't wake up with the sunlight. We are completely out the country and not overlooked in any way. So that room would cause us no issues. But if you are used to darkness it is an issue so maybe keep that in mind when going on holidays.

Clementineorsatsuma · 08/05/2023 08:45

SayOrPay · 08/05/2023 08:03

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.

Excuse me?!
You don't know anyone who has curtains who isn't over the age of 76?!
So everyone you know just has their bedroom windows wide open for all to see into?
O......k.......

PinkCast · 08/05/2023 08:46

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

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on here, and that's saying something!!

FirstTimeNameChanger · 08/05/2023 08:47

wildfirewonder · 08/05/2023 08:44

At the moment sunrise is only about 5:30am, this is not early enough to ruin my holiday as it is dark after normal adult bed time just now.

Yes, complain, but try to make the best of your holiday anyway. I can sleep in a tent in June so maybe I am not getting the issue. I would put my hand over my eyes and go back to sleep.

Most people couldn't do that though 😁 sleep with their hand covering their eyes. It's a niche skill you're lucky to have, but holiday lets should really cater to the many

Movinghouseatlast · 08/05/2023 08:49

Buy an eye mask they are very effective. I always take an eye mask to holiday cottages in case the curtains are thin.

wildfirewonder · 08/05/2023 08:50

FirstTimeNameChanger · 08/05/2023 08:47

Most people couldn't do that though 😁 sleep with their hand covering their eyes. It's a niche skill you're lucky to have, but holiday lets should really cater to the many

Show quote history

I have trained myself to sleep in difficult circumstances. The key is NOT spending all the time getting angry about 'not being able to sleep' and learning how to sleep in non-optimal situations.

I don't think it is a niche skill to move your hand to your eyes. Most people can do that!

willWillSmithsmith · 08/05/2023 08:50

SayOrPay · 08/05/2023 08:03

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.

That’s simply not true. What do you have then? What do all the people you know have? Personally I’ve never met anyone of any age that doesn’t have some form of window covering in their bedroom. Unless of course you’re writing this from a window in Amsterdam 😁

JettyB123 · 08/05/2023 08:50

A woman who used to live across from us had no curtains and complained about our security light coming on and waking her up! 😂
Definitely tin foil! I always take it on holiday now. I have blackout blinds and blackout curtains at home

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