To be a bit 🫤

[Swansandcustard]

On holiday in a villa with a pool. Have previously done so and love the freedom and privacy.

We built our own holiday, and the villa is an AirBnB, again which we’ve done previously.

This year it’s been a bit off-putting following our arrival and interactions with the owner.

We had a nightmare at the airport UK side with the parking airport shuttle not running as advertised (barely at all) and only just getting on the flight, so when we landed we were a bit frazzled. Got thru customs, bag claim and picked up car and headed to grab some food as we hadn’t had time at the airport before flying.

we’d just started eating when the villa owner called and asked when we would be there. I said probably between 3-4. He said very curtly, ‘I need to know EXACTLY when you’ll be here, to the minute. Call me when you’re leaving’. I thought it was a bit rude, but…and did as he asked.

When we arrived he was at the villa. And proceeded to spend 30 minutes telling us what we couldn’t do.

Don’t put lots in the fridge - just one drink at a time
Don’t turn the aircon too low, it will be too cold for you and may make you ill.
Don’t wear sun cream in the pool - shower it all off, have your swim, get out and reapply.

There were lots of other rules too, but these were the ones that stuck out. Overall it felt very unwelcoming, quite rude and frankly unrealistic. If I don’t wear sun cream, I don’t go in the pool full stop. I am very ginger fair and would burn immediately.

We’ve holidayed all over the med and never heard the like - people don’t let dc play in water without sunscreen, surely?

Aibu or is he?

Sorry I think it is. If it's an outdoor pool, this should be one of your factors when letting the property. When you're on holiday you're in and out of the pool all day, and I know that I'd get burned on my shoulders and neck within five minutes of hot sun so you're essentially telling me don't use the pool.

You should reapply when getting out of the pool, so its no hardship to shower off before getting in the pool.

You can actually break the pool apparently, by getting loads of sunscreen in it.

TBH I think you're being over sensitive here, probably due to the stressful journey.

It's normal for a homeowner to walk you through a house and explain the dos and don'ts. It's sounds like some of what he said were instructions (don't wear suncream in the pool) whereas other things were tips (air con temperature). Just try to take it all into account sensibly and enjoy the holiday.

As someone who has to live next door to the noise and mess of an Airbnb, and whose local area is clogged with them, shutting ordinary people out of the rental and buying market, I am pleased that people are turning back to hotels and B&Bs.

So there were more issues during the stay, the host chap minimised/excused/blamed/lied about anything and everything. Now entered into a dispute on AirBnB.

Oh stop. We have a villa abroad which is let out (although NOT through airb&b because I think they’re shit!) we must have gallons of au cream through there and its no hardship - you can’t expect people to swim outside in the med without sun cream.

Yes, and I do. But if I go in the pool with no sunscreen on my shoulders and chest I will burn. I am not prepared to risk my skin or not use a pool I've paid for because the owners purse their lips at having to pay to clean it!

I find airbnbs so hit and miss these days. Sorry you’ve had a poor experience - def review accordingly