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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Spanish fiesta night aibu?

43 replies

Spanishnights · 25/08/2023 22:10

This is the last night of our independently booked holiday in an unnamed Spanish Town. It is a private apartment complex with several blocks. Some are let to tourists on holiday (from the UK, Spain and other nationalities) and the majority are residents. It is marketed as a quiet, family resort. Next to a beautiful park and the beach 2 mins walk away. The complex has very strict rules about several things. Noise is up there. Everyone must be quiet after 10pm. A few days ago posters went up advertising this fiesta night which started at 9pm. Under normal circumstances we wouldn't care. But tonight our taxi picks us up at 4am for our flight home which was brought forward from the booked time and we had no choice over it. We are in bed after going out early to try and get more sleep (Spain is an hour ahead). There's no chance. There's about 100 people below our balcony all drinking, eating and loudly talking etc. Music playing and some are cheering and whooping. I hate being a party pooper but it's so unfair! Dogs in neighbouring rooms are also barking more too. Am I just being a miserable twat or do I have grounds to be pissed off as I didn't expect a rowdy night here?

OP posts:
bellac11 · 25/08/2023 22:31

Have you never been to Spain before?

Its not a quiet country and its people are not quiet

We travel to Spain a lot and always book flats etc, the neighbours tend to be walking past in the streets, out in the bars, coming home at all hours, its what happens, the night life is very lively.

RobertaFirmino · 25/08/2023 22:31

Fiestas are the best thing about visiting Spain. Perhaps focus on the fun instead and ask your partner to escort you to the party.

BumpyaDaisyevna · 25/08/2023 22:34

???

It's Spain. People don't even start going out till 10pm?

Cosyblankets · 25/08/2023 22:34

Spanish fiestas are huge and well known for being lively

bellac11 · 25/08/2023 22:34

Cheeseandlobster · 25/08/2023 22:27

I think some of you are massively missing the point here. It sounds like the op booked the accommodation as it advertised itself as a quiet place to stay and the last place you would therefore expect a fiesta.

All you saying she is being miserable would probably struggle too with having absolutely no sleep then having a long day ahead travelling home

Its one night

Everywhere in Spain has fiestas, naivety would be expecting no parties/fiestas/parades etc

Just shut your eyes, listen to the goings on and then get up at 3, drink a strong coffee and then have a little nap on the flight.

NalafromtheLionKing · 25/08/2023 22:37

Cheeseandlobster · 25/08/2023 22:27

I think some of you are massively missing the point here. It sounds like the op booked the accommodation as it advertised itself as a quiet place to stay and the last place you would therefore expect a fiesta.

All you saying she is being miserable would probably struggle too with having absolutely no sleep then having a long day ahead travelling home

So what should OP do about it? They aren’t going to stop even if she complains so the choices are enjoy it or resent it (with no sleep either way).

YesitsBess · 25/08/2023 22:46

The Spanish are being loud? Heavens to Betsy whatever next!

I for one think you should go and confront them, you could mention the sign. 😊

bellac11 · 25/08/2023 22:48

YesitsBess · 25/08/2023 22:46

The Spanish are being loud? Heavens to Betsy whatever next!

I for one think you should go and confront them, you could mention the sign. 😊

Yes, do a timid British tap on the door and squeak 'do you might keeping the noise down, we have an early start tomorrow'

Cheeseandlobster · 25/08/2023 22:49

NalafromtheLionKing · 25/08/2023 22:37

So what should OP do about it? They aren’t going to stop even if she complains so the choices are enjoy it or resent it (with no sleep either way).

Show quote history

This is aibu. I am just saying she isn't being unreasonable when this place markets itself on being quiet.

There isn't anything she can do other than try white noise, ear plugs etc or go and join in and hope the alcohol knocks her out a bit later

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 25/08/2023 23:11

You ought to go down their, rap sharply on the door and demand those perfidious Spanish bally well pipe down so their British guests can get a bit of kip. I’m sure it will all go without a hitch.

BarbaraofSeville · 25/08/2023 23:14

bellac11 · 25/08/2023 22:31

Have you never been to Spain before?

Its not a quiet country and its people are not quiet

We travel to Spain a lot and always book flats etc, the neighbours tend to be walking past in the streets, out in the bars, coming home at all hours, its what happens, the night life is very lively.

This. We have friends who live in Spain. The time they took us to a flamenco festival taught us all we needed to know.

The posters said it started at 10 pm. In reality that was the time that someone started to put some chairs out and plug the lights in. We got there at 10 pm, had dinner and arrived at the town square just before midnight. Various support acts appeared between 1 and 3 am but it was fine because we could chat and get drinks etc. At about 3.30 our friends said they were sorry but they wanted to go home as they had work the next day and we went with them. We later found out the main act was on between 4 and 5 am.

On the matter of Spanish loudness, DP and I joke that all Spanish men are given a power tool for their 18th birthday and the most coverted job is emptying the glass bins in Medieval towns that require dragging the bins over cobbles at 4 am.

If you have an early flight, just sleep on the plane, rather than expect an entire nation to fit in with your timescales.

widowtwankywashroom · 25/08/2023 23:23

I hope you're tutting loudly and clutching your pearls OP
That or you could go and shock horror enjoy yourself 😄 sleep tomorrow and live for today
That or ask them to stop, just for you.

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 25/08/2023 23:24

The most coverted job is emptying glass bins in Medieval towns that require dragging the bins over cobbles at 4 am

This made me snort

Maddy70 · 25/08/2023 23:24

Spain has loads of fiestas. Even the quiet towns. Yabu

melj1213 · 25/08/2023 23:33

YABU I lived in Spain for years and a fiesta is not going to grind to a halt just because a couple of British tourists have got an early morning flight!

For a start it's a Friday night in August, it's prime Spanish holiday time so they don't care how loud/late they are partying until; secondly if it's a feast day then the whole pueblo will be getting involved any time now - there's usually dancing, music and if it's a religious festival there will/has probably been a parade through the streets; thirdly, it's not even 1am, even if it wasn't a fiesta that's a perfectly normal time for people to be finishing dinner and enjoying some lively sobremesa - there is a saying one of my Spanish friends used to use that roughly translates as "If you're going home before 1am, you haven't been out out you've just been out for dinner" ...

thinkfast · 25/08/2023 23:34

It's frustrating for you OP, but fiestas are a normal part of Spanish culture. They are loud and late. 100 people is very very small for a fiesta. Sorry it inconveniences you, but it's a bit like you being frustrated that the restaurants serve fresh seafood and Tinto de Verrano. It's just what happens in Spain in summer.

bellac11 · 28/08/2023 09:15

BarbaraofSeville · 25/08/2023 23:14

This. We have friends who live in Spain. The time they took us to a flamenco festival taught us all we needed to know.

The posters said it started at 10 pm. In reality that was the time that someone started to put some chairs out and plug the lights in. We got there at 10 pm, had dinner and arrived at the town square just before midnight. Various support acts appeared between 1 and 3 am but it was fine because we could chat and get drinks etc. At about 3.30 our friends said they were sorry but they wanted to go home as they had work the next day and we went with them. We later found out the main act was on between 4 and 5 am.

On the matter of Spanish loudness, DP and I joke that all Spanish men are given a power tool for their 18th birthday and the most coverted job is emptying the glass bins in Medieval towns that require dragging the bins over cobbles at 4 am.

If you have an early flight, just sleep on the plane, rather than expect an entire nation to fit in with your timescales.

Show quote history

Yes the bins!!!

We have spanish family, and they are very loud overall, they just are!

HeadacheEarthquake · 28/08/2023 14:01

Did you sleep well, OP?

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