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Original poster

In trouble, I grabbed the best room!

347 replies

Singletraveller · 27/10/2023 19:49

I'm on holiday with a group of mates; they have partners and I dont. Last time we went away together the couple that arrived first at the cottage grabbed the best room, with no shame or negotiation! We all ended up joking that this time round we would race eachother for the best room...all a bit whacky races and jovial! Anyway, I got there well before anyone else for various travel related reasons, so grabbed the best room. Big with an ensuite. The other rooms were nice just a bit smaller...one didnt have an ensuite. Anyhow, one of the couples has kicked off - because Im single, I shouldn't have the biggest room apparently. Given they're all essentially nice rooms, this feels a bit shitty...should I have quietly taken a 'lesser' room just because I'm a solo traveller?? All so petty I know, but peed off at the sour atmosphere after all the joking about rooms in the run up.

OP posts:
Toomuchfun · 28/10/2023 18:26

Depends how you paid. Per person or per room. 🤔

Kellymariet · 28/10/2023 19:39

I literally couldn’t care less if my mate had the “nicest” room, good for you, enjoy it. I’m happy if my friends are happy and vice versa, I would literally never argue about this! Just take a less nice room next time and all take turns, that how friendship works, no?

WiddlinDiddlin · 28/10/2023 20:19

NoraBattysCurlers · 28/10/2023 18:01

*But as it stands if say OP is paying £75 for her room and the others are paying £50 each (so £100 per couple).. no. She is paying £25 per person MORE than them... to get the worst room?

Fuck no.*

@WiddlinDiddlin,

Call to the reception of a hotel and inform the manager that you are only prepared to pay 75% of the price a double room. Then carefully explain to the manager in very clear terms that you believe that you are fully entitled to the hotel's largest and very best double room because you are deigning to pay more than half the price of the room.

I guarantee you that the reaction you receive will be priceless!

But this isn't a hotel where you pay per room.

It's a cottage/unit with multiple rooms where you pay per unit.

So that comparison just doesn't apply.

OtsyBotsy90 · 28/10/2023 21:03

No way should you take a lesser room. You got there first and got the room fair and square! Don’t let them make you feel bad.

ALongHardWinter · 28/10/2023 21:45

Why should couples' needs always trump singles? You did the right thing!

ACGTHelix · 28/10/2023 21:49

Singletraveller · 28/10/2023 10:00

Blimey this took off!!!

Just finished breakfast and thought I'd check in - wish I had enabled voting now, it has been quite a polarising thread, this!

Anyway, all good today, the huff has passed - I paid for all the booze for last night's dinner as a penance for getting the best room, so don't think anyone is out of pocket! And pretty sure I've still got mates for those who were concerned.

(However, yes, it was a very childish way of allocating rooms, and whilst it made us all laugh in the run up, we probably won't be doing it this way again!)

do a sheldon cooper example and write a holiday contract to cover the main bases then no one in theory can be omg

agonyau · 28/10/2023 22:37

If another couple had bagged biggest room I expect they wouldn’t be so annoyed, it’s just that as you’re solo you really don’t need all that space to manoeuvre so it must seem wasted on you, in their opinion. I expect the V only available room left is the small one without an en-suite, which you won’t want to be left with if you offered a swap. It’s done now, but a shame they made such a big deal out of it, it would be enough to put me off going away with them again, but I hope you can salvage your friendship once they’ve gotten over their hissy fit so you can all enjoy your holiday 👍🏻

T1Dmama · 28/10/2023 23:38

To be honest I’d have taken the smallest room WITH an en-suite…. I’d only be happy with the smallest room without an en-suite if I was paying half what everyone else paid and I think In future I would be saying ahead of booking and paying that as I’m expected to take the crappy room I’m only paying half for it!

Theemeperorsnewclothes · 29/10/2023 00:26

ALongHardWinter · 28/10/2023 21:45

Why should couples' needs always trump singles? You did the right thing!

This! People are splitting hairs about cost, and tying themselves in knots to demonstrate mathematical equations to justify why the OP deserves not to have the same/equal/good/best room as couples. Effectively they are saying she should take/accept less because she is single/a solo traveller. What utter nonsense. The argument seems to be, that as she is single she should automatically think she has less rights to the better, bigger room. Why should she? Couples share bedrooms at home. She doesn’t. Maybe she has a king sized bed at home but the couples have a small double or queen. It’s just single shaming to say she does not have the same rights as couples to have the ‘good’ room. This thread is a reflection of the every day problems and prejudice towards single women. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip OP.

VintageTuppence · 29/10/2023 03:16

I think paying for the booze was an excellent move and I’m glad your weekend has turned out well.

People think 'couples' are a single unit but they are actually two separate people. You can form other units if you want a cheaper sub-unit price. Share with a friend. Whom you are also choosing, like your partner.

If you don't want to share that's on you.

A group of friends go on a weekend away. One happens to be single. Who was she meant to form a unit with? Some random the group doesn’t know or should she borrow one of the couple members to create this new unit?

Basilton · 29/10/2023 04:05

Singletraveller · 27/10/2023 19:55

Hmm. I did get a bit of a discount....not a 50% one though. Complicates things tho.

In that case, I think you were being cheeky.

Sayitaintso33 · 29/10/2023 06:32

I hate the way so many of these threads descend into arguments about money. and what money can buy you.

It is friendship that is important, and the art of being and keeping friends, which requires more skill and sensitivity when a group is involved.

Eleganz · 29/10/2023 06:56

WiddlinDiddlin · 28/10/2023 20:19

But this isn't a hotel where you pay per room.

It's a cottage/unit with multiple rooms where you pay per unit.

So that comparison just doesn't apply.

Show quote history

Except it does, unless you can clearly explain why it doesn't.

The reason why it applies is that the cost of the cottage has been broken down into individual groups by room occupancy by the party as a whole thus creating an analogous situation. OP is one of those groups and is getting to have a room for less than the other groups.

I don't think the reduction isn't fair (given that use of the shared amenities is also a factor), but also don't think, having received the reduced rate ), she should be taking the best room.

But she seems to have sorted it now.

DollyLeggs · 29/10/2023 08:40

I'm at that stage that just because I am happily single I am treated as lowest priority by coupled friends. I have paid the same as them and got the shiitest bed. No bloody more.

Iwasafool · 29/10/2023 09:36

DollyLeggs · 29/10/2023 08:40

I'm at that stage that just because I am happily single I am treated as lowest priority by coupled friends. I have paid the same as them and got the shiitest bed. No bloody more.

If you've paid the same for your room you shouldn't be the one who always gets the worst room but that isn't what has happened with the OP, she paid less than the couples and didn't just want a decent room she wanted the best room.

Sayitaintso33 · 29/10/2023 09:40

Iwasafool · 29/10/2023 09:36

If you've paid the same for your room you shouldn't be the one who always gets the worst room but that isn't what has happened with the OP, she paid less than the couples and didn't just want a decent room she wanted the best room.

Show quote history

You're a group of friends not fellow shareholders.

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 29/10/2023 13:28

@Eleganz The reason why it applies is that the cost of the cottage has been broken down into individual groups by room occupancy by the party as a whole. We don't know that this is the way they decided to split the cost. What leads you to think it was, when the fact that OP's room cost less than the other rooms suggests otherwise? You could say that they decided to split by room and OP got a discount. You could equally well say that they decided to split by person but OP agreed to pay extra.

The reality is probably that they decided HOW the cost would be split but not WHY it would be split that way. It's easy to see how that could give rise to a sense of entitlement or resentment when people are operating on totally different assumptions.

Anyway thanks OP, this thread has been quite an eye opener.

BlueSapphireEyes · 29/10/2023 13:49

Absolutely enjoy the best room.
You we’re there first! Let them sulk go for a nice bubble bath or walk it’s your holiday too.

beanii · 30/10/2023 14:54

If you've paid the same then you have every right 🤷‍♀️

Onethingatatime23 · 30/10/2023 15:07

"It was first come first served last time. What has changed?"

Redpaisley · 30/10/2023 15:13

beanii · 30/10/2023 14:54

If you've paid the same then you have every right 🤷‍♀️

She didn't but she got biggest room with ensuite.

Emotionalsupportviper · 30/10/2023 15:14

dammit88 · 27/10/2023 20:04

If all the rooms are nice, as you say though, why would you take the biggest room as the only solo person? That just seems a dick move to me?

Why wouldn't you, if it's first come, first served?

Underestimated4 · 30/10/2023 15:14

I don’t see why just because you’re single you shouldn’t have the best room. If this isn’t a one off event maybe next time take it in turns.

beanii · 30/10/2023 15:21

Redpaisley · 30/10/2023 15:13

She didn't but she got biggest room with ensuite.

Show quote history

Yes just read that since posting - she did however pay the most per person 🤷‍♀️

Solo · 30/10/2023 15:32

SaturdayGiraffe · 27/10/2023 20:31

Had this once. The single person in the double room got angry when we explained that the single duvet on the bed in our room wasn’t enough to cover both of us (it was cold at night).

So you and your partner shared a single bed? And the other (single) person was quite happy to take the double? Am I reading that right?