Grey area of group holiday finances

[Lalalalala555]

Hey.
Looking to see what is considered 'fair' from external perspective.

Ive gota holiday cottage booked for three nights. Fr Sa Su.
Invited friends (two couples).
It sleeps 6.
So theres me and my partner, and then two other couples invited.

We posted in a group chat saying how much it would be each if they wanted to come.
We have done it so that its a set amount, as the cost of the cottage is fixed as booked already and non refundable.

We said it would be 110 each for them.
For my partner and i we decided we would pay a bit more (124).

After posting in the group, one of the other couples want to pay less as they dont want to stay the third night.
They want to pay 2/3 of the cost of 1/6 of the total (if that makes sense).

Its tricky for what is fair. As if they pay 80 instead each, then it means its 200+ each for my partner and I.

Its this wanting to pay for how much someone will be present at the property vs there is already a fixed cost.

Obviously it benefits them to pay less. And us if they pay more.

I don't feel its entirely fair that we would have to pay 3* the amount they pay, for choosing to stay an extra night.
They also will benefit from not having to check out at 10am on the Sunday, which would be the case should the cottage have been booked fri and sat only.

There was no clear consultation in making the booking, we did it after having had a few casual chats about the weekend but not with group consensus. As we are attending an event and the local accommodation had sold out. This one place came up months after so we just booked it.
Hence why we offered it for being cheaper for them.
We didnt know how long they would stay, but they had the option to decide what works best.

Thanks!

Thanks.
At this point i think a glass of wine.
Thanks for taking time to reply.
:)

I would do a cheery thumbs and say, ‘No worries, I’m sure we’ll catch up [at event] anyway’.

And then step right back. You’ve broken no bridges, and you’ve left the door open on friendship. They’ll no doubt come crawling back on a day or two when they can’t find any accommodation and then you can say, ‘Sorry, Mildred and Gilbert have taken it’.

If its straight out everyone pays same it's 740/6 irrespective of stay. 123.33pp.
We offered 110 (not knowing how long people would stay and knowing we'd booked somewhere without seeing if people would like it so basically hoping people would be keen)

Chat gpt maths is total number of stays is 7 couple nights.
>> 740/7 = £ per couple night
~ 105

We offered 200per couple for whole stay.
:)

@Stormyweathr regarding the paying for DCs when splitting villa costs, you see it on here all the time. Some people genuinely believe that DCs shouldn't count or should pay half what an adult does, which is frankly bizarre as the rental cost is not influenced by age of occupants.When we have split holidays it's always been about number of rooms used regardless of age of occupant.

Somewhat unrelated to OP but allows her to open the wine 🍷.

I know but surely agreeing how many nights is pretty fundamental?

I’m really skinny at the moment but I wouldn’t dream of doing this to friends! But I’ve learned that I never book anything until I have everyone’s money in advance. You just can’t depend on people!

Have you heard from the other couple yet? They might feel a bit stuck in the middle.

Sorry I've maybe misunderstood do you mean you told them it would be for 3 nights?

Hopefully it works out fine.
Have sent them the gpt maths and said we'd love them to be there but understand if not. Kinda thing.
And can they let us know either way.

I know they can 'afford' to go, so it's more the reason will be something else.
Either they wanted it cheaper because it feels unfair, or they just want to pay as little as possible, or trying to find an excuse not to come. Or something i havent thought of.

Sounds like you were being more than fair tbh. I bet they'd have hung round most of the day Sunday too so get the benefit and only paying 2 nights.

I'm unsure why you would dictate how long, where, when and expense without consultation. If they don't want to go then that's fine.

TBH they sound skint if they share a meal when they go out etc.

This thread has been helpful.
Think every is 'resolved' for now.

In that got the answer to what price is fair.
And got the answer in how to formulate response with nice words /logic.

Thanks so much.
Have a nice evening everyone.

We do group holidays every year and have been for nearly 20 years now.
People do come and go or sometimes have had to cancel through illness but everyone pays the same amount irrespective of how long they stay.

Occasionally we have been able to organise for someone different to take an empty room for one night and they give some money to the person that could stay the full amount of time but that’s an arrangement between them.

I wouldn’t necessarily suggest this just in case they chose someone you don’t know but you could ask around yourself or ask the other couple staying for the full time if they know someone who wants a one night stay.

If not, then it’s unfair I think to pay in bits and pieces, the room is there for them for the period of the let if they want it.

It’s not an an extra night, it’s access to the cottage for the Sunday. Either way they are being selfish. I’d suggest that if they don’t want to come on the offered trip that is fine, and we can fill your space.

It is a holiday let, not a hotel room.

My hunch is that they are tight arses and understand the cost and the split formula but don't want to book any leave for the Monday so due to form with cheeky tight fuckers aren't willing to pay for their room for the 3rd night, despite knowing nobody else could use/pay for it.

It would put me right off them.

YANBU in your OP.

Problem is that they are seeing it as price per night, but you could equally say it is price per night and day

So instead of £41.11 pppn

It could really be £20.55 pppn and £20.55 pppd

Which means there are 36 £20.55s in £740 i.e. 6 people x 6 day/night segements

They are there for 5/36 pp so that is 5*20.55 = £102.75pp

If the second couple are happy with 6/36 then it is £123.30pp

You then have to cover 7/35 = £143.85pp

Or if you extend 5/36 offer to second couple you have to cover 8/36 = £164.40

That would be correct and £80 is cheeky.

They do seem unreasonable and you do seem reasonable with your offer.

My maths worked out at £51pppn so yes your offer of £100 is fair.

How will nice couple feel about sharing with your friends? That will be a completely different dynamic to sharing with other relatives that they already know. I wouldn’t want to come in that scenario.

Make sure you come back and let us know if the 3rd couple is still coming and if they're paying the original £110

I'd would say "This is the price for the property, it's a set price and I could only get 3 nights, not 2, so paying for 2 nights isn't really an option, although it's up to you whether you stay for the third night - you might as well though seeing as you're paying for it."

They're putting you in an awkward position and potentially being a bit cheeky. It's OK for you to say 'no, that doesn't work for me.'

Do you have a cancellation option? I might be tempted to say 'shall I cancel it then, and perhaps have a look yourselves to see if there's something you prefer?'

Cancel the whole thing and just book something for yourself Thell your friends it was getting too complicated

Yes, thought of this.
Have friends I'd like to invite if couple with quibble dropout.
Was planning to ask nice couple how they feel/if they would be up for it or not.

Its got so much more complicated than initially I expected.

If they do come, they will be paying 100pp..and so will nice couple.

Will update the thread when there's an outcome.
:)

Sorry, I've just found more of your replies and realise you've covered most of what's been said. Apologies, I'm fairly new to this 😊

Thanks! Yeah its too late already conceeded and offered less, but not the 80pp they were wanting. They didnt get what they wanted so they said no.

Just complexity kicked in as its my OHs family and wife as the quibble couple.
So we've said let us know by tomorrow if they want it for 100pp.
As they had said they would find somewhere else as they weren't okay with the 80. I know its not a budget issue in terms of I know they have enough money to afford £20 more pp than they are saying theyre willing to pay.

It does feel awkward. And cheeky. And tbh if keeping to peace didnt have some importance i think we'd have said no.
But maybe they also know that.