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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Holiday plans mess - my fault so suck it up?

219 replies

weekendersun · 02/07/2024 11:35

A friend asked me to go on a long weekend break to a popular city abroad, to a place I've always wanted to visit. She knows the city so said she would book the hotel and we both booked our flights individually (on same flight). Hotel paid on arrival - no cancellation fee.

It's in 3 weeks time and I asked yesterday for name of hotel and whether our rooms would be near to each other and other details. To my surprise she told me it was one room and we'd be sharing. This didn't even occur to me, I'm in my 50's and not shared with anyone (apart from ex partner) and have no wish to do so. I like my own bathroom, plus I snore and I often wake in the night to make tea, read etc.

I asked friend if we could book 2 rooms but this would double the cost and she said she can't afford it. I suggested we swap to a cheaper hotel but she doesn't want to do that as likes the hotel she's booked.

She has asked that I don't go and she takes her sister instead. However flights have gone up in price and she feels it's only fair if I reimburse her sister the cost difference between the flight prices, as it's my choice not to go (her words). But I would also lose the cost of my flight as that's not refundable.

I have said I could still go with her and her sister but she's pissed off with me and not responding to my calls or texts, so don't think that's an option.

She can't understand why firstly I won't share and secondly that I'm being difficult in not accepting her alternative plans.

I'm wondering if IABU (although it would really spoil the break for me to share). I also do t think I should pay sisters costs but am I in the wrong?

OP posts:
IdLikeToBeAFraser · 02/07/2024 17:44

@weekendersun I think that is a good solution. It's a pity she's not taking on some of the responsibiliy for the mix up, but that's fine if you're happy with this idea. She should be fine - she's not losing any cash and you get your own room. Win win.

FateReset · 02/07/2024 17:57

That would be very generous of you to pay for a single room for her. I wonder if she will accept, or if she now wants to bring her sister and keep the double? Be careful the sister doesn't tag along and put you in a position where they 'need' the double on arrival! If it's booked in her name it could end up very awkward on arrival?

Friend may also resent you having her nice double, if her room is a small single (possibly in a noisy/less nice part of hotel, without a view etc). Hopefully she'll be appreciative but I'd be wary given her cheeky request over sister's flights

MightWusk · 02/07/2024 18:58

Your friend can just pay what she thought she was paying. If you offer to pay for both rooms I'm sure that will salvage the friendship but if she accepted that offer she is BU.

BabyFedUp445 · 02/07/2024 19:05

She's being very unreasonable not wanting to change hotels and that would really put me off going with her.

You absolutely do not owe her or her sister anything, it's early enough to sort an alternative but she's being a child.

I'd be petty and book my own hotel and still go. Or lose the flight. Hell would freeze over before I'd reimburse her sister lol.

amicissimma · 02/07/2024 21:00

While I'm very surprised that a grown adult would assume another grown adult would share a room on a trip, it seems that people actually do.

Neither of you checked the other's preference, so I don't think you should pay the whole price for a mistake you both made.

The obvious solution to me would be two rooms in a cheaper hotel and I don't think you should be penalised for your friend's refusal to do that. It seems she thinks it's OK for to be uncomfortable (sharing) but not for her to be (slightly less nice hotel).

As you were both at fault for not checking, if you want to try to salvage the friendship, I think you could offer to split the extra cost so that you would book your own room and pay 25% of the cost of the one she booked, so both failing to clarify would cost you both equally. Or you could offer to take the double and pay for a single, which as PP say, might not be as nice, for her.

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 03/07/2024 07:40

How many hotels even do single rooms?

People are being very generous by paying for two rooms.

Sosospring · 03/07/2024 11:27

Am I the only one who feels that I just wouldn't want to go with this person anymore...? She's treated you very badly and is very cheeky. People talking about salvaging friendship but this is not a friendship. If I was her, I would just move to a cheaper hotel and not tell you not to come anymore. How is it a friend or someone who deserves your time and company...? Friendship is about enjoying time together. Sounds like she was just looking for a travel companion for a trip she wanted to make and the hotel she wanted to stay in? I'm in my late 40s and have learnt to eliminate some people from my life. Plus I don't think the trip will feel "right" or nice now whatever you decide to do. I would just go on your own and enjoy

Janehasamane · 03/07/2024 11:33

Sosospring · 03/07/2024 11:27

Am I the only one who feels that I just wouldn't want to go with this person anymore...? She's treated you very badly and is very cheeky. People talking about salvaging friendship but this is not a friendship. If I was her, I would just move to a cheaper hotel and not tell you not to come anymore. How is it a friend or someone who deserves your time and company...? Friendship is about enjoying time together. Sounds like she was just looking for a travel companion for a trip she wanted to make and the hotel she wanted to stay in? I'm in my late 40s and have learnt to eliminate some people from my life. Plus I don't think the trip will feel "right" or nice now whatever you decide to do. I would just go on your own and enjoy

Edited

What an odd answer, she’s not just some person, she’s her friend and sometimes friends disagree.

Sosospring · 03/07/2024 11:37

Friends disagree but friends don't ask other friends not to come anymore because they want to stay in a better hotel? Or pay for their sister to come instead?

Sosospring · 03/07/2024 11:51

Also - I'm failing to see how her "friend" is trying to salvage the friendship... Quite the contrary I would say. Why is the saving of the friendship entirely on her?

ThistleTits · 03/07/2024 18:14

@weekendersun book an alternative hotel for yourself and go alone. Your (ex) friend can take her sister and she can pay her own flights. She's the one being unreasonable.

UnitedOps · 03/07/2024 18:40

Tbh OP, I wouldn’t bother going on holiday with her. The fact that she is not responding and acting quite childish about the whole thing, will put me off. I think you should travel alone. If you travel together, it’s going be no fun. The trip is already soured.

cremebrulait · 03/07/2024 18:51

TheDarkMonarch · 02/07/2024 11:49

This might be an option?

Then the sister can go and whilst she has the more expensive flights to pay for, she gets the hotel room for free so hopefully that neutralises it.

I agree with this. You should have been clear on arrangements. Sharing on a trip is the norm. On business it’s not so much but I’ve worked at places that did put us up with colleagues. I’d imagine that she budgeted and had expectations and you’ve thrown a wrench. Some people get really upset initially and will calm down if the situation gets resolved fairly.

HauntedPencil · 03/07/2024 18:56

I really don't understand why you've been told to grovel. The answer in a compromise is to book a new cheaper hotel.

Or her sister can book on to share and you can all go together and you can have your own room but u wouldn't be paying anything towards this.

If you'd pulled out totally, I get it for her to be annoyed but you've presented two completely reasonable compromises. It's a bit of fault on both sides about the room you should have both checked it's not just on you.

croydon15 · 03/07/2024 18:57

I think that you're very generous OP as your friend is a cf to even suggest that you pay the difference for her sister's flight,; she should have asked you before booking the room is you were happy to share, stupid not to.

H0210zero · 03/07/2024 19:05

Book your own hotel and go without her

CalmMintReader · 03/07/2024 20:15

weekendersun · 02/07/2024 11:35

A friend asked me to go on a long weekend break to a popular city abroad, to a place I've always wanted to visit. She knows the city so said she would book the hotel and we both booked our flights individually (on same flight). Hotel paid on arrival - no cancellation fee.

It's in 3 weeks time and I asked yesterday for name of hotel and whether our rooms would be near to each other and other details. To my surprise she told me it was one room and we'd be sharing. This didn't even occur to me, I'm in my 50's and not shared with anyone (apart from ex partner) and have no wish to do so. I like my own bathroom, plus I snore and I often wake in the night to make tea, read etc.

I asked friend if we could book 2 rooms but this would double the cost and she said she can't afford it. I suggested we swap to a cheaper hotel but she doesn't want to do that as likes the hotel she's booked.

She has asked that I don't go and she takes her sister instead. However flights have gone up in price and she feels it's only fair if I reimburse her sister the cost difference between the flight prices, as it's my choice not to go (her words). But I would also lose the cost of my flight as that's not refundable.

I have said I could still go with her and her sister but she's pissed off with me and not responding to my calls or texts, so don't think that's an option.

She can't understand why firstly I won't share and secondly that I'm being difficult in not accepting her alternative plans.

I'm wondering if IABU (although it would really spoil the break for me to share). I also do t think I should pay sisters costs but am I in the wrong?

I‘m with you, I would definitely not share!! She’s being really difficult to not even consider looking for another hotel.

BlueFlowers5 · 03/07/2024 20:34

Are there any rooms in that hotel you could book and pay for, for yourself?

Toptops · 03/07/2024 21:14

NonPlayerCharacter · 02/07/2024 11:46

If you decide not to go then you may have to suck up the loss but I don't see any reason why you should pay her sister's additional costs. If the sister doesn't want to go then she doesn't have to; how is the cost your responsibility? You're not using the flight.

Perhaps you can go and book yourself a single room somewhere cheaper and meet them during the day if the sister goes, and if you still all feel like seeing each other.

This would be my suggestion

ClarafromHR · 04/07/2024 00:06

cremebrulait · 03/07/2024 18:51

I agree with this. You should have been clear on arrangements. Sharing on a trip is the norm. On business it’s not so much but I’ve worked at places that did put us up with colleagues. I’d imagine that she budgeted and had expectations and you’ve thrown a wrench. Some people get really upset initially and will calm down if the situation gets resolved fairly.

I will not share a room with anyone but my husband. I have reached a time in life where I want my own space and bathroom. As for in business, I worked for the NHS and my boss once asked me to share with a colleague. I asked if the men on the trip would be sharing. He got the point.

AmIEnough · 04/07/2024 08:25

Can you not change the name on the flight? Then you can let the sister go and she can reimburse you for the flight and share the room with her sister?

Floralie222 · 04/07/2024 11:44

Can you suggest to split the difference so she pays 0.75 rooms and you pay for 1.25 rooms? I feel for you, but also think that these conversations should be had earlier, you both just made the wrong assumption about the other!

hcee19 · 04/07/2024 13:01

I totally understand what you are saying...from what l read, she doesn't seem to be a nice friend, not giving you a chance to talk properly to try and rectify the problem by ignoring your calls or texts. Seems like she has thrown her toys out of the pram. You will get nowhere if she continues to avoid you, what can you do?....She is not who you thought she was, friends shouldn't treat you like this, what a shame.

tiredinoratia · 06/07/2024 07:58

I think her sister going and them sharing and you booking a separate room sounds like a good solution but she seems to want her cake and eat it with you covering her sister's 'extra' costs for her flight. I don't think I'd want to go away with her or spend much time with her after this. She sounds hard work and it would be awkward.

Decompressing2 · 06/07/2024 09:07

I would get my own room and offer to pay for the 50% extra for her room - if she wants to pass this saving onto her sister its up to her and that would reduce her sister's flight.

I think this is the only way you can possible salvage this friendship (because you want to), I personally think she is being cheeky asking you to pay towards her sister's flight.

The only thing is if you find its cheaper for you to pay the extra towards her sister's flight than I would do that instead of the 50% room costs.