To book a 6 person lodge for myself?

[MaryRoze]

One of my favourite things to do since escaping my controlling ex is to get away by myself for a couple of nights, somewhere remote with a good view, a hot tub, where I can just relax and recharge.

I've found a lovely site that has a few 2 person glamping pods, and 2 self-catering cottages. One cottage sleeps 4, the other sleeps 6. I dithered over both of them but decided to go for the 6 person lodge as it has nicer facilities, bigger kitchen, nicer views, and an enclosed garden for if I decide to bring my dog with me.

I've just received an email from the company asking me to clarify it's just for me. I've said yes. They've come back and said it's a busy time of year for them (October), so would I like to have one of the glamping pods instead as the cottages are really for bigger parties only.

I've had another look on their website and can see now it says they charge a fixed rate for 2 people, and for each additional person it's an extra £50 per person, per night! So they're obviously thinking they can make more money out of a bigger party rather than just me on my own.

I haven't specified this to them yet but I was planning on paying extra for early check in (£30), bringing the dog (£25), and a bottle of fizzy on arrival (£40). So it's not like they won't be getting their moneys worth out of me.

AIBU to book the larger property just for me?

I booked a 6 bed house in Cumbria for 3 families, but only my family went in the end, just 3 of us. I obvs could have found something smaller and cheaper as I paid, but honestly it was fabulous.

I told them of the change in guests and which bedrooms were used. They were fine.

I suspect they are now looking through the T&C to see if they can legitimately decline your booking now you have confirmed it's just you.... If they come back and say they decline your booking, ask them under which T&C.

I have to admit, I would in the end take my money back if they get funny, though.

I'm sure you'll find something else in Oct xxx

YANBU!
The pricing seems strange. If you were part of larger group, you'd have to pay more for the larger cottage, and then again per head?? It's a daylight robbery!

Technically YABU but I can also see it from their point of view. However, if they’re offering it for anyone to rent then they should specify a minimum number of people or a minimum cost really. Their loss 🤷‍♀️ They need to learn from this. Enjoy your trip.

YANBU.

My husband and I often book a 3 bed house that is described as for 6 people when we visit family in Suffolk, even though it's usually just the 2 of us.

It's great - we have a bedroom each and a bathroom each and enjoy having lots of space to relax.

The 6 person lodge does sound the most attractive option so if you can afford it, you are not unreasonable to book it and enjoy it.

If the booking has gone through, you have a binding contract. There's bugger all they can do. Hence, would you like to ...

Just say no. Your money, your holiday.

I haven’t read the whole thread but it sounds like absolute bliss!! Most places normally charge per night not number of guests I think? So they are bothered they can’t make extra money. If you can afford the cost you should be able to book whatever you want!

I’m now off to google a lodge with a hot tub for myself and my pooch, I genuinely never thought of doing this before!!

Sounds to me they’ve got someone interested in the one that you’ve booked and are thinking that if you move to smaller pod they’ve basically got both bookings sorted. If you stay in the larger rental then it’s probably not possible for the other party to go into the other pod, so they’ve lost out. I agree with all the others its seems a really odd way to price things, usually you pay for the whole rental and may only get charged extra if you exceed the party numbers.

Anyone can rent a property of any size. If you wished to hire a 50 bedroom castle on your own, as long as you pay what is listed as the price, it’s fine.

The problem here is the Firm hiring and its pricing policy. If they charge less for smaller numbers and more for full occupancy, they will obviously earn less by having less people…..but they have offered it for smaller occupancy.

It sounds like they are new to letting as their pricing policy is daft. Most self catering places charge a fixed price regardless of occupancy. That they haven’t done this is foolish …and now they realise they should have just charged full occupancy rates and could have earned more from a larger family.

But this was their error. They are being cheeky in asking you to move to smaller accommodation which you didn’t choose. But you’re not obliged to agree and there’s no morality invovled in this - you simply booked a property at a price it was available for.

Simply reply saying that ‘no’ you chose the property you did as it suits you and would not like to switch. You do t have to justify your reasons.

They are Hopi you will switch and then they will have a more lucrative booked on the bigger property plus a smaller booking too. But you aren’t obliged to switch.

No doubt, they will quickly change their terms so they don’t charge less than full occupancy rates, ir only in very off peak times. But it’s too late to change their terms for you. You booked in good faith and they need to honour your booking and the terms it stated.

I was being mindful of the fact that the vast majority of MN wouldn't have a clue what the October Week is!

This would put me off a holiday let so much. I would find somewhere else. It's so cheeky! You've obviously booked and confirmed the price when you booked. I would avoid!

We have had this sort of nonsense before. Due to one of us snoring and regularly visiting the loo during the night we tend to book apartments with two bathrooms and minimum of two bedrooms - as at home. One shark of an agent decided (after accepting our deposit) that as a married couple we didn’t need that size of accommodation, re let it to someone else and proposed a small dingy one bedroom one bath roomed place which we refused. Took involving the local Trading Standards Officer to get our deposit back and hopefully put an end to this.

@GlasgowGal82 you are incorrect- the October holiday is a mid term holiday (aka half term). Schools only have 3 terms per year the first being from August to Xmas holidays. Often called the October week in those places that only have a week. Thought I'd point this out whilst also place marking for updates from
OP! 😁

Just tell them it’s going to be for 6 people and when you get there and are settled in tell them the other 5 cancelled

It is possible, of course that a couple or small family cannot book a holiday because everywhere is full?

Just book it for you or if they are being funny book it for 2 and don't tell them, or say the other person couldn't go last minute.

Categorically and absolutely no you are not being unreasonable!! They are being unreasonable and frankly quite rude for questioning your booking at all. You’re a paying guest. Ridiculous that you should be made to feel guilty. You and your pup just go and have an amazing and lovely relaxing time! 💕💕💕

Seems this is another area where there is local difference. Just checked and Education Scotland does say Scottish schools have three terms, but where I live has always had four with the October break at the end of the first one. I've just randomly checked a number of local authorities who still do the same including Fife, Aberdeen, Stirling, Perth & Kinross. I see that there are others who only have three too. My original point remains that there is no set school holiday in October in Scotland, and since there are kids off in different areas across three different weeks that month and then the English kids start their holidays, whenever OP has booked there is likely to be demand from families. OP did get there first though, and it's not her fault that the holiday park's pricing does them no favours in this situation.

Well, if that’s the case then they need to book earlier next time. OP got in there first,

Hi OP, if they know they can easily book it at full occupancy, the cost impact of them letting it to you is £580? That is obviously a huge loss for them.

The extras you mentioned are not going to be nearly sufficient to compensate.

Agree they need to make it clearer on their website, but unless you are prepared to cover the difference, they should refund you.

Not unreasonable.

we just booked a chalet for 16 but there will be 8 of us. We need 5 bedrooms 3 doubles and 2 singles. The fact that some rooms sleep 4 isn’t really necessary for us. They will charge us a full chalet price and food for 8

YNBU. If the property is available and it suits you you should be able to book it. Their pricing is their own policy, if they don’t like it they should change it. Good on you to take time for you (and doggo) after a controlling relationship.

Make what clearer? The OP paid fair and square what they were asking for. She absolutely doesn't need to pay any more, or feel bad for booking.

The business needs a different pricing model in future if they are not happy with how it worked out.

(Waves to @Twiglets1 from a lodge holiday somewhere in Suffolk).

And yes, I always book a bigger one than DH and I need, for exactly the reasons you give! 😄

The occupancy are also marketed to the max as well - I have a holiday let and most of the bookings are not full occupancy - as this would mean a person in every bed, not every bedroom.

Our sleeps eight, two en-suites, two smaller rooms that can either be singles or doubles. The price is the same regardless of occupancy - we just ask numbers of guests and how they want the rooms made up. I actually prefer it when you get a smaller group as the clean is much easier. It is always the larger groups we get the issues with.

If they continue to be difficult about it, I would consider just asking for a refund and booking elsewhere. After years in this business you get a feel for people I think - people being difficult before the actual booking is a major red flag (both ways)

Would you expect two people to also pay the difference if asked, despite the fact that there is a price given for two people?
If they want people to pay the 6-person price, this should be their only price.