Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

On holiday and they’ve taken the key and won’t answer their phone

286 replies

User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 12:50

On holiday with a family member. We don’t always see eye to eye, but I thought this trip might be a chance for a bit of a reset.

Today we decided to do different things.

Normally I’ve had the apartment key when we’ve gone out together, but I asked them to pop it in the key safe this time. For whatever reason, they didn’t — and with their phone switched off I can’t get hold of them.

I’m making the best of it with a quiet day to myself, but I can’t help feeling a bit upset. It’s left me feeling quite stuck, literally and figuratively. I can’t leave the apartment! I’d never want to make someone else feel like that.

Any advice on how to handle the rest of the trip without letting this sour everything?

OP posts:
dodobedo · 29/08/2025 12:56

I'd leave the apartment taking my money and my passport. If you get robbed it'll just be your relatives stuff that gets taken and that serves them right.

And when they did come back i'd just leave. But I've got a feeling you're going to say that they are the ones driving and there's no public transport.

Honestly, I wouldn't be putting up with passive agressive shit like that for one minute longer than I had to.

HerecomesMargo · 29/08/2025 12:56

Didn’t you post this recently?

Lennonjingles · 29/08/2025 12:56

I would contact the owner and ask for another key, explain what’s happened and to stop it happening again, a spare key would be best to avoid any situation arising.

PoshDuckQuarkQuark · 29/08/2025 12:57

They no doubt made a mistake. It happens.

Just keep trying to phone them and keave messages asking them to return the key.

Does the apartment lock when you shut the door? If so just go out.

If it doesnt lock then just take anything of value out the room, or at least your stuff and go out. Message the other person to say what you've done.

Thispupsgottofly · 29/08/2025 12:57

Do you think this was a genuine accident?
If so then it's annoying but not worth spoiling the rest of the trip for.
If it's not an accident and some sort of power play then I would try to speak to them calmly about it when they get back. And then try to get through the rest of the holiday if you can. Then perhaps not book a holiday with them again.

KnickerlessParsons · 29/08/2025 12:59

I'd stop being a martyr and I'd go out and leave the apartment unlocked - take your money, phone, passport etc. What's the worse that can happen? Someone nicks your dirty underwear?

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 29/08/2025 12:59

HerecomesMargo · 29/08/2025 12:56

Didn’t you post this recently?

Same here, why is there only 1 key, what would you do if it got lost?

Cosyblankets · 29/08/2025 13:01

KnickerlessParsons · 29/08/2025 12:59

I'd stop being a martyr and I'd go out and leave the apartment unlocked - take your money, phone, passport etc. What's the worse that can happen? Someone nicks your dirty underwear?

Depends if the door self locks
How would she get back in if the family member isn't back?

dodobedo · 29/08/2025 13:10

Self locking doors can be stopped from doing so by pushing the smalll silver key down.

Original poster
User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 13:11

There is a key safe that they have refused to use so it’s not an accident. It’s very much their way or the highway.

the door is self locking so I would have to wedge something in between it to be able to leave. They are on a day trip and have refused to come back early to let me out! I told them about the key safe repeatedly and they won’t use it.

OP posts:
KaitlynnFairchild · 29/08/2025 13:13

Just go out and come back this evening when you would expect them to be well back.

Have a lovely dinner and a few drinks somewhere nice.

ScurryfungeSpuddle · 29/08/2025 13:14

User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 13:11

There is a key safe that they have refused to use so it’s not an accident. It’s very much their way or the highway.

the door is self locking so I would have to wedge something in between it to be able to leave. They are on a day trip and have refused to come back early to let me out! I told them about the key safe repeatedly and they won’t use it.

What do you mean 'let me out'?

Did they lock you in?

Tablesandchairs23 · 29/08/2025 13:14

I wouldn't go on holiday with a family member I don't get on with.

Original poster
User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 13:15

They’ve said it was “safer” for them to take the keys so they would have the option to return to the apartment. Whereas as I obviously don’t have that option…

OP posts:
Original poster
User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 13:16

@ScurryfungeSpuddle no but I am unable to leave and then come back in. It’s self locking.

OP posts:
JimmyGiraffe · 29/08/2025 13:17

User8182737484849 · 29/08/2025 13:15

They’ve said it was “safer” for them to take the keys so they would have the option to return to the apartment. Whereas as I obviously don’t have that option…

Seriously??

moose62 · 29/08/2025 13:17

I would just leave and go and stay elsewhere but not tell them.

Thispupsgottofly · 29/08/2025 13:18

Go out and have a lovely time. Come back much later preferably waking them up!

MissingCrumpets · 29/08/2025 13:19

I would ask the owner for a second key; it’s annoying to have to coordinate.
I wouldn’t tell them about the second key and would do the same to them tomorrow. Just tell them it’s safer. It must be fine to do it, as they’ve done it to you.

Doggymummar · 29/08/2025 13:19

Go get another from reception

legsekeven · 29/08/2025 13:20

Take what you need for the day/ evening and go do something fun. If you wake them up coming in then so be it

Melonjuice · 29/08/2025 13:20

Why is there only one key

ScurryfungeSpuddle · 29/08/2025 13:20

This is bizarre.

In your OP you said I asked them to pop it in the key safe this time. For whatever reason, they didn’t — and with their phone switched off I can’t get hold of them.

'For whatever reason' sounded like they either forgot or decided against it.

Now you're saying they refused point blank in the first place and just went out for a whole day in the knowledge you'd be locked out?

And you seriously want...

"Any advice on how to handle the rest of the trip without letting this sour everything?"

Blimey.

VeryStressedMum · 29/08/2025 13:20

Just go out and back in the evening your friend will be back then, they won’t stay out all night those sorts of whole are hoping for a reaction after treating you like shit but will pretend they haven’t done anything wrong. You are playing right into their hands. You are not stuck you can go out you are just choosing not to

user9064385631 · 29/08/2025 13:20

I think I’d pack up my stuff and go to a hotel, travel lodge or something or even just go home if you’re not abroad.
What an arse they are being! You say this holiday was supposed to be a reconciliation? Are you sure you want someone so awkward in your life? I wouldn’t…