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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ski trip cost- are we subsidizing “host “ family

384 replies

Moknicker · 05/12/2025 02:58

Wanted to get a sense check on how a family has asked us to split costs for an upcoming ski trip

  • One family (2 adults + 2 kids) is going on the trip.
  • Four additional children (each from separate families) were invited to join. Our child is one of these - is friends with younger child. Kids are 17 and 15 year olds
  • Total people on the trip: 8
  • 4 from the host family.
  • 4 individual children

Shared costs:

  • Accommodation: 4k total
  • Ski lift pass: 7 at 300 each = 2100 ( mum is not skiing)
  • Total cost: 6100

The host family just told us the cost is 1640 for our son. I asked for the breakdown( we were only given total figure). It looks like they have added up the costs and divided by 5

Aibu to say this is not fair and our cost is around 1050( accommodation divided by 8 and we pay 300 for ski lift ) and we and the other kids should not be subsidizing the “host” family? And if we are then they should have told us beforehand?

Travel costs and other costs are covered individually.

OP posts:
Rhubarbandgooseburycrumble · 05/12/2025 05:10

OP has written travel and others costs paid for individually.

Yep they are getting you to pay for them. I’d also ask for a breakdown as no way would I pay that. That’s a school ski trip price where everything is included. I would be saying to my son that he wouldn’t be going. Once you’ve added on travel, ski hire, food you are looking at around another £1000 ish. Plus another £300 if they have lessons.

Zanatdy · 05/12/2025 05:22

That’s a bit of a piss take expecting the 4 people they’ve invited to pay all the costs of the accomodation. Presume the family aren’t paying all the food / travel etc. Very awkward. Not sure how some people have the cheek to do stuff like this.

springintoaction2 · 05/12/2025 05:31

Meh - your kid is going on a holiday that someone else has organised and you're quibbling about the price.

Suck it up or organise the trip yourself.

HelmholtzWatson · 05/12/2025 05:39

Skiier here. When/where are they going?

Skis/boots are going to be £150. Food is the big deal here though. If all 7 of them stop on the mountain for coffee and then everyone decides they want a crepe, that's £100. If they eat out in the evening, it's going to be around £300. It will soon add up

I highly doubt the adults are going to want to cook for 6 teenagers every evening, so the price is not unreasonable. However, for that money they could easily have got a 4* half board hotel in most resorts and had plenty of change.

IdentifyingHouse · 05/12/2025 05:57

Cost of car hire - presumably an extra car needed for that many or a minibus type- €1000
cost of ski boots and ski hire - €250 each
cost of ski lessons - €300 each
Food / drink - €75 per day depending on eating out

this is from my ski budget for our family holiday next year - I don’t know how many of these you’ve agreed to pay separately but otherwise they’ll need to be factored in.

BrokenWorldRecord · 05/12/2025 06:06

tilypu · 05/12/2025 03:13

What about things like flights, ski/equipment hire, food, transfers - is that all being paid by you separately?

Did you read the last line of the original post?

BrokenWorldRecord · 05/12/2025 06:07

Looociee · 05/12/2025 03:13

I would question this but very very gently. Agree with pp - what about travel?

Another one didn’t read the last line of the original post.

VegemiteOnToast · 05/12/2025 06:10

It might include meals out and groceries. I'd check.

Changingplace · 05/12/2025 06:14

ShamedBySiri · 05/12/2025 03:32

Shared costs:
Accommodation: 4k total Ski lift pass: 7 at 300 each = 2100 ( mum is not skiing) Total cost: 6100
The host family just told us the cost is 1640 for our son. I asked for the breakdown( we were only given total figure). It looks like they have added up the costs and divided by 5
Aibu to say this is not fair and our cost is around 1050( accommodation divided by 8 and we pay 300 for ski lift ) and we and the other kids should not be subsidizing the “host” family?

Surely accommodation divided by 8 is 500 plus ski pass at 300 equals 800 total?

I’ve no idea how they or you have worked it out.
But arguing about the cost will be tricky, especially if they have already booked and presumably your child is a good friend and keen to go. Good luck.

Agreed, I’d make it £800 and I don’t understand either maths here.

Where are you getting £1050 from OP?

Sounds like the host family want the x4 friends to cover their entire trip and more? £1640 x 4 =£6,560 so they’re making nearly £500 profit…

Changingplace · 05/12/2025 06:17

HelmholtzWatson · 05/12/2025 05:39

Skiier here. When/where are they going?

Skis/boots are going to be £150. Food is the big deal here though. If all 7 of them stop on the mountain for coffee and then everyone decides they want a crepe, that's £100. If they eat out in the evening, it's going to be around £300. It will soon add up

I highly doubt the adults are going to want to cook for 6 teenagers every evening, so the price is not unreasonable. However, for that money they could easily have got a 4* half board hotel in most resorts and had plenty of change.

Nobody would expect the host family to cover that though, spending money for food should be expected as extra.

TimetodoEverything · 05/12/2025 06:36

I would ask for clarification on the basis that you need to work out what other costs you need to budget for. Given you understand that accommodation is £4k for 8 people, there must be other costs that they’ve added in to get to £1,340 per person plus £300 lift pass. So you need to know what costs have been factored in so you don’t need to add those on later.

ApolloandDaphne · 05/12/2025 06:38

Have they given you a complete breakdown of costs? What about flights, food and other sundry costs?

HelmholtzWatson · 05/12/2025 06:41

Changingplace · 05/12/2025 06:17

Nobody would expect the host family to cover that though, spending money for food should be expected as extra.

Show quote history

Yes but as the hosting family, I'm 100% billing food costs up front. No way I'm covering the food and discretionary spending of 6 teenagers for a week then spending 6 months chasing the money up while I go back and forth with the 5 sets of parents who are quibbling about every coffee or pastry.

Confusedorabused · 05/12/2025 06:56

If accommodation is divided by 5, that means 3 people are not paying for accommodation? I don't think thts a fair split.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 05/12/2025 06:56

I dont know...
I think this includes more and is pretty cheap for a weeks skiing if its all inc.
P
Where is food/drinks, ski hire, travel and transport...

£1.6k per a weeks skiing is not bad...

Squishedpassenger · 05/12/2025 06:59

So you're sending your minor son away with a family skiing. They will supervise him etc, and you are resentful that you have to pay a bit for that?

ResusciAnnie · 05/12/2025 07:00

6 kids to 1 adult on the slopes sounds like an appalling idea never mind the cost of it! Mental.

KilliMonjaro · 05/12/2025 07:01

They’re taking your kid away?

ProfessionalPirate · 05/12/2025 07:02

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 05/12/2025 06:56

I dont know...
I think this includes more and is pretty cheap for a weeks skiing if its all inc.
P
Where is food/drinks, ski hire, travel and transport...

£1.6k per a weeks skiing is not bad...

Read the OP - it says travel and other costs are separate. So the total cost will be considerably higher than £1.6k.

DallasMajor · 05/12/2025 07:03

How do you divide 4,000 by 8, add 300 and get 1050?

Squishedpassenger · 05/12/2025 07:04

ProfessionalPirate · 05/12/2025 07:02

Read the OP - it says travel and other costs are separate. So the total cost will be considerably higher than £1.6k.

Show quote history

Ok but shes sending her child and an adult will be supervising them so she's getting a great deal.

LlynTegid · 05/12/2025 07:06

I agree that whilst children might be a lower figure, dividing by five is not the answer.

Animatic · 05/12/2025 07:08

What about ski rentals? 300 ski pass sounda on a cheaper side. How long is the trip for?
Based on the numbers you have given - it should 500 per head for accomodation plus 300 for skipass.

ProfessionalPirate · 05/12/2025 07:08

HelmholtzWatson · 05/12/2025 06:41

Yes but as the hosting family, I'm 100% billing food costs up front. No way I'm covering the food and discretionary spending of 6 teenagers for a week then spending 6 months chasing the money up while I go back and forth with the 5 sets of parents who are quibbling about every coffee or pastry.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes but that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening here. The OP asked for a breakdown and no mention was made of additional food costs within the £1.6k. OP will be expecting to pay extra again for that.

Needspaceforlego · 05/12/2025 07:10

Surely you asked for costs before you agreed to it?
It does seem a bit weird to want to take 2 pals for each of their 2 kids.
Do you know the other parents?

What sort of level of skiers are all these kids?
My concern is that they are all different levels and the Dad wants to go off down blacks, while the kids bumble around on blues.

If you haven't already committed i think I'd pull my kid out