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Original poster

How to handle this

150 replies

howbadistheball · 15/10/2026 17:16

Currently staying at a “naice” hotel in Spain. My bored 15 year old went up to our room to chill for an hour. He’s can’t sit still ( possible ADD, undergoing assessment) and started gently dribbling a ball around the room apparently. It was 1.30 pm.

I was down by the pool ( so don’t actually know how annoying it must have been, but from previous experience it isn’t loud, just a thumping) and came up to check on him. I was accosted by a guest from the room next door, just as I arrived who was very confrontational and annoyed. Apparently it was disturbing his afternoon nap.

I told him I would deal with it, and opened the door to the room. Son and ball are standing there. The guest did not come in to the room but stood at the door and proceeded to tell off my son.

we left together to do an activity. When I returned an hour later there was a note from reception asking me to contact them immediately. Apparently the guest had made an official complaint about him.

for info. I’m on my own here with my son. No other adults. And he was a bit intimidating

OP posts:
NotAnotherScarf · 15/10/2026 17:21

See reception and apologise but point out it was lunch time not the middle of the night and that your son wont do it again but its not like he was playing rock music at full blast

Ablondiebutagoody · 15/10/2026 17:22

I would stop the playing football in the room.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 15/10/2026 17:23

Complain about the intimidating and aggressive guest at the door to your room. Ask he be moved or you be moved.

ThereIsSomethingWrongWithTheLeftFilange · 15/10/2026 17:24

Well he wasn't gently dribbling the ball around the room really was he? If it was loud enough, and went on long enough, to disturb other guests then it was worse than your son is making out.

If you are on holiday and staying in a hotel, then you need to be respectful to other people staying there and not make excessive noise or its to be expected that someone will complain.

The guest shouldn't have told off your son but to be honest, that kind of constant thumping noise would annoy anyone. Did your son apologise when he was telling him off? Did you ask your son to apologise? Did you apologise and say that it won't happen again and you didn't realise how much noise it was making?

Apologise, and to reception, and tell your son to be more considerate of other people from now on.

Jellycatspyjamas · 15/10/2026 17:25

Ask your 15 year old not to play football in the bedroom - it’s bloody annoying hearing the thud of a ball inside your room.

PeloMom · 15/10/2026 17:28

Dribbling in a room is never ok. If he’s bored he can take his ball and go play with it outside.
id be raging too if I paid for a holiday to rest and instead had to listen to someone’s quite unreasonable behaviour for an hour! If you think he’s old enough to be left alone you should also teach him what’s acceptable behaviour and what isn’t.

ThereIsSomethingWrongWithTheLeftFilange · 15/10/2026 17:28

Mumtobabyhavoc · 15/10/2026 17:23

Complain about the intimidating and aggressive guest at the door to your room. Ask he be moved or you be moved.

I would think the guest would probably relish being moved away from his noisy 'football playing indoors' neighbour.

TFImBackIn · 15/10/2026 17:28

I think that guest was well within their rights to complain. A lot of people have an afternoon nap and nobody wants to hear a ball being kicked around in the room next door. Your son needs to apologise (though that's easier said than done).

If he wanted to move about, could he have gone for a run or a swim? Are there any other teenagers around?

Arlanymor · 15/10/2026 17:29

'Gently dribbling' wouldn't have been audible, so it was clearly louder than that. Plus it's really bad manners to play football indoors anywhere, including in a hotel, things can get damaged and the noise - as has been proved - is annoying. I'm imagining the complaint went further because the other guest couldn't see that you were doing anything about it - not saying that you weren't going to, and maybe he jumped in before you could - but I imagine that how he views it, plus maybe he thought if you were permitting this antisocial behaviour that you didn't see anything wrong with it (I would have got severely got told off aged 15 if I played with a ball indoors and I was rugby mad and went on to represent my country - I would have got told to go outside and no mistake). The guest can't see through walls so you must admit that it was audible enough to disturb him.

concertinacornflake · 15/10/2026 17:29

Go to reception and say your son won't do it again. Also say the guest was rather intimidating so pleased could a room change be made.

BigBilly · 15/10/2026 17:31

What does naice mean?

SALaw · 15/10/2026 17:31

What do you mean how do you handle it? Tell your son to be more considerate and not do it again and then that’s the end of the matter?

SoThatsTheWayItIs · 15/10/2026 17:34

Good on the guest for complaining to you and about you. Ffs if your some can’t be trusted not to kick a ball about in a hotel room then you need to supervise him. No one wants to listen the repetitive thud of a ball for god knows how long. I don’t think the guy sounds intimidating just pissed off and rightfully so. I’m sure he will be most thrilled if you are moved.

VioletsTale · 15/10/2026 17:34

Intimidating how?

purpleme12 · 15/10/2026 17:35

I would say it's wrong to dribble a ball inside a hotel room really. Should be outside if doing that

SerendipityCat · 15/10/2026 17:36

Amusing - if you happen to know the backstory - Mumsnet speak for “nice”.

BIWI · 15/10/2026 17:38

don’t actually know how annoying it must have been, but from previous experience it isn’t loud, just a thumping

Sorry, but 'thumping' implies that it is loud! And in any case, if it was disturbing someone in the next room then it was too loud.

What on earth was your son doing playing football in the bedroom? Surely there's a gym or an outside area where he could go and play?

I'm not surprised you received a complaint.

Postjurywoes · 15/10/2026 17:38

You get a grip on your son's behaviour

Moonnstarz · 15/10/2026 17:39

I guess your son probably didn't think about walls being thin and the ball banging around being so loud. I would definitely get him to apologise and also suggest that he uses an outdoor space if he wants to play football, and that if he wants to chill in the room that means choosing a quiet indoor activity (puzzle book, reading, watching the TV).

Alittlefrustrated · 15/10/2026 17:43

Well obviously you apologise sincerely to reception and ask them to pass on your apologies to the room next door.
Tell them it won't happen again. Tell your son it is unacceptable to play football in a hotel due to risk of damages and needing to respect other guests right to peace. There will be a consequence if he does it again.
How else could you reasonably handle this?

Dobedobedobedo · 15/10/2026 17:46

Apologise promise it won't happen again

Bumcake · 15/10/2026 17:50

Just put it behind you, and ensure your son doesn’t do anything that daft again. What else can you do really?

AlwaysExtraHot · 15/10/2026 17:51

'just a thumping'
Not annoying at all, then Grin
I don't think balls should be played with indoors (yes, stop sniggering at the back) full stop, day or night, hotel or at home. There are plenty of quiet activities suitable for indoors.

MrsPapillon · 15/10/2026 17:53

Take DS with you to reception. Take it on the chin and get him to apologise and assure them it won’t happen again. He should apologise, not you.

Jellycatspyjamas · 15/10/2026 17:55

Out of interest how do you think you should deal with it? I’d have every expectation that a mid-teens young person would know not to play with a ball indoors, and I’d also expect to be able to have a nap undisturbed in a nice hotel. So how do you think you should deal with it?

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