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Original poster

Help. I booked the same holiday as my friend

43 replies

smyrie · 31/07/2023 16:55

A good friend of mine has a new boyfriend. She wanted a romantic Greek island destination. I recommended an island to her. Forgot all about it.

Recently found out I had a week off work. Booked flights and accommodation on the same small Greek island.... turns out they are going to be there the same week we are there!! It's a small island, not a package holiday destination as you need to get a ferry there.

Do I tell them? Or just hope I don't bump into them

OP posts:
YourNameGoesHere · 31/07/2023 16:57

What island and how small is small? I think you're going to have to tell them but honestly I'd find it very suffocating if I were your friend and I'd find it very difficult to believe it was all done accidentally especially as you recommended the island to begin with.

greenteaandmarshmallows · 31/07/2023 16:57

As you recommended it and they booked first I'd say let me know if you want to coordinate dinner plans so we meet up/ go to different places different days 😉

greenteaandmarshmallows · 31/07/2023 16:57

YourNameGoesHere · 31/07/2023 16:57

What island and how small is small? I think you're going to have to tell them but honestly I'd find it very suffocating if I were your friend and I'd find it very difficult to believe it was all done accidentally especially as you recommended the island to begin with.

Yes I'd worry she'd think it was on purpose

Whataretheodds · 31/07/2023 16:58

Is it the same hotel? Is there just one main street/square you're likely to be eating in?

Aquamarine1029 · 31/07/2023 16:58

Tell her. If you wouldn't mind meeting up once for dinner and drinks, say you're up for it if they are. If they're not, you can talk about the trip when you all get back.

BigBeeee · 31/07/2023 16:58

It's understandable how it happened. I would just say so she knows it was accidental and that you won't be trying to hang around with them all week.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/07/2023 16:59

YourNameGoesHere · 31/07/2023 16:57

What island and how small is small? I think you're going to have to tell them but honestly I'd find it very suffocating if I were your friend and I'd find it very difficult to believe it was all done accidentally especially as you recommended the island to begin with.

The op recommended the island, she didn't know the dates her friend was working with.

Roselilly36 · 31/07/2023 17:08

That would be so awkward, especially as they want a romantic break. I would mention it that I had booked to go there, but I definitely wouldn’t suggest meeting up, as that probably won’t go down to well.

YourNameGoesHere · 31/07/2023 17:12

Aquamarine1029 · 31/07/2023 16:59

The op recommended the island, she didn't know the dates her friend was working with.

Show quote history

To be fair we don't know if the op knew the exact dates but it's likely she knew a rough idea of what time of year they were visiting. Enough to think it would be odd to book at the same sort of time.

Definitely don't ask to have dinner or meet up with them! They are on a romantic get away and they presumably want to be alone.

InSpainTheRain · 31/07/2023 17:30

Oh gosh OP, I can understand how it happened and we did the same! We had a great long weekend in Malta... got back and told my friend about it. She asked for details and she then booked a to go too (although I didn't know). Then DH said to me he fancied a break - I said shall we go back to Malta we loved it last time. So we did. Yeah you guessed - my friend and her BF were also there! We laughed about it then agreed not to see each other and ignore each other (not in a horrible way!!) and have a catch up when we came home.

I'd tell your friend upfront, point out it was a mistake, agree to ignore each other (don't feel you have to say hello or join each other's tables etc). Catch up when you get back.

GoodVibesHere · 31/07/2023 17:34

Oh that's my worst nightmare. I go on holiday to get away from it all, to escape to fantasy land. It would ruin my escape to bump into a friend on holiday!

I think tell her, but make it clear you won't be meeting up.

Dinoboymama · 31/07/2023 17:36

If you didn't know the dates just say I didn't realize we were going at the same time. I think it would be weirder to find a friend had deliberately never told us they were going.

Smidge001 · 31/07/2023 17:40

I wouldn't tell them. If you tell them, they might start dreading the holiday run up, instead of looking forward to it. And you might not bump into them till at least half way through. Telling them in advance makes it looks more on purpose than if you just bump into them by accident when you're there.

SauronsArsehole · 31/07/2023 17:44

This is where you bump into her, act all surprised but find out she’s shagging your boss/dad/brother or some other crazy scenario 🤣 youll spend the week telling all of us completely oblivious to the single chap trying to get your attention, eventually he does and your own romantic comedy novel is born.

unless you’re married. Just act dumb and take a really big floppy hat.

MysteryBelle · 31/07/2023 17:54

It’s hard for me to believe you didn’t do this on purpose. What are the odds that 1) you forgot you recommended the Greek island to her 2) you booked the same Greek island for your own holiday and 3) you booked it for exact same week the friend is going, after she booked it.

Sure.

Based on the post you’ve written, I’d surmise that you are a stalker extraordinaire. It’s something a villain from a Lifetime movie would do.

😱

MysteryBelle · 31/07/2023 17:56

Just imagine what she’ll think when she unexpectedly sees you there. All you have to do is have a little sinister smile on your face. S T A L K E R

Movinghouseatlast · 31/07/2023 18:02

Exactly the same thing has happened to me TWICE!!!

Both times I told them and arranged to meet for dinner one evening.

However, I did feel that I spent the whole time avoiding being in the same taverna or bar. We were in the same tiny village with only 5 tavernas.

One of the friends I have since fallen out with because she hated the holiday and thought it was too expensive!

MissingOkie · 31/07/2023 18:06

Tell them. My friends would think it was funny, arrange to meet up and depending on how new the new BF was, be quite glad in case he turned out to be a total bore on holiday. 😅

EasyCosUrBeautiful · 31/07/2023 18:09

greenteaandmarshmallows · 31/07/2023 16:57

Yes I'd worry she'd think it was on purpose

Show quote history

But how arrogant would you have to be to think that your friend liked you so much she wanted to crash your holiday?

LongDarkTeatime · 31/07/2023 18:10

How big is the island?
If it’s the size of Paxos, you’ll be fine, lots of space.
If it’s the size of Anti-Paxos, tell them!!

Justcallmebebes · 31/07/2023 18:11

You have to tell her because it will be v awkward if you bump into them. She may think you're stalking her

Lovingitallnow · 31/07/2023 18:13

Surely you recommended it because it's a place you enjoy to go? Did you know her weeks? If that happened to me id think in retrospect it's obvious the friend you recommended it could be going.

GolgafrinchamB · 31/07/2023 18:15

If the fires keep spreading it's going to be a moot point!

Just tell her now so it isn't weird if you bump into each other.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 31/07/2023 18:24

Romantic break or not, it's not that big a deal. We often holiday on a small Greek island (8 miles long) and so do other people I know. We have never accidentally bumped into each other. Unless you are in the same tiny village you probably won't either. Just message her " oh I see you took my advice! We'll be there too coincidentally, maybe bump into you at the airport on the way home!"

It will look much odder if you say nothing.

Ilovelurchers · 31/07/2023 18:27

Really curious as to why some of you think OP did this deliberately. Why would she? Unless you think she is secretly in love with her friend. But that's a massive leap....

Also, why people think the friend will be that appalled by it? I am really fucking anti-social I think, and even I wouldn't mind that much if someone I knew had recommended a resort to me and happened to be there at the same time. It certainly wouldn't make me dread my holiday. I'd just say hi and have a brief chat if I bumped into them, but decline a suggestion of dinner by explaining it was a romantic break with a new partner. No drama!