25-year-old mom demands brother swap vacation rental for hotel room, family flips out when he asks her to pay $250 difference: 'They had 8 months notice, they could have saved up'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 6, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

Vacationing with other people and especially family members can prove to be a uniquely stressful experience, and sometimes even more so when it is centered around a big get-together or event such as a wedding. With those who are more demanding, there can be a constant tug of war between everybody just to keep the loudest complainers both comfortable and happy.

When it comes to staying away from home, accommodation is often one of the biggest causes of arguments. All too often, people have differing ideas of what is most appropriate for whom, and perhaps more importantly, who is entitled to what, no matter how much they are willing to pay. Discussions of this nature can ruin a holiday or event before it has even begun, simply because certain individuals can't help but stake a claim on something that they have absolutely no interest in making a decent contribution to.

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to give up my Airbnb?

    I (30m) am in the wedding party for my cousin's wedding, about a four hour drive away, in a little over a week. As soon as I was asked, I booked the Airbnb for me, my wife and our daughter. We found out about some health issues with my FIL this week and after a long discussion, we decided my wife and daughter would stay home and help him recover, and I would still go to the wedding instead of dropping out as a groomsman last minute.
    via patronus-taco
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10514432512
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • One man dealt with this issue when his sister requested that he swap the Airbnb he had booked for their cousin's wedding with the hotel room she had booked for herself, her partner, and two kids. Originally, the man's wife and daughter were going to join him, but due to his father-in-law having health issues, they chose to stay behind.

    Because of this, his sister felt he didn't need the space and requested a swap. In return, the man asked that she and her partner pay the $250 difference in price between the rental and the hotel.

    In response, their mom began to protest that it wasn't fair for him to ask them to pay the difference, and that he should help the family no matter what. The man was conflicted and wanted confirmation that it would be OK to decline the demand.

  • 03
    Still not sure who told my sister (25) about the change in plans, but within a day she's calling me telling (not asking!) me that I should give my Airbnb reservation to her, her bf, and their two kids because they need the space of two bedrooms, and since it's just going to be me, "wouldn't I be more comfortable in a hotel room?" As much as I was looking forward to some peace and quiet to myself for a couple days, the people-pleaser in me won out, and hey... pool, bar/restaurant downstairs, and
    via patronus-taco
  • 04
    An hour later, my mom calls. "Why am I being unreasonable... dont I know that my sister is having financial difficulties? The $250 difference isn't going to make or break me!" I stood firm and said they had 8 months notice for the wedding, they could have saved up for an Airbnb too. But no... I'm the bad guy and family needs to look out for each other and why can't I make this small sacrifice. I know I don't need all the space of a cabin to myself, but it's not my fault you booked a hotel room w
    via patronus-taco
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10514432768
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 06

    Outsiders pointed out that family's entitled behavior.

    Walktothebrook NTA. If your mother is so concerned about sister's finances why doesn't she pay?
    via Walktothebrook
  • 07
    swissmtndog398 Only answer needed... "Hey mom. Thought about what you said. I'm assuming since it 'isn't that much' you'd be fine paying the difference. As you said, they need the room and it's no time to be selfish! Will that be Venmo? PayPal? Cash? Check?
    via swissmtndog398
  • 08
    Goodness_Gracious7 They sound like the type to trash the airbnb and leave you with the cleanup fee and bad review.
    via Goodness_Gracious7
  • 09
    Zazzog NTA. Your sister is trying to mooch because she sees an opportunity for a free upgrade. Stand firm. She can pay the difference, or stay at the hotel. That's completely fair.
    via Zazzog
  • 10
    Ithaca Mom2005 Let Mom pay the difference if she thinks it's so important
    via IthacaMom2005
  • 11
    Flimsy-Fortune-6437 Do you still have time to cancel the AirBnB and book a hotel room? You could just cancel and tell them it's now available for them to rent
    via Flimsy-Fortune-6437
  • 12
    Tempting Penguin369 NTA. First, if they trash the Airbnb that's in your name, you'd be on the hook. I've never used Airbnb (honestly if I'm on vacation, I want hotel amenities, not cleaning fees), so I have no idea if you can "give" your reservation to someone like this. Second, I wouldn't do this unless they pay you in advance for the price differential.
    via TemptingPenguin369
  • 13
    Princess-Eilonwy NTA. It's your card that is on file for any incidentals. Not to mention Airbnb rules explicitly state that the person who makes the reservation must be one of the guests staying during the booking period. Do you really want to risk getting kicked off the site or paying for any damages for your ungrateful sister?
    via Princess-Eilonwy
  • 14
    Wonderful_Two_6710 NTA. Withdraw the offer to swap due to her ingratitude, tell her explicitly why - including being a grown woman who cries to her mommy when she doesn't get her way - and enjoy your spacious getaway.
    via Wonderful_Two_6710
  • 15
    NTA He_Who_Is_Person And while I'm not 100% on this, I'm pretty sure that your Airbnb contract prevents you from giving the rental to someone else.
    via He_Who_Is_Person
  • 16
    Amazing-Royal-3952 Nta. If the Airbnb reservation was done with your credit card, you will be responsible for any damages done to the property. I don't think your sister has money to pay you back in case something happens. Just enjoy your stay and let them blah blah blah lol.
    via Amazing-Royal-3952
  • 17
    matthew_birdsey Please say no... Your sister needs to live with her choices If your mom doesn't like it she can pay for your sister's room... Please stay strong!
    via matthew_birdsey
  • 18
    BottomShelfVodka NTA. Your family sounds like an absolute nightmare. You spent the money to enjoy your getaway, you get to enjoy it. If money is tight for the sister then your family can help crowd fund a room for her. Enjoy your vacation. Your family is trying to manipulate you into feeling guilty over something that is not your responsibility.
    via BottomShelfVodka
  • 19
    NTA Professional_Ruin953 Look, I don't know your sister's financial situation, nor do I know yours. What I do know is that people need to live the lifestyle they can afford. As for your mother's flying-monkey efforts, maybe prompt her to think carefully about how the favouritism she exhibits between her children in the present might affect her future life in a nursing home.
    via Professional_Ruin953
  • 20
    _EmberShade Wow, honestly, NTA here. You planned this way in advance, made arrangements for your family, and now your sister expects you to just drop everything and hand over your Airbnb? That's super unfair. She had months to plan, and financial struggles or not, it's not your responsibility to fix that last minute. Plus, you even tried to be reasonable by offering to cover the cost difference! Family can be tough, but you gotta look out for yourself too - don't let them guilt-trip you into giv
    via _EmberShade
  • 21
    SouthNags Head NTA. She is demanding and doesn't hesitate to convince others that you are a bad guy. You made a nice compromise offer. Enjoy your Airbnb and let them pound sand.
    via SouthNagsHead
  • 22
    megob411 Stop bailing her out. She's a grown woman and responsible for her own actions.
    via megob411
  • 23
    Character-Twist-1409 NTA I would just say you double checked and it needs to be the people initially on the reservation. Or at least you need to be there...because someone this ungrateful will not take care of it.
    via Character-Twist-1409
  • 24
    SurveySaysX NTA. Ask your mom to pay the difference if she thinks it's not a big deal. Calling it this year's Christmas gift is also a great way to handle it, to be honest. (You can still get the kids a little something, they're blameless here.)
    via SurveySaysX

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aita kids brother wedding family sister reddit thread Reddit entitled people
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