Woman ditches boyfriend's family vacation early after feeling "disregarded" when they refuse to compromise on her sleeping needs, father takes her side but boyfriend doesn't: 'Boyfriend doesn't believe my story'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Sep 3, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Sometimes, being with someone else's family can be more of a nightmare than your own. The woman in the story here isn't close with her family, she grew up with a rough childhood that's still affecting her as an adult. She's working on her past through therapy, but her present situation isn't necessarily making things better. She goes on vacation with her boyfriend of three years and his family. It turns out to be a nightmare she never imagined. 
Starting off the vacation on little to no sleep is not a good predication for things, then everything just gets worse and worse. 

She ends up feeling unimportant and disregarded by his family, so she decides to leave the vacation early. But will it ruin things between her and her boyfriend? I've also had a family vacation with a partner's family, but it went well. We did a Caribbean cruise, and it was some of the most fun I've ever had. I totally get having issues with spending a lot of time with family though. It's hard to be with anyone's family for days in a row, and definitely your own. But read the full story below.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    In-Law Vacation turned nightmare

    Woman at airport
    via Jaspe / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    First timer, here goes. I have a history of avoiding family vacations bc I grew up in an family. I like to have an "out" in case. Been w boyfriend
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 03
    for 3 yrs, he knows my history. I'm in therapy, and working on being more open to family (not mine) events. On island now and my
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 04
    fears have been realized. Took long trip with boyfriend earlier. this year and it was good.
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 05
    Night before flight, 2 hours sleep bc he wanted to stay at parents house instead of driving down the morning of. On flight here, when
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 06
    a lady offered to switch so we could sit together (he would have gone from opposite aisle to window), he said, "why would I do
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 07
    that?" She was surprised (as was I). Five hour flight, middle seat, broken tv, no leaning back (in front of exit row).
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 08
    First night, i go to bed early bc I'm working on 2 hours' sleep. Brother of bf says to me, "too bad, I'm watching the game (tv is
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 09
    in the adjoining room to the one we got assigned - we all went in, but somehow we were the only couple who didn't get a say in the rooms). Next morning, am woken
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 10
    early bc adjoining room has no sound barrier to main space and in law parents are up before 5 am.
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 11
    I ask what can we do so I can get sleep. Brother offers to switch rooms (turns out, he didn't like the one he picked). I profusely
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 12
    thanked them. It's in adjoining bungalow w thatched roof. I take a nap in there and it's got mold (roof). I have asthma. I'm the only one with a sensitivity so no one
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 13
    Vacation beach
    via blueorangestudio / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 14
    could have known until I spent time in there. I tell family rather than make anyone switch with me again, I'll just use a sofa.
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 15
    Second night (but 3rd with only a couple hours' sleep), I make up the only available sofa (bro used the one the adjoining room for
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 16
    his baby where the other sofa was). Mom comes in from her bedroom, sits down, and says, "I'm not ready to go to bed yet."
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 17
    Bro sits down with her. (It is no secret I've had no sleep for two nights). They tell me I can stay up and wait for them to go to bed.
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 18
    They gave me a look - it was a moment. I pick up my bed stuffs, and sleep on the patio furniture outside. I got about 3 hours. Next morning, I tell my bf (who slept in
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 19
    mold room bc he doesn't have sensitivity) that I've found a flight to leave early and what went down. He goes and intervenes with family while I'm in bathroom
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 20
    Family at vacation on beach
    via petrenkod / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • It's absolutely a red flag that her boyfriend doesn't even believe her story until his father validates it. I was once in a relationship where my boyfriend didn't validate my experiences, and it really does drive someone crazy. How can I feel understood by someone who doesn't believe me?

  • 21
    (I had specifically asked him not to bc the moment wasn't an accident). I sleep for an hour on the other patio floor and by the
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 22
    time I wake, the flight is gone. I have to wait a day minimum. Mom and dad switch rooms with us. After his mom and bro give
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 23
    varying accounts, Bf doesn't believe my story until dad confirms it happened bc he'd been in the room at the time (1 didn't even realize he was there
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 24
    bc it was such an appalling moment). Family now tells him he should break up with me - it is tense. He thinks I'm overreacting. This is not a vacation.
    via u/Savings_Car_2025
  • 25
    Jouleswatt So your boyfriend didn't believe you until his father backed up your story, and his mom & brother couldn't agree on what happened until his dad backed you up. Yikes
    via u/Jouleswatt

Tags

family drama drama family feud relationships lol couples love family breakup reddit thread red flag Reddit funny money dating vacation
Scroll Down For The Next Article