Mom plans family vacation, sister and fiancé consider canceling when she lets her kids pick their bedrooms first: 'She suggested we could sleep on a blow up mattress'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Apr 1, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

When many people think about going on vacation, comfort is one of their top priorities.

After all, it seems a little silly to spend a significant chunk of disposable income on relaxing purposes, only to realize that the place you are going might wind up being the exact opposite of that. This is the premise of so many holiday nightmare stories.

At the same time, if the destination is on the bucket list or you really want to take the trip to spend time with family and friends, there is a chance that you may be willing to compromise. When it comes to vacationing, there are many factors that can make it so special. It doesn't always have to be about staying in the most luxurious surroundings.

The most important thing is that everybody who is going on vacation is on board with the plan. If one person is happy for things to be a certain way but another isn't, it is just a recipe for arguments that are going to sour what should be a good time. As with so many issues, communication is key, and sometimes, it is better not to take a trip at all than do one that is going to make you miserable.

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  • A man looks down while sitting on top of a bunk bed
    via A.C. (Unsplash+)

    A man looks down while sitting on top of a bunk bed

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

  • In this story, a woman and her fiancé had been prepared to go on vacation with her older sister and her family. They had expected her husband to pay for the accommodation, but were then told that they would have to pay $400 for their share of the property.

    On top of this, they had changed the dates, despite the woman's fiancé already requesting specific days off work for the trip. The sister had allowed her kids to pick their rooms before anyone else, leaving them with sleeping options that did not work for them. As a result, they were considering canceling on joining the vacation altogether.

  • Am I wrong for pulling out of a vacation over the sleeping arrangements?

    I (33F) and my fiancé (35M) were invited on a vacation by my sister (42F). We were told that her and her husband would pay for the rental property which was somewhere we had stayed before on a previous trip.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • Originally I told her I wasn't sure because even though this trip is still months away my fiancé just started a new job and we didn't know if he would be able to get time off.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • I asked her for the exact days and I told her we wanted to come but weren't sure and I would let her know.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • I then received a text from her 2 days later telling me the house was booked and that her and her husband talked and they wanted us to pay $400.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • This threw me considering they said said originally they would pay for the rental. I found out that $400 was 1/3 of the rentals price.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • But they said that they were going to be cooking at the rental property so they would cover all the food for the week.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • She also at this point informed me that they changed the dates by a few days.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • I told her that my fiancé had already requested off based off the dates she had originally given me and I wasn't sure he would be able to change them and told her he would talk to his boss the next day he worked.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • My fiancé was able to get everything settled with his work and I told my sister we were on board with going and even agreed to pay the $400.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • However, the issue comes in when she told me that she allowed her three kids (18,14,12) to pick which rooms they wanted and that only two were left.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • One which had twin sized bed and one with a bunk bed. I told her that I didn't think it was fair that me and my fiancé were paying 1/3 of the rental fee but would have to sleep separately even if it was in the same room while two of her children were sleeping in a king and queen sized bed.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • She suggested that we can either push two twins together or we could sleep on a blow up mattress but that she isn't going back on allowing her kids to pick rooms.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • I don't know if I would be in the wrong to back out of going because of this or what I should do.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • My fiancé is suggesting we go on a different trip just him and me but with prices being so high for everything I don't know if we could come up with the extra money in time.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • Would I be overreacting if I backed out of the trip. EDIT- the $400 was what they asked us to pay-we have more than that for another trip but we were planning to go during peak season so prices are a bit higher than normal and we weren't sure if it was worth it to spend more money than we had too.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • A woman leans over and adjusts the sheet on a bunk bed, with a man behind her
    via A. C. (Unsplash+)

    A woman leans over and adjusts the sheet on a bunk bed, with a man behind her

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

  • key_knee INFO: So did they pay 2/3 of the cost or is there a 3rd couple or family going? Either way, I don't think you're wrong to pull out, I think I'm just trying to wrap my mind around what her logic even is on the whole insistence that the kids get to pick their rooms. It sounds like they're treating it as their vacation that they're kind enough to let you join in on, and that you should be happy to get whatever. That alone would really me off.
    via key_knee
  • RubProfessional6659 Original Poster's Reply from what I understanding they are paying 2/3 of the rental. and they have a total of 6-7 people coming as the oldest is bringing her boyfriend and the middle child is possibly bringing a friend. this is why I wasn't even asking for the second largest bed because the 18 year old will probably be sharing with her boyfriend.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • Small-Explorer7025 >My fiancé is suggesting we go on a different trip just him and me You don't say? Why TF would he want to go on vacation with your sister and her 3 children?
    via Small-Explorer7025
  • RubProfessional6659 Original Poster's Reply my sister/her family and my fiancé get along really well. we usually do vacations with them as well as other things like concerts/musics festivals.
    via RubProfessional6659
  • Suitably-Weird NOR - She changed the dates, changed the price, gave the best rooms to her kids, and expects you to pay 1/3 while her family takes up most of the space? The math isn't mathing here. And to be honest, I bet the "we'll cover groceries" thing will probably turn into you have to chip in anyway. I wouldn't go. This already feels uneven and controlling.
    via Suitably-Weird
  • Remote_Temporary_244 Just be like "Nah, sorry we are too grown to be pushing twin beds together".... Thanks for the offer though, enjoy your Vacation.
    via Remote_Temporary_244
  • fawningandconning NOR. This is crazy lol. Just tell her you're not going.
    via fawningandconning
  • clintttoris Yah, your sister is a 1. Move on.
    via clintttoris
  • XuanChun88 NOR Back out of this and don't pay anything. I bet she'll continue to find new things you will have to pay for and accommodate yourselves to.
    via XuanChun88
  • qbee198505 NOR. Lmao no way in h I would I pay a third of the rental fee only to be told a child is being accommodated over myself and my spouse.
    via qbee198505

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bed kids family bedroom sister fiancee entitled people vacation
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