Entitled vacation house guests demand owner buys them groceries, protest when she cancels their booking: 'Thanks for ruining our trip'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Aug 9, 2026 9:15 AM EDT

A vacation rental is not the same as an all-inclusive hotel.

There are many benefits to going the route of renting a house or apartment as a place to stay when you visit somewhere. You get more space, more control over the way you spend your vacation, and sometimes even a better deal than a hotel. The practice has its naysayers, primarily people who don't want to cook for themselves and those who have had to deal with nightmare Airbnb hosts. Nonetheless, if you pick right, it can be a wonderful experience.

Just like any kind of lodging, the quality depends on how much care and attention the owner puts into their business. It is only fair to expect a clean house and a warm welcome. However, some people have far more particular standards than others when it comes to looking for a vacation home. They want to make sure that they are getting the most for their money, but they also take that to extremes.

When it comes down to it, renting out a vacation home is a customer-focused industry, and any host has to be prepared for the ups and downs that are a part of that. It doesn't mean that they have to tolerate all kinds of requests, though.

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  • A close-up of a woman filling a grocery basket with fresh produce in a store
    via Natalia Blauth (Unsplash+)

    A close-up of a woman filling a grocery basket with fresh produce in a store

  • A woman who owned a vacation home in New Hampshire was stunned by an unusual request made by one of the people who was enquiring about renting her home. She had been interviewing prospective guests for August, choosing between a couple and a family who wanted the place around the same dates.

    The mom of the family who she spoke to asked her if the house would come fully stocked with groceries, a service which she didn't offer. She was offended when she was told that this wouldn't be possible, and got even angrier when the owner decided to rent to the couple instead.

  • Entitled renters expected a full kitchen stocked with groceries upon their arrival

    A while back I was going over potential renters of my summer home in New Hampshire as I rent the home out during the different seasons to help pay for the house. In January I talked with two potential couples who would be wanting to rent the house the week August 6th-21st and when it came to it I only wanted one couple in the house
    via Gymtrio2025
  • that time. I did two video calls with each couple. The first interviewed is a couple who are friends with a coworker of mine that would be getting married the weekend prior who were looking for a place to go for their honeymoon, they are into hiking and outdoors a perfect fit since my summer home is right within the White Mountains area.
    via Gymtrio2025
  • They asked the general questions of how is the property/what amenities are available/etc. When they asked about grocery stores I told them about two different stores in the area and they were good interviewees saying they look forward to hearing from me. The second couple I interviewed was a couple with three kids who wanted to be there the 6th-18th who asked the
    via Gymtrio2025
  • same basic questions but when it came to the kitchen the woman said, "So can we expect the place to be fully stocked with groceries?" I replied that would not be possible for me to do because the day I leave the kitchen will be cleared, all trash taken out and it is more preferred people do their own shopping.
    via Gymtrio2025
  • The woman then starts getting a change in demeanor and said she expects the kitchen to be full. I once again explained I don't offer grocery assistance as part of my renters agreement but I can leave list of grocery stores. The woman then says she'll get back to me and ends the call. After looking over both couples I went
    via Gymtrio2025
  • with my coworkers friends because they were more mature and polite in not demanding I get groceries for them. I emailed both couples separately and the woman of the second couple explodes at me in a reply saying I was being very unreasonable in making sure the kitchen was stocked for her and I reassured her she could find what groceries she needed in list of stores |
    via Gymtrio2025
  • can forward to her. The woman replied one last time saying, "Thanks for ruining our trip to New Hampshire!" Today after my family and I finish loading our rental car as we went to the house first to enjoy our time there, the rental car of the first couple arrive and I gave them the key to the house. I told them all the emergency contact ways of getting ahold of me and another friend (who lives in the area that helps look
    via Gymtrio2025
  • out for the house) are on a note taped to the refrigerator as well brochures of all the best places to visit in the area. I reminded them when their time is up contact my friend the day before who will meet them there at check out and collect the key. The other woman I haven't heard back from since her entitled explosion email.
    via Gymtrio2025
  • The outside of a white vacation home on a clear day by a body of water
    via Vika Chartier

    The outside of a white vacation home on a clear day by a body of water

  • Paper Tiger11 Grocery lady's family would have been an absolute nightmare, you dodged a bullet.
    via Paper_Tiger11
  • Powerful Tip_7260 "I don't like the food you selected"
    via Powerful_Tip_7260
  • ShineOk2976 She ruined her own trip
    via ShineOk2976
  • ParkerGroove feel like it's reasonable to expect a spice selection or at least S&P, but anything perishable would be wasted if the guests didn't consume it. So dumb.
    via ParkerGroove
  • CatsMom4Ever So, you have the ONLY rental house in all of New Hampshire? That must be pretty amazing. I'm so sorry for these people who couldn't possibly find any place to stay in the entire state!
    via CatsMom4Ever
  • ImOGDisaster Basic spices and enough coffee for a couple days is what I expect at AirB&B's. Stocked fridge is ridiculous.
    via ImOGDisaster
  • Professional_Pie1325 I would have told her sure thing, that will be an additional addendum to the original agreement for an additional 3,000$ and it will be my food choices. (Food is expensive) No discussing, take or leave, End of conversation. Bye
    via Professional_Pie1325
  • EDJardin Good call picking the couple, but it might have been fun to stock the kitchen with 3 cases of Top Ramen and a box of Crystal Light single-serve drink powders.
    via EDJardin

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