The Story
OP’s family has a big vacation planned for the summer, with both immediate and extended relatives joining in. Her aunt found a great rental house through a personal connection and managed to get a solid deal. The plan was simple: six bedrooms, one for each family unit. OP’s aunt allocated rooms for herself and her husband, OP’s parents, two of OP’s cousins and their spouses, and a room for another cousin’s kids. But there was one small problem—there are actually only five bedrooms, not six.
That means OP and her boyfriend got the short end of the stick. The only option left was a pullout couch in the living room. OP wasn’t thrilled. She didn’t like the idea of sleeping in a common space where people would be moving around early in the morning. Privacy was a big concern, too. The thought of changing clothes in a bathroom, living out of a suitcase in the middle of the house, and feeling like an inconvenience didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t want to put her stuff in other people’s rooms either, out of respect for their space.
So, OP came up with what she thought was a reasonable solution. She offered to either skip the trip or book her own AirBnB nearby. She even said she’d still pay her share for the main rental house to be fair. Her mom, however, shot down both ideas, claiming it would “ruin” the trip if OP didn’t stay under the same roof as everyone else. Despite her assurances that she’d still spend all her time with the family and only use her place to sleep, her mom wasn’t budging.
At this point, OP hasn’t mentioned her plans to the rest of the family but is seriously considering booking her own place. She values her privacy and comfort, especially on a vacation, and doesn’t see why that has to come at the cost of family togetherness.
Tea & Feels Verdict
Our Take
Honestly, this feels like a classic case of “the squeaky wheel gets the couch.” OP isn’t asking for luxury—she’s asking for a reasonable level of privacy and comfort, especially considering she’s part of the trip and is willing to pay her fair share. Sleeping in a communal space with zero privacy, especially with a partner, is far from ideal for a vacation that’s supposed to be enjoyable.
What makes OP’s solution even more considerate is that she’s not trying to opt out of the trip. She’s offering to stay nearby, at her own expense, while still spending all day with the family. That’s a win-win for everyone except, apparently, her mom’s vision of “togetherness under one roof.”
It feels like the real issue is optics. The family might interpret OP’s separate AirBnB as her being standoffish or not wanting to be part of the group. But actions speak louder than sleeping arrangements. If OP is with them for every activity, meal, and event, who cares where she lays her head at night?
This isn’t about being difficult. It’s about setting a boundary that protects OP’s comfort without taking away from the family experience.
Reader Takes
We’re not the only ones with opinions. Here are some top takes from the Reddit crowd that caught our eye:
u/SpaceForEveryone:
“NTA. You’re literally paying your part and just asking for basic privacy. The living room couch is not a reasonable solution for a couple on vacation.”
u/BoundariesAreHealthy:
“Your compromise is actually very thoughtful. You’re not backing out, you’re not refusing to contribute, you just want your own space. That’s fair.”
u/MamaNeedsPrivacy:
“I can’t imagine how awkward it would be to sleep in a shared living room while everyone walks around you. You’re an adult, you have every right to book your own place.”
u/FamTripsAreComplicated:
“The idea that you’re ‘ruining’ the trip by sleeping in a different building is so overblown. You’re still going to be with them all day. NTA.”
u/NotBeingRudeJustRealistic:
“This is about your comfort and sanity. If they don’t want to fix their own miscounting error, you’re fixing it yourself. Simple.”
TL;DR Verdict
✅ Not the Asshole
