Planning a family vacation can be exciting, but when miscommunication and unfair expectations arise, it can quickly turn into a frustrating experience. One couple recently faced this issue when they were invited by the wife’s sister-in-law to join a summer getaway at an Airbnb rental. The sister-in-law, 41, had booked a three-bedroom Airbnb and invited the couple, who are 36 and 34 years old, to come along.

After being shown photos and information about the rental, they agreed to split the cost evenly. Initially, everything seemed fine—they assumed the third room was for the sister-in-law’s boyfriend, and when they questioned why three rooms were needed, they were told that’s all that was available. But days later, during a casual dinner with the sister-in-law and her boyfriend, two important details surfaced. First, they learned that the boyfriend’s six-year-old daughter would be joining the trip. While this didn’t bother them, the second detail did—the third bedroom was not really a bedroom, but a small office where bunk beds had been added, and that was where the couple was expected to sleep. Meanwhile, the two actual bedrooms with queen-size beds were reserved for the sister-in-law and her boyfriend and for the six-year-old girl. The couple found this arrangement baffling and unfair, especially considering they were paying half the rental cost.

They questioned why a child was getting a queen bed while they were expected to sleep in bunks in a cramped office, only to be told that her room needed to be close to her parents’ suite. Despite expressing no anger at the time, it was clear they were unhappy. The sister-in-law dismissed their concerns as no big deal, but the couple decided it didn’t make sense to go through with it. They asked to cancel their part of the booking and even offered to pay any cancellation fees. This decision didn’t go over well—she accused them of ruining her daughter’s vacation. However, this wasn’t the first time she had pulled something like this, and the wife felt like they were constantly expected to just go along with everything while others bent the rules to suit themselves.

The husband felt torn but ultimately agreed with his wife that the arrangements were unreasonable. Adding to the frustration, the couple had planned to board their two small dogs during the trip, which is costly in Florida. Everyone had agreed to board their pets, but during dinner, the boyfriend casually revealed they were bringing their small dog along to avoid boarding fees. That revelation made the couple feel even more like they were being taken advantage of. They were sticking to the rules and spending extra money, while others were making changes that only benefited themselves. The wife began to wonder if she was overreacting but felt deep down that the situation was unfair. Reddit users overwhelmingly supported the couple.

@people Would you and your spouse sleep in separate #bunkbeds? 🤔 #Marriage #SleepTok @Virginia Chamlee ♬ original sound – People Magazine

Most agreed that expecting two adults to sleep in bunk beds while paying half the rental fee was absurd. Many pointed out that bunk beds are intended for kids and that a six-year-old does not need a queen-size bed or her own private room during a group trip. They also highlighted how dishonest it was of the sister-in-law to leave out these details when first proposing the vacation. Some even speculated that the boyfriend may have intentionally revealed the hidden details because he disagreed with how the couple was being treated. Redditors encouraged the couple to stand their ground and not allow themselves to be manipulated into footing half the bill for what was essentially a subpar experience. In an update, the wife shared that she canceled their part of the trip and got the confirmation from her sister-in-law. Her husband, while a little sympathetic to the child, fully supported her decision and agreed the entire situation was unfair. Ultimately, the couple decided that it was better to spend their money on something they would actually enjoy, rather than be part of a vacation where they were clearly being treated as second-class participants. They also resolved to be cautious in the future when making joint travel plans and to insist on transparency upfront.