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Traveling now - dramas

(63 Posts)
NanaTuesday Sun 01-Mar-26 18:58:56

So here we are finally 9 days into a long haul trip, one that the 3rd wheel of our party has caused major headaches before coming.

Now we are here it hasn’t changed for the better despite us thinking that ‘maybe. It would settle the person down .

Alas NO.

Every day there is a new drama, caused by person themselves , whether it’s something not working or a personal item lost or broken wires, chargers glasses, wet clothes, not enough clothes, even to the point of what is lacking or should of been done in accommodation.

Or the cost of a bacon sandwich, you name it it it’s either. A Moan &. It just one it’s a constant about the same thing …or. a drama .

As the person who booked & planned this trip I’m well versed in their comments etc etc.or lack of .

However living with it on the road for even the last 10 days since we left home is a living nightmare.
it can be likened to walking on egg shells .

This person did not research one single iota of our planned trip. Neither did they make any suggestions & deite the itinerary being spoken about emailed, whatsapped, face to face conversations they were completely unaware of where we are going !!!!!
so when we plan a day in a certain place they have no idea & the comment is “ What’s there. “ !!

When we sit down with the map & travel guide it’s much the same, or there will be no interaction, which is precisely what was occurring before we travelled & in the planning stages .

It is hard work & we still have another 21 days of travel.

I’m not asking for ideas though, the best way with this travel companion is to stay quiet , When they want to say something if you don’t greet they with their option it turns into a row (them doing the shouting telling you, I’m still talking, even if you aren't speaking over them) From the simplest of discussions, they will turn it into something else & then turn away & sulk ,

I just needed to vent, thanks for listening.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Sun 05-Apr-26 16:29:47

Good job she's your sister and not your husband, imagine being saddled with someone like that every day. I hope in time you will be able to laugh about it, and just remember the good bits 😉.

NanaTuesday Sun 05-Apr-26 10:18:28

That’s not what happened , there was a em masse family discussion & this person said they would join the trip.

Now though during , before & after the event they are spinning it that ‘ they were only wanted to make it cheaper!’!!
One person on a world wide trip wasn’t going to make a difference.
But that’s them placing blame & always on me .
Such is life !

TheSunRisesInTheEast Sun 05-Apr-26 09:43:02

My goodness, you must feel exhausted by it all. You put so much effort into the trip, only to be left feeling as you do.

It must have been a very expensive holiday, your siblings sound totally ungrateful for your efforts in arranging the trip, it's sad how it all turned out, they have shown their true colours and I'm sad for you that it's ended this way.

At least you achieved what you set out to do, you got to see your elderly relatives, but it was obviously tainted by this miserable pair.

Try to remember the good parts of the trip, spending time with your elderly relatives and some of the wonderful experiences I hope you had, despite this miserable pair.

I hope you are getting the support of your husband and immediate family and be thankful that you won't have to endure spending time with the MC if you don't want to.

You did the best you could, you can't do more than that 💐.

NanaTuesday Sun 05-Apr-26 08:44:05

TheSunRisesInTheEast

You are right that’s who it was along with a male sibling .
So far anyone who has asked hasn’t been given the “ oh I had a wonderful time “ & tbh I can’t even go over the details as it is far too upsetting.
Because as you say ‘Trip of a lifetime” 4 weeks to boot & without my DH. .

Now we are home the upset , has not receded in fact it’s up a notch due to the fact that she ( & I have named her MC aka Moody Cow ) has taken to be a vile keyboard warrior .
The whole thing was researched by myself , keeping the other ls involved from the outset with WhatsApp group pages & email . MC had no input whatsoever was it seemed uninterested in what was happening where we stayed etc ., gave no feedback back when asked .

At the very outset it was said that Booking.com & Hotel.com etc were being used for our accommodations ,
my CC is linked to those sites as DH & myself use regularly .

The first 5 places were paid for before we travelled direct to me & to CC .
As the other sibling said he was against booking any more in advance , so there were no costs involved or to work with for future accommodation
Scenario being that we booked as we went along .
Originally I had booked a longer stay at both the beginning & end of our trip in order to spend family time in the area .
That was also vetoed & I ended up cancelling both .
So what was or is the issue ? neither of them had a CC or a card that they were either willing to use (bank debit) or one that worked (travel money card ) when booking these on the hoof places .
So back to my trusty CC to which non sterling charges were added ! This I mentioned.
We got into a rhythm & managed to make separate payments in person on arrival at some places . Others were done via a booking site & on my CC . Another by cash only ( this was a booking.com) . Oh wait that was me who had cash !
And one I had to call my DH at some ungodly hour as there was no WiFi connection to make a booking let alone payment .
I drew up an idiot proof spreadsheet once we got home .
. Where we stayed/ dates / how much it cost / how much they had paid / v how much was owed .
Simple .
No
Let’s not forget the Whattgroup where I posted a screenshot of the above each time we changed accommodation.

But yes , it’s all gone Pete tong .
The MC is now persona non grata
Does t understand the spreadsheet .
Originally it wasn’t a spreadsheet but a simple list .
She didn’t understand that so it became the spreadsheet.
All hell has broken loose since last week & if I never see MC again it won’t be day too soon .
The even funnier (not) thing is that during MC rants last night I got told that I had drunk some of her wine apparently she brought 3 bottles & yes when offered I had some (!)
I ate her food , oh I really didn’t know that we were keeping tabs on who ate what !
Though I should have as when we were travelling the pair of them offered snacks & sweets to each other constantly ( that they had obviously brought) without asking me .
The snacks & sweets I had brought to share disappeared in a flash with us all digging on . It seems they had another agenda.
It carried on in that vein like some mad woman .
At one point we had a joint travel card that we paid for supermarket shopping on . That then paid for fuel instead & we all took turns in buying shopping .

It’s true you don’t know someone till you go on holiday with them !

Se la vie ,
I did say she was one angry person on our last day away , it seems that she is also unhinged.
As through all the back & forwards re money she kept harping back to ‘I paid this amount , I paid that ‘etc etc

I give up

Lizzie44 Tue 31-Mar-26 15:43:42

Traveling in a group can be hit and miss. Try to seek out someone who shares your views and your tastes.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Tue 31-Mar-26 09:19:48

Lol, good for you!! 😂

keepingquiet Tue 31-Mar-26 09:08:30

I know how this feels too. There are people I would now not go away with. However, I do think you have to tackle this in very subtle but effective ways, not to change her behaviour, but to allow yourself to be more at peace with it. A sense of humour helps.
I once shared a room with my sister only for a couple of days and in the end I was forced to tell her all the things she did that were annoying but also pointless- such as asking a question but answering it herself, amongst so many others!
I think I did upset her but I felt better for it- she had driven me to distraction!

TheSunRisesInTheEast Tue 31-Mar-26 09:00:07

OP said she wasn't on holiday with her husband, children, parents or in-laws, so I guess this Moaning Minnie is her sister 🤷. They were visiting elderly relatives on the other side of the world so it should have been a trip of a life time. I feel sorry for the OP that all her effort in planning the trip was tainted by a negative, miserable, draining individual, unfortunately there are a lot of them about 🫤. You can choose your friends, but not your family 😉.

BlueBelle Tue 31-Mar-26 07:39:42

Why on earth go in the first place when you know this person is a negative Nelly
Anyway you’re home now so remember it and never ever do anything so daft again the money you must have paid out to be so unhappy and frustrated, but sorry you only have yourself to blame as this person or people are obviously close to you and not strangers so you know her / their temperament

Allsorts Tue 31-Mar-26 07:23:24

If it were me i would have no more contact with her and tell her why, she ruined your holiday of a lifetimes with her selfish behaviour and don't want to know anymore.

Goldieoldie15 Sun 29-Mar-26 13:04:00

For goodness sake it is should HAVE and not should OF.

Juicylucy Fri 27-Mar-26 19:20:02

Gosh you have patients of a saint or are you worried about confrontation. Firstly I would not have taken her, secondly she would not be ruining my well earned holiday. I’d have called her out by now not in an angry way but in a calm way telling her this is our holiday to and you don’t take kindly to the negativity so please could she keep her feelings to herself and stop being a fun sponge.

knspol Fri 27-Mar-26 15:37:27

You have my utmost sympathy as I do know someone who sounds very similar and just a coffee date with her gives me the screaming habdabs.
Is it possible that you could take her to one side and say that she's obviously not enjoying the holiday and as the person who made all the arrangements you're finding it very difficult to cope with the constant complaints and it's spoiling the holiday for you and others Then suggest that if she would like to cut her holiday short and go home you will try to help her arrange this as she dislikes everything so much. She probably won't want to go home as it will cost her but it may quieten her down a little perhaps?

Dempie55 Fri 27-Mar-26 15:36:49

Well, you live and learn. I presume you will never contemplate a trip with this little ray of sunshine ever again?

Bluesmum Fri 27-Mar-26 15:16:28

NanaTuesday

Thank you 🤩
That’s exactly my plan .
I did need to vent , so thanks for listening 🙏😎

So many suggestions, what exactly is your plan?

Elsi Fri 27-Mar-26 14:30:18

I cant for the life of me understand why this person was allowed to go with you. Its not done your health any good whatsoever as you don't need that amount of stress on your body

Jojo1950 Fri 27-Mar-26 14:14:17

Nana Tuesday
Why do it if so bad. I wouldn’t involve them ever again. I think I might even book a homeward journey before trip ended and tell the person why. Cut your losses and get out for peace of mind!

inishowen Fri 27-Mar-26 14:10:45

Just snap "stop moaning " at them!

Iamthewalrus Fri 27-Mar-26 14:03:21

Oh dear, this thread is giving me anxiety! I am just about to embark on a two week trip with four friends, two of them who have not made a single contribution to the itinerary despite many in person in planning meetings and continual WhatsApp and email communications. They have both dilly dallied with making their flight and accommodation arrangements and had a hard time downloading any apps required for arranging their ETA from Canada to the UK and for their rail cards. They don’t seem to have anything more than the vaguest idea what we are doing while away. But, I know once we get there one of them will follow around like a toddler needing to be directed and the other will have at least one issue a day. I am already exhausted by having taken on the role of organizer and am at the point where I don’t want to go and am racking my brain on a good reason to stay home!

CanadianGran Thu 26-Mar-26 20:18:26

Louisa1523, what part of Canada? We have had such varying weather; in our area we are still getting snow, which is very unusual for here.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Thu 26-Mar-26 18:36:47

Romola

This is AWFUL.
Can you pay the person to leave and go home? Suggest that she (assumption!) isn't enjoying the trip and tell her it's spoiling it for you and the other person and that she might prefer to cut it short.
Expensive but you need to get shot of her

They're home now, the holiday is over. Hopefully NanaTuesday has nicer friends than relatives 🤞.

Poppyred Thu 26-Mar-26 16:04:25

Why did she agree to go with you??

Romola Thu 26-Mar-26 16:01:07

This is AWFUL.
Can you pay the person to leave and go home? Suggest that she (assumption!) isn't enjoying the trip and tell her it's spoiling it for you and the other person and that she might prefer to cut it short.
Expensive but you need to get shot of her

Allira Thu 26-Mar-26 15:46:23

^I wouldn’t recommend it again & it’s hard on the other party who knows better than I do to deal with the ‘Moody One’ !
Anyway , here we are & I thought I’d update you all^

Smile through gritted teeth (but try not to break one, it could be expensive!).

Has this person always been like this or is this new behaviour? Could it be the start of dementia?

TheSunRisesInTheEast Thu 26-Mar-26 14:40:31

Glad you're enjoying your holiday in Canada, Louisa, sounds wonderful 😀.