Group trip - who gets the master?

[Anonymous]

It isn’t as simple as just renting a house - you sometimes need to look at dozens or more if properties, make contact with owners, etc. you don’t just randomly point at a place and send them a check.

But we always try to find properties with multiple master bedrooms so everyone is on equal footing. It isn’t that hard.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I think I’m going to ask the others if it’s cool if we claim the master and that we're happy to pay extra for it. We are the ones who paid the deposit but I didn’t want to assume anything, especially since there has been no clear organizer and finding a house was a group effort with each of the families circulating listings and giving input. Hopefully if someone wants to do things differently they will speak up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think I’m going to ask the others if it’s cool if we claim the master and that we're happy to pay extra for it. We are the ones who paid the deposit but I didn’t want to assume anything, especially since there has been no clear organizer and finding a house was a group effort with each of the families circulating listings and giving input. Hopefully if someone wants to do things differently they will speak up.

You're fine.

[Anonymous]

Over the past 20 years have taken a few trips with families where we had this issue. depending on circumstances we gave the master to….

The couple with the newborn, because they had more gear and no one else wanted to be on the same floor with the crying baby.

My in-laws, just because

The couple who wanted their young kids sleep in sleeping bags on their floor (instead of the kids room)

The couple where the wife was pregnant and they needed the King bed

we pulled straws and rotated every night. This was For a ski trip in our 20s and one couple had to sleep on the fold out couch though.

[Anonymous]

Traveling with friends sounds like a nightmare. There is always going to be someone whose kid has a FA. Another who is Vegan. Another who will complain about us sleeping until 11 on vacation and post about it on DCUM.

Does not sound like a vacation to me.

It is hard enough just bringing our personal photographer along!

[Anonymous]

I once traveled with 2 families and the family who booked paid for it because they owed us money so we were the ones who technically paid for it. We got a large house and invited another friend. The other friend who didn’t pay claimed the best bedrooms. They gave us the worst rooms without a private bathroom. I was so pissed off. I couldn’t believe people who didn’t pay anything chose the best rooms because they were first to arrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

we pulled straws and rotated every night. This was For a ski trip in our 20s and one couple had to sleep on the fold out couch though.

Omg that’s the worst choice. Everyone had to move all their stuff from bedroom to bedroom every night and sleep on each others dirty sheets? Never ever would I do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

we pulled straws and rotated every night. This was For a ski trip in our 20s and one couple had to sleep on the fold out couch though.

Omg that’s the worst choice. Everyone had to move all their stuff from bedroom to bedroom every night and sleep on each others dirty sheets? Never ever would I do this.

Op I agree that this is the worst.

For those who don’t like it - we can go on “fancy” trips but what my kids say is their fave is OBX with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traveling with friends sounds like a nightmare. There is always going to be someone whose kid has a FA. Another who is Vegan. Another who will complain about us sleeping until 11 on vacation and post about it on DCUM.

Does not sound like a vacation to me.

It is hard enough just bringing our personal photographer along!

+1 These threads are triggering to me and I don’t throw that word around lightly. I swore off traveling with friends after a series horrendous trips a few years ago. We always managed to get the worst sleep set-up. Certain people always dominate the kitchen, too. And don’t even get me started on their kids. Never, ever, ever again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people do this to themselves and call it a vacation.

+1

I do not understand "vacationing" with other people, even extended family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. I once shared a house at a ski town with co-worker friends. I was the youngest and my boyfriend was still a student, all the other couples had full time jobs. My boyfriend and l went for less time because we couldn’t afford to go the full week. My friend who organized it charged us the same as everyone else. Lesson learned on my part. I paid but l really couldn’t afford it. Now l know better to communicate early about how costs will be split. I had assumed it would be more fair.

Honestly no idea who got the master.

I agree people with most need (baby or small kids, people with mobility issues etc) should get first pick - or makes the trip easier for everyone.

I don’t understand why this was unfair. They had to get a house with a room for you and your boyfriend for the full week. It’s not like they could give the room back once you left. It wasn’t a hotel. If you’d only wanted to pay for the nights you were there, you should have found someone who would stay the nights you couldn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people do this to themselves and call it a vacation.

+1

I do not understand "vacationing" with other people, even extended family.

I love traveling with other people. Then the kids all play together and I can relax and read a book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've taken trips like this quite a bit and the primary BR usually goes to, in this order:

- the family with a need for privacy/space (babies, small kids or a workaholic that needs the desk space etc.)
- whomever did the majority of organizing/planning/deposit
- whomever arrives first, gets first dibs and/or if someone is leaving early they would get the "lesser" option

I don't think we've ever divided cost based on room. Generally speaking everyone spends time in the common area or are out skiing, hiking, whatever all day so it's not a huge deal to have a "lesser" room in a vacation house.

Hey, an adult response! This is the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whomever had to put down the credit card and make the reservation is also likely the one who has to pick up and return the key, and ensure that all the clean-up/house-closing protocols are followed. Deposit-maker gets the master. After all, if damages or disputes come up, they are the ones who have to work on the front lines to deal with it.

+ 100!

[Anonymous]

For future trips I'd suggest finding a rental that has 2 master suites. That's typically what we do. It's never been an issue.