Picture this: A sunny Southern California wedding on the horizon, a family spread across the Midwest gearing up for a grand vacation, and a kitchen drama boiling over like an unwatched pot on the stove. This, my dear readers, is not your typical family squabble over who burnt the roast. Nay, this is the tale of a Reddit user whose proposal to share an Airbnb with the extended fam for a wedding trip turned into a full-blown culinary catastrophe. And guess what? This deliciously dramatic story comes straight from a real person grappling with real family shenanigans. Buckle up, buttercup, because you’re in for a treat as we dissect the Airbnb kitchen kerfuffle that’s got everyone talking.
The stage was set for a beautiful, extended family vacation in the sunny landscapes of Southern California, a perfect backdrop for the brother’s upcoming nuptials. Our protagonist, a thoughtful soul with a penchant for practicality, suggested renting a spacious Airbnb to accommodate the whole gang — a proposal initially met with enthusiasm. Ah, but the devil, as they say, is in the details or, in this case, the dollars. When reality (and a touch of frugality) hit the brother-in-law and parents-in-law, they opted for hotel rooms, leaving our protagonist and his wife to book a smaller Airbnb, thus the centerpiece of our tale: the kitchen.
Now, the kitchen wasn’t just any kitchen. No, it was the Promised Land for our protagonist, especially given the severe anaphylactic nut allergy their son grapples with. A controlled cooking environment wasn’t merely a luxury; it was a necessity. Yet, when the rest of the family got wind of the Airbnb reservation, they saw it as an open invitation to a culinary free-for-all, expecting to use the kitchen as if they had chipped in from the get-go. Our protagonist, however, wasn’t having any of it. ‘Pay the extra $50/night,’ he retorted, ‘and then we’ll talk.’
Accusations of greed and unreasonableness were hurled faster than a chef tossing pizza dough, but let’s slice this pie with a sharp knife of common sense, shall we? First and foremost, the Airbnb was booked with specific needs in mind — not as a communal kitchen for the convenience of those who opted out. It’s about respect, boundaries, and the simple etiquette of not hijacking amenities you didn’t pay for. Is it greedy to expect guests to contribute towards the cost of a benefit they wish to enjoy? I think not.
Moreover, let’s not overlook the stress and anxiety that dining out poses for families dealing with severe food allergies. The decision to secure a space with a kitchen wasn’t a whim; it was a carefully considered move to ensure the health and safety of a child. To then have that space encroached upon by those who didn’t share in the expense is, frankly, a bit rich — pun intended.
So, where do we land in this steamy kitchen saga? Is our protagonist the villain for guarding the gates of the Airbnb kitchen, or is he merely a concerned parent and pragmatic planner caught in the crossfire of family expectations? Drumroll, please, for Roger’s Hot Take: The family’s attempt to freeload on the Airbnb kitchen is about as tasteful as a reheated fish in a microwave. Our protagonist isn’t the antagonist here; he’s just a dad trying to simmer down the potential for allergy-induced anarchy while keeping the vacation budget from boiling over.
At the heart of this culinary controversy is a lesson for us all: Communication and contribution are the key ingredients for harmonious family vacations. So, before you plan your next big family getaway, remember the Airbnb kitchen kerfuffle and maybe, just maybe, agree on who’s bringing the spatula.
Until next time, dear readers, keep your pots watched, your dishes daring, and your family drama as delectable as this tale. This has been Roger, serving up another Hot Take with a side of sass. Bon appétit!
Original story
My wife and I have 2 kids (6 and 3) and my wife has 2 siblings. One brother (living in Cali and soon to be married later this summer), one sister (married with 3 kids all under 10) and both her parents (still married).We are pretty close with my wife’s family, spend a lot of time with them and all the kid cousins get along super well. I have a very good relationship with everyone.
The brother is getting married later this summer in Southern California. The rest of the family, including us, live in the Midwest. We’ve planned a big 7 night family vacation down to SoCal for the wedding.
I proposed that our family (4 of us) + my sister in laws family (2 adults, 3 kids) and my wife’s parents (2 adults) rent a house for the 7 nights we will be in SoCal. My reasons were:
-More space for everybody instead of living out of a suitcase in a hotel for 7 nights
-Have a kitchen available to cook and eat together instead of eating out for every single meal -My son has a severe anaphylactic allergy to nuts so eating out can often be stressful for us as a family.
Initially everyone was onboard. I estimated that renting a large enough house (via AirBnB) would be approx $300/night per family unit (So $900/night split 3 ways). There are cheaper ones but they would be too far from the wedding venue.
My sister-in-law and my parent-in-law learned that hotel rooms are available for approx $150/night. They’ve now bailed on the house idea and have reserved hotel rooms. It’s their money and I understand renting a house is a lot of money to pay above the hotel rates. I have no issue with them changing their mind.
My wife and I still want to stay in a house, mainly for access to a full kitchen, so we booked an Airbnb. The smaller house will cost us about $350/night. So we’ll be spending about $350 more than planned ($50 x 7 nights). We’ve booked the AirBnb and the free cancellation period has now expired. We can’t cancel without losing money.
When my wife’s family learned that we booked an AirBnb they said, “Oh great! We can come to your house to cook food”. I said , “No. If you wanted to cook then you should have reserved a house with us, not make us pay the extra for accommodations with a kitchen and then take advantage of that. If you want to use the kitchen cover the extra $50/night we have to pay and then you can use it.”.
They say I’m being unreasonable and greedy. AITA?
The dollar figures are not the real numbers but they get the story across.