AITAH for soloing a trip after my coworkers brought strangers into our Airbnb and made me feel unsafe?

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A planned group trip with coworkers, filled with festival plans and shared costs, took a sharp turn into chaos for a 26-year-old man. Expecting a fun getaway, he instead faced a night of broken rules when his coworkers invited strangers into their Airbnb, got drunk, and left him feeling unsafe. By 3:30 AM, he was gone, opting for a solo adventure to reclaim his peace.

This Reddit story stings with the bite of betrayal and the weight of standing firm. It’s relatable for anyone who’s navigated group plans gone wrong, where trust crumbles under reckless choices. As the drama spills into workplace rumors and unpaid debts, it raises a question: how do you hold your ground when others cross the line? Let’s unpack this messy tale and see what Reddit’s community makes of it.

‘AITAH for soloing a trip after my coworkers brought strangers into our Airbnb and made me feel unsafe?’

I (26M) went on a trip with two coworkers (24F) that we planned earlier this year. They invited another coworker (24M) to join later. We agreed to split costs for things like groceries, a rental car (under my name), tickets, and some errands. I fronted the costs for a few things like festival tickets, groceries, and an e-SIM, with the understanding they'd pay me back..

We had three group rules: safety first, we all come home together, and no randoms in the Airbnb. On night one, after barely sleeping during our travel, I stayed in while they went out with two men they’d just met on Hinge. They got blackout drunk and didn't respond to my texts until late. Around 1 AM, one of the random men tried to enter our Airbnb alone. I told him to leave.

At 3 AM, they all returned—drunk and soaking wet. My coworkers told me to “close my eyes and cover my ears” while they hooked up with the two strangers *on the balcony*. I felt shocked, uncomfortable, and unsafe, so I quietly packed my things and left at 3:30 AM. I paid $50 to get the rental car out, found an overly expensive last-minute hotel, and continued the trip solo.

The next day, they were apologizing for what happened the night before and admitted how i**oxicated they were. I responded by saying I didn't agree with what they did and felt extremely disrespected. They asked for their basketball tickets so I sent them to avoid conflict and still wanted them to enjoy.

Later, Coworker 3 arrived and noticed the Airbnb was trashed from the state they left it in (sand on the beds, colourful stains, and a burnt spoon in the sink). Also, they haven't stayed there since after day 2. He stayed one night and moved to a hotel because of how disgusting it was.

When he tried to reach out, #1 told him she “didn’t feel safe around me,” which confused both of us. After the trip, I calmly asked to be reimbursed for agreed-upon shared expenses. Instead, they refused and accused me of stealing groceries, going through their luggage, taking the car for myself, and

Meanwhile, they kept partying and posting about it online. They were also saying how I owe them for their food and uber expenses. Now they’re spreading rumors at work, saying I’m “scary” and “untrustworthy.”

But all I did was follow our rules, pay for things upfront, and remove myself from a dangerous situation. I didn’t cause a scene and I chose safety and peace.. Now they’re refusing to pay me back for what we agreed to split on.. AITAH for leaving and finishing the trip on my own?

Group trips can be a blast, but when rules get tossed out the window, they can turn into a masterclass in boundary-setting. This man’s decision to leave a chaotic Airbnb highlights a clash between group expectations and personal safety, a tension that’s all too common in shared travel.

The coworkers’ behavior—bringing strangers into the Airbnb, ignoring safety protocols, and trashing the place—crossed clear boundaries. The man, feeling unsafe, chose to remove himself, a move that reflects self-preservation over peer pressure. His coworkers’ accusations of “ruining their trip” flip the script, painting him as the villain for enforcing the rules they agreed on. This dynamic, where rule-breakers deflect blame, is a classic group conflict scenario.

This ties to a broader issue: workplace boundaries during off-hours. A 2022 study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 60% of employees feel workplace relationships impact their job satisfaction, especially when unprofessional behavior spills over (https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/workplace-relationships.aspx). Here, the coworkers’ actions not only ruined the trip but also soured workplace dynamics, escalating into rumors.

Dr. Amy Edmondson, a Harvard professor specializing in team dynamics, notes, “Psychological safety is critical for effective collaboration. When trust is broken, individuals must set boundaries to protect their well-being” (https://hbr.org/2018/11/the-importance-of-psychological-safety). The man’s exit aligns with this, prioritizing his safety over group cohesion. His coworkers’ refusal to reimburse him and their workplace gossip suggest a lack of accountability, complicating his professional environment.

For solutions, he could document all expenses and communications, then pursue small claims court if reimbursement talks fail. Addressing the workplace rumors with HR, backed by evidence like social media posts, could curb the hostility. Taking proactive steps like these can help restore balance and protect his reputation in a challenging situation.

Check out how the community responded:

Reddit didn’t hold back, dishing out a mix of practical advice and spicy takes. From legal tips to workplace strategies, the community had plenty to say about this Airbnb fiasco. Here’s what they shared:

JJOkayOkay − You may want to look up how to take them to small claims court. Get your money. Also, feel free to tell people at work what they did. If they're going to spread lies about you, you can spread the truth about them.

burner_suplex − NTA. They're mad you didn't put up with their stupid horseshit and they're bringing it to work. Go to HR, or your nearest equivalent because they're intentionally creating a hostile work environment after they fucked strangers and did heroin in a shared hotel room and totally trashed the place.  

Smileeycake − NTA, but please never pay things for others expecting their honesty, this scenario is more common than you think, ofc they will refuse to pay what they own! Also you are crazy if you don’t spread what they did, specially the balcony part!

MarionberryOk2874 − Burnt spoon? As in heroin?? 🥴

taquito_chan − Uh that’s crazy and unprofessional. Like sure ur not AT work but you still work /with/ them. I refuse to behave like that with ANY coworker bcos of how quickly that can get messy. I second small claims court and spreading the truth in counter to them.

Peircedskin − I'm surprised you haven't been hit with a bill from the Airbnb owner. The place was trashed and the owner had to spend money to clean up and make the place perfect for the next guests. Go to HR and tell them exactly what happened, with their social media posts as backup.

If your co-worker can tell their story too it will help immensely. HR will probably order a d**g and hair follicle test. Total up the amount they owe you, including the full cost of the Airbnb clean up and present them with a bill. If they refuse to pay see a solicitor/lawyer and sue them for the amount they owe.

LovedAJackass − Always get the money up front. if you rent a car, you should be the only designated driver and you keep the keys at all time. I might call an employment attorney rather than going alone to HR. The attorney can send the offenders a

The lawyer can advise you how to handle this situation with HR. Yes, it's more expensive but it's your reputation. The only kind of trip I would take with young co-workers is to a convention in your field or industry, and even then I wouldn't do an AirBnB and I would choose my roommate carefully or pay for a separate room.

Once I roomed with a very close friend and she spent so much time in the bathroom that I didn't get a shower in time to make our flight. Ya never know about people. If they're in their own room, you don't have to tolerate drunken antics and hookups.

Ok_Passage_6242 − NTA. Start shoting everything as evidence. I would definitely go to HR with coworker three and let HR know that these coworkers are creating a hostile work environment for you.

ghjkl098 − Choose travel companions far more carefully. I doubt that someone you knew well enough to travel with never gave hints they are d**g users and s**tty people in general. As to the money, it’s hard to know what to suggest legally without knowing where you live but a couple of general bits of advice- never purchase something for someone else if they haven’t given you the money.

I travel with two friends on occasion- one I have been best friends with for over 30 years, the other for over 10 years. None of us would ever expect the others to book anything if we haven’t already sent the money. I trust these women with my life but it’s just common courtesy. You also need to talk to HR or your boss and let them know that you are considering legal action against the girls and are concerned they may make the workplace even more hostile than it already is.

d4m1ty − and a burnt spoon in the sink. Heroin You put the smack on the spoon, cook it with a lighter to melt, put in cotton ball to filter, then pull it into the needle. Run like f**k from these people.

These comments are a wild ride, but do they nail the full story? Reddit’s mix of outrage and pragmatism sparks a debate: is it enough to walk away, or should the truth be shouted from the rooftops?

This wild trip-gone-wrong saga shows how quickly trust can crumble when rules are ignored and boundaries crossed. The man’s choice to go solo wasn’t just about escaping a trashed Airbnb—it was about reclaiming his peace in a storm of disrespect.

Now, facing workplace rumors and unpaid debts, he’s left navigating the fallout of standing his ground. It’s a reminder that safety and self-respect trump group vibes every time. Have you ever had to bail on a group trip gone south? What would you do in this sticky coworker clash? Drop your thoughts below and let’s unpack this drama together!

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