AITA for not waking up a tourist who overslept and missed the day trip she paid for?

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AITA For Leaving A Tourist Behind After She Overslept — Even After I Warned Her Repeatedly?

A Bulgarian tour guide had to make a tough call when one repeat-offender tourist kept oversleeping and expecting special treatment — and then blamed her for “abandonment.”

Hi guys! I’m a 21-year-old Bulgarian tour guide who leads groups to Sicily. Recently, on a trip, I had one woman (mid-30s) traveling alone who constantly overslept — and things escalated to a full-blown complaint.

On the first day, we had a day trip to Etna and Taormina with an 8 a.m. departure. I always make sure tourists are informed the day before, remind them over the bus microphone, and give everyone printed itineraries with departure times. They all also have my phone number in case they forget.

Everyone was on time — except this one woman. She showed up 10 minutes late. Fine, I excused it and reminded the group over the mic that I don’t tolerate more than 15 minutes of lateness unless there’s an emergency — and they must always call to let me know.

The Second Chance — And The Missed Wake-Up Call

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The next day, she was late again — this time by twenty-five minutes. I called her twice, no answer. We were about to leave without her when she came running, barely making it because the hotel receptionist had delayed me with a rooming list issue. I reminded the group again: I would not wait anymore for late tourists, and waking up on time is their own responsibility.

That evening, she approached me and asked, “Can you make sure to wake me up on time tomorrow?” I politely told her no — that I can’t be responsible for waking up grown adults. She insisted: “Just knock on my door if I’m not out by 8:15.” I repeated that it wasn’t my job and reminded her again to set an alarm.

“I’m not responsible for waking people up — everyone gets an itinerary and reminders.”

The Day She Missed The Bus

The following morning, we were headed to Syracuse. Departure time: 8 a.m. She didn’t show up. I waited fifteen minutes, called her twice, and got no answer. As per company policy and what I’d announced multiple times, I left with the rest of the group.

About an hour later, she called me in a panic asking where we were. I calmly explained that we’d left after waiting and calling. She blew up, accusing me of “cheating her out of money” and “having one job.” She then told everyone else on the trip that I abandoned her and later called my agency to leave a bad review.

“You had one job — to make sure everyone’s there!” she yelled. But isn’t that *their* job too?

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The Aftermath — and the Manager’s Response

I was nervous when I got back because I expected trouble from the agency. So, I went straight to my manager to explain before he approached me. He just laughed and said, “Hun, I deleted that BS from my inbox as soon as I read it.” He’s having the review removed too.

Honestly, I still wonder if I should’ve done anything differently — but I really don’t think waking up a grown woman is part of my job description. I gave multiple warnings, reminders, and grace periods. At some point, people have to take responsibility for themselves.

“I’m a tour guide, not an alarm clock.”

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Typical reader reactions:

“NTA. You’re not her babysitter. She’s an adult with an alarm clock.”

“You went above and beyond with the reminders. She ignored every one.”

“The manager’s response was gold — sounds like they know who the real problem was.”

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🌱 Final Thoughts

Tour guides have tough jobs — managing logistics, safety, and timing for entire groups of adults. Setting clear boundaries isn’t being rude; it’s being professional. You warned her multiple times, and she chose not to listen. That’s not neglect — that’s accountability.

What do you think?
Should the tour guide have knocked on her door one last time, or was leaving her behind completely justified? Share your take below 👇

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