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AIBU?

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Original poster

To want a UK hotel room which sleeps a family of five

282 replies

Dishwashersaurous · 08/01/2022 09:47

So, thinking about having a break in another UK city for a couple of days over half term just to have a break.

We're a family of five, three children primary age.

I envisaged a hotel room with two double beds, like those you get in US motels. Kids more than happy to share a bed.

We've only camped or cottages in UK before.

Now, despite searching and searching it seems that it is impossible to get a hotel room to sleep five. Which means two rooms, which obviously is much more expensive, when literally going to just be sleeping. We all happily sleep in one room in a tent.

So, good people of mumsnet, AIBU to hope someone can help me find a hotel room which sleeps five. Or don't they exist

OP posts:
LouBan · 09/01/2022 17:41

I've stayed in Holiday Inns where the rooms have a double bed and then the sofa turns into another double bed. Not sure how they feel about 5 people sharing the one room though.

SouthernComforter · 09/01/2022 17:39

We stayed in the youth hostel in Cambridge. Due to Covid the communal kitchen was closed, but we got a room that sleeps six, private bathroom, and free bike storage for three nights for about £130 (all in). We had a breakfast bap each morning. Youth hostels are no frills but they are good value and often central. Many more rural ones also have bell tents you can hire. I love it as an institution (I'm a member - and I'm in my 40s!)

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 09/01/2022 16:44

@Dishwashersaurous

All of the options I suggested allow one room to be booked for 5 people, if that room is available.

grey12 · 09/01/2022 12:00

@SeeminglyOblivious

Agree that the comments about firefighters only searching for the number of listed room occupants are ridiculous (and plain wrong).

The fire service isn't stupid - I'm pretty sure they're fully away that hotel rooms may hold more occupants than registered for all sorts of genuine or sneaking-an-extra-person-in reasons.

None of the hotels I've been have turnstiles at the entrance Hmm even if a certain room has 2 occupants, doesn't mean they're there at, say, 2am. They could be partying somewhere else
SeeminglyOblivious · 09/01/2022 11:33

Agree that the comments about firefighters only searching for the number of listed room occupants are ridiculous (and plain wrong).

The fire service isn't stupid - I'm pretty sure they're fully away that hotel rooms may hold more occupants than registered for all sorts of genuine or sneaking-an-extra-person-in reasons.

Elodeastar · 09/01/2022 10:37

@Wtfdidwedo

Also I can understand the room occupancy for fires but I can promise you my husband and I would be carrying our under 5s out in a fire!
I assume most parents think this is what they would do, alas if the parent was injured or overcome by smoke inhalation, someone would be carrying them out/searching for THEM! I sincerely hope nobody here is involved in any serious fires/accidents, but it can happen.
user1496146479 · 09/01/2022 09:12

@Atla

We are a family of 5 as well, we've found with hotels that we have to get 2 rooms (and have an adult in each if not interconnecting).

We find it much better to get an apartment or air BnB - especially as you have separate living space for after kids have gone to bed. I find creeping around a dark hotel room trying not to wake the kids pretty grim and not at all relaxing Grin

Total agree with this! Grin
grey12 · 09/01/2022 08:27

We arrived one day earlier to our holiday by mistake BlushBlush and stayed in a "moon hotel" (can't remember the proper name, that's what DD calls it, you know which one)

Oldest kids is 5 and it was a double room with double beds. It was fine. The littlest one was still 10 months so she slept with us but they could fit all together in the double this next summer Wink

JeanLouiseFinch · 09/01/2022 08:25

I’d also recommend the YHA you can book a 6 person room with en-suite shower room. Losehill Hall in the Peak District is fab.

Acunningruse · 09/01/2022 08:17

Deal not desk Confused

londonrach · 09/01/2022 08:16

It's very dangerous to sneak a child in as hotels know who's in the room and the event of a fire will not search for the sneaked in child. It's hard to find a room for five. My sister does two rooms

Acunningruse · 09/01/2022 08:13

Have you looked at stay play explore deals? They are 4* hotels in Leicestershire or Warwickshire and the desk is for up to a family of 5.
www.stayplayexplore.co.uk/Leicestershire/

ittakes2 · 09/01/2022 08:13

Thanks helpful links.

maudmadrigal · 09/01/2022 08:11

When my kids were small we used to phone hotels and ask if we could fit the 5 of us in. It had a reasonable, though not 100%, success rate - both with premier inns and independent hotels. You had to phone them though, as websites would never let you book with 3 kids.

Nowadays we have to pay for two rooms, and generally need a family room and a double. Like everything with 3 teenagers, it's expensive!

Tee20x · 09/01/2022 08:02

Of course firemen wouldn't just look for the number of people listed on the booking. Many people make a single booking & go out ending up bringing someone back - very common.

Also, how would reception "know" you've snuck in a child. I very much doubt they can even remember who you are, how many rooms you booked and so on. Further to this, people are allowed to visit your hotel room so whose to say whether they're just popping up for a cup of tea before going back out or staying in for the night ? No one.

HelloDulling · 09/01/2022 07:57

In London. meiningerhydepark.en-london.com/en/

MrsDThomas · 09/01/2022 07:55

I haven’t read through, but we’ve stayed at the Faviere Guest house in Stratford upon avon a few times. They have a family room for 5. Its lovely

CheshireDing · 09/01/2022 07:48

We are 2 adults and 3 primary aged DC

We have stayed in the yha in Ambleside, Lake District - we book the dorm and a hostel near the Seal Sanctusry in Cornwall, again booked the whole dorm.

MaverickSnoopy · 09/01/2022 07:40

Also check out Alistair Sawdays special places. He has all sorts on there.

MaverickSnoopy · 09/01/2022 07:40

What about bed and breakfasts? When I was growing up we always stayed in places that had a double and some rooms had 3 additional beds. Disclaimer, this was about 25 years ago.

Bumtum126 · 09/01/2022 07:10

Unlikely as it might be that all occupants were rendered unconscious in a serious fire, rescue services would only look for the number listed. An extra child hiding under the bed or the duvet in fear could very easily be missed in chaos

No they wouldn't , they would search each room properly regardless of stated occupancy until they were happy it was clear. It makes sense to search only the rooms booked out.

Halloweiner · 09/01/2022 00:15

Marriott hotels have large rooms with two double beds. I'd search to see if there's one in the city you'd like to go to, then contact them directly to book. You'll probably have more look that way than any online system.

olympicsrock · 08/01/2022 23:39

Mount Stuart hotel Bournemouth. Stayed in their family room Sept 2021, booked a room for 4 , there was a double, bunk beds and a single. En-suite bathroom, living room and good breakfast. Lots to do in the area.

hkwses · 08/01/2022 23:22

We have found the same issues, can really be a struggle to find somewhere. Reading some of the suggestions and hopefully can find something for when the weather's better. Thanks all

RightWhoWantsABoiledEgg · 08/01/2022 23:09

We stayed in one room in the Celtic Manor before Christmas. We are a family of 5. Room had 2 double beds and a sofa bed. Nice big room too. It’s a resort hotel, so a fair few things to do onsite and nearby, facilitated by the hotel. It’s not cheap, but a lovely treat.

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